Sports briefs 12/18/04

Baseball

* The St. Louis Cardinals agreed to terms on a two-year contract with left-handed reliever Ray King on Friday.

The deal also has a club option in 2007, but no financial terms were disclosed.

The 30-year-old appeared in 86 games for the Cardinals last season, and had a 5-2 record and a 2.61 ERA.

Basketball

All-Star Vince Carter was traded by the Toronto Raptors to the New Jersey Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and a pair of first-round draft picks Friday.

Carter, on the injured list with a strained left Achilles' tendon, was at the Raptors' morning shootaround, but did not accompany the team to Conseco Fieldhouse for its game against the Pacers.

Carter has been an All-Star the past four seasons. He leaves the Raptors as the franchise leader in 10 categories, including scoring, 3-pointers made and games started.

Colleges

* Running back Maurice Fenner and quarterback Justin Rascati ran for two touchdowns apiece and James Madison won its first national championship with a 31-21 victory over Montana in the Division I-AA title game Friday night.

The Dukes rolled up 314 yards rushing. Fenner had 164 yards on 29 carries, and Rascati ran for 57 yards on 11 carries.

The Dukes (13-2) were the first team to reach the title game by winning all three playoff games on the road as they advanced past the second round for the first time.

The two-time champion Grizzlies (12-3), playing in their fifth title game, took a 21-17 lead in the third quarter, but couldn't stop James Madison's rushing attack.