Sports briefs 8/23/05

College

• Former Iowa basketball star Pierre Pierce decided to plead guilty Monday while jury selection resumed at his trial in which he had been charged with assaulting an ex-girlfriend in January.

The 22-year-old player, originally from Westmont, Ill., pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, third-degree burglary, criminal mischief and false imprisonment.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss their initial charge of first-degree burglary, which would have carried a 25-year sentence. They recommended a suspended five-year sentence for third-degree burglary. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 14.

Iowa coach Steve Alford dismissed Pierce from the team on Feb. 2, days after police confirmed he was the focus of a criminal investigation. He was the Hawkeyes' leading scorer at the time.

* Wide receiver L'Tydrick Riley will miss the upcoming football season after apparently suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament during practice, Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione said Monday.

Riley, a senior from Crockett, hurt his left knee during noncontact drills Saturday.

Riley caught 20 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown last year.

Hockey

* Right wing Teemu Selanne, the second-leading scorer in Anaheim history, returned to the Mighty Ducks on Monday.

The 35-year-old free agent signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the team he played for from 1996-01.

Selanne, a nine-time All-Star, has averaged 37 goals year in 12 NHL seasons. Since entering the league with Winnipeg in 1992, he has 452 goals. Only Jaromir Jagr (478) has scored more.

Selanne had 16 goals and 16 assists in 78 games for the Colorado Avalanche in the 2003-04 season and added three assists in 10 playoff games.