Pro hockey

DUCKS SNAP BLACKHAWKS' WINNING STREAK: Teemu Selanne scored twice on the power play, defenseman Nick Boynton also connected with the man advantage and Jean-Sebastien Giguere posted his first shutout of the season, leading the Anaheim Ducks to a 3-0 victory on Friday that snapped the Blackhawks' eight-game winning streak.

Giguere made 28 saves in his 32nd career shutout, continually frustrating a high-powered offense that had outscored its opponents 34-13 during the streak -- which fell one game short of tying the franchise record set last December.

The Blackhawks, who tied a club record with three short-handed goals in Wednesday's 7-2 win at San Jose, came in with the NHL's best goals-against average (2.13) and the league's second-best penalty-killing percentage (85.5). But the Ducks scored on three consecutive power plays after Chicago killed off the first one.

The Blackhawks, who started the day two points behind San Jose for the league's best record, were shut out for only the second time this season. The victory was Anaheim's third in a row, marking Giguere's first three-game winning streak since last December.

College football

ILLINI CAN'T PULL OFF UPSET: Tony Pike answered all the questions six times over.

The senior quarterback returned from a major injury to his non-throwing arm and had a record day Friday, passing for six touchdowns in a 49-36 victory over Illinois that kept fifth-ranked Cincinnati unbeaten.

"Words can't describe how amazing this feels," Pike said.

Cincinnati (11-0) remained one of six unbeaten Bowl Subdivision teams, ranked fifth in the BCS standings. The Bearcats finish their regular season next weekend in Pittsburgh, playing for their second straight Big East championship.

Pike finished 32 of 46 for 399 yards. On the season, he has thrown 23 touchdowns with only three interceptions.

The Illini couldn't handle a spread offense that's better than anything they'd see in the Big Ten. Cincinnati had 35 points in the first half alone -- as many as the Illini allowed in any full Big Ten game this season.

"You go into a game trying to make them pass," Illinois defensive coordinator Dan Disch said. "That may be a mistake against them. We gave up too many big plays."

NO. 2 ALABAMA SURVIVES AUBURN: Alabama found its championship form in the nick of time.

Outplayed most of the game, the Crimson Tide stayed unbeaten with a 26-21 victory Friday over Auburn, taking the lead with a nearly perfect drive that was capped by Greg McElroy's 4-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 left.

Alabama (12-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) completed a second straight perfect regular season in the Iron Bowl.

STANFORD HOSTS ND IN POSSIBLE WEIS FINALE: Toby Gerhart plans to spend a few extra minutes soaking it all in before walking off the field in what could be his final game at Stanford Stadium today against Notre Dame.

"I don't think it will really sink in until after the game is over," Gerhart said. "Hopefully it's a win, we're happy and celebrating and it will be a sweet ending."

Gerhart will be far from the only participant with those sorts of emotions Saturday when the Cardinal (7-4) host the Fighting Irish (6-5) in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The game could well be the last at Notre Dame for Irish coach Charlie Weis and star quarterback Jimmy Clausen, too.

Though he'd presumably play in a bowl game, Clausen is widely expected to skip his senior seasons and enter the NFL draft.

Weis' fate is out of his hands. He will fly back with the team to meet with athletic director Jack Swarbrick instead of going on a recruiting trip as originally planned.

Weis said Sunday that he "would have a tough time arguing" if the school decided to fire him after five seasons.

Men's basketball

MARQUETTE TOPS MICHIGAN, NOVAK: Lazar Hayward scored 22 points and Jimmy Butler had 17 to lead Marquette past No. 15 Michigan 79-65 at the Old Spice Classic on Friday.

Zack Novak (Chesterton) had three points in the loss for Michigan (3-1) as Marquette improved to 6-0.

ALBRECHT STARS IN LOSS: Despite 20 points from Stephen Albrecht (Crown Point), Toledo lost 78-60 to Cornell on Friday. Albrecht was 6-of-13 from the field and made three 3-pointers.

Around the horn

The Merrillville boys basketball game with Lebanon on Saturday has been postponed to Dec. 22 at Merrillville due to the Pirates' extended football season. ... Wheeler grad Becca Bruszewski scored 11 points in No. 5 Notre Dame's 78-55 win over South Carolina on Friday. Skylar Diggins added 12 points for the Irish (5-0). ... Notre Dame's women's soccer team advanced to the College Cup by beating Florida State 2-0 on Friday. The Irish will play North Carolina on Dec. 4 in College Station, Texas, in one national semifinal.

North Carolina vs. Notre Dame, TBA