Former Alabama player Taylor wrongly accused

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — The woman who said former Alabama football player Jonathan Taylor assaulted her now says she made it up because she thought he was cheating on her.

A deposition released Thursday by Tuscaloosa County District Court indicates “she made it up to get back at him for cheating on her in December and she thought he was cheating again.”

The 24-year-old woman, identified as Gina Marie Nawab, was charged with False Reporting to Law Enforcement. The deposition says bruises on her neck were self-inflicted.

University spokeswoman Deborah Lane said Thursday in a statement that Taylor is no longer a student and “is not eligible for re-admission.”

Alabama coach Nick Saban dismissed Taylor from the team on Sunday. Domestic violence charges that led to his July dismissal from Georgia are still pending.

Prosecution rests in Hernandez trial

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — The prosecution rested Thursday in the murder trial of former New England Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez after spending more than two months presenting a case that he killed the boyfriend of his fiancee’s sister.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to murder in the June 17, 2013, killing of Odin Lloyd, who was found dead in an industrial park less than a mile from Hernandez’s home. At the time, Hernandez had a $40 million contract with the Patriots.

Prosecutors called more than 100 witnesses since testimony began Jan. 29. They also submitted hundreds of pieces of evidence.

Hernandez’s legal team has gone after that evidence, calling into question the testimony of an employee of weapons manufacturer Glock who had identified the black object as a gun and arguing instead that it was a piece of electronics such as an iPad or a TV remote. They also have gone after the police investigation, painting it as bumbling and inept and saying Hernandez was targeted as a suspect because he is a celebrity.

NCAA takes stand against Ind. law

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert made it clear the association wouldn’t tolerate discrimination and was willing to take its business out of Indiana if the state’s religious objections law wasn’t fixed to his satisfaction.

Whether he and the NCAA’s leaders can take that stand in other states with similar laws is less clear ”“ and its leaders acknowledge wading into social debates and state law is new and tricky territory for college sports’ governing body.

Emmert’s annual state of the NCAA address on Thursday came as the Indiana lawmakers were revising the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that has, in some ways, overshadowed the start of one of college sports’ biggest events, the Final Four.

Piercy leads at Houston

HOUSTON (AP) — Scott Piercy tied a tournament record with a nearly flawless 9-under-par 63 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Houston Open.

Alex Cejka, playing in one of the afternoon groups, made four birdies on his back nine ”“ the course’s front nine ”“ to finish with a 64, one stroke behind Piercy.

J. B. Holmes was next at 65, having also gotten to 8-under with four holes to play before finding a fairway bunker with his first shot at No. 6. After badly missing the green, Holmes had to scramble to a bogey.

Phil Mickelson, Luke Guthrie, Charles Howell III and Houston’s Shawn Stefani each shot a 66 and trail Piercy by three strokes.

Kings sign Sim Bhullar, NBA’s 1st player of Indian descent

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Sim Bhullar has become the NBA’s first player of Indian descent, signing a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings announced the deal Thursday. The 7-foot-5, 360-pound Bhullar was called up from the team’s NBA D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns.

The 22-year-old center could make his debut Friday when the Kings host the New Orleans Pelicans.

Bhullar was born in Toronto to Indian-born parents and played two seasons for New Mexico State. He twice won Western Athletic Conference tournament MVP.