Pac-12 fines USC’s Haden $25,000

The Pac-12 fined USC athletic director Pat Haden $25,000 for coming down to the sidelines and confronting officials during Saturday’s game at Stanford.

USC head coach Steve Sarkisian was also reprimanded for his behavior in that game.

“The conduct by both Sarkisian and Haden were in clear violation of our Conference’s Standards of Conduct policy,” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement released by the conference on Monday. “The conduct by USC Athletics Director Pat Haden was inappropriate. Such actions by an administrator in attempt to influence the officiating, and ultimately the outcome of a contest, will not be tolerated.”

Pistons sign F Monroe

The Detroit Pistons signed forward Greg Monroe to a one-year qualifying offer Monday.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the Detroit Free Press reported that the deal is worth $5.5 million.

Monroe and the Pistons couldn’t agree to a long-term contract extension during the summer nor work out a sign-and-trade agreement with another team.

Monroe, the seventh overall pick by the Pistons in the 2010 draft, averaged 15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 32.8 minutes in a career-high 82 games (all starts) last season. In 309 career games (277 starts), Monroe has averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.3 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-11 Monroe averaged 15.0-plus points, 9.0-plus rebounds, 2.0-plus assists and 1.0-plus steals in each of his last three seasons.

Marvin Barnes dies at 62

Marvin Barnes, a talented but troubled player who led Providence to the 1973 Final Four, has died at the age of 62, according to the Providence Journal.

The cause of death was not specified.

Barnes, a 6-9, 220-pound center, led the NCAA in rebounding (18.7) during the 1973-74 season, and was a consensus All-American. Providence retired his jersey in 2008.

He was drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, but decided to play in the American Basketball Association for the Spirits of St. Louis.

Barnes was named ABA Rookie of the Year in 1975, when he averaged 24.0 points and 15.6 rebounds per game. He went on to play for the Detroit Pistons, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics and the then-San Diego Clippers over four seasons in the NBA.

However, Barnes could not regain his old from amid growing substance abuse problems and had frequent run-ins with the law after career.

2015 MLB season could have November games

There could be November baseball next season.

Major League Baseball announced its tentative schedule for the 2015 season, with the full Opening Day slated for April 6, preceded by an ESPN Sunday night game on April 5.

Perhaps more significant is the fact that the regular season ends on Sunday, October 4, which is later than usual.

The later start and finish to the 2015 season means Game 6 and 7 of the World Series, if necessary, would be played in November.

Australia investigated over loss to Angola

Basketball’s governing body FIBA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Australia over allegations they lost a World Cup game against Angola in order to delay an encounter with the USA.

Australia was beaten 91-83 by Angola in the group stage of the World Cup in Spain last Thursday. The result ensured Australia finished third instead of second in their preliminary pool.

Australia was eliminated in a 65-64 defeat by Turkey in the first knockout round on Sunday.

Braves’ Black suspended 50 games

Atlanta Braves minor league outfielder Justin Black was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for an Amphetamine in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the league announced Monday.

Black, 21, is on the roster of the rookie-level Danville Braves of the Appalachian League. He is hitting .262 with two home runs this season for Danville.