From staff  and wire reports

Senior Hakeem Jackson recorded 27 points and seven rebounds to guide the Livingstone men’s basketball team to an 89-82 win over Rollins on Friday in Charlotte.

It was the first official game for the Blue Bears, who lost an exhibition at Duke.

The Blue Bears jumped out to a strong start and never looked back on their way to the win. Jackson led the charge with 18 points and five rebounds in the first half.

Eric Dubose had 24 points and  five assists and was 8-of-12 from the field.

Eric Mayo finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Blue Bears head back to Charlotte today for the second day of the JCSU Tip-Off Classic to face Johnson &  Wales at 2 p.m. at Brayboy Gym.

Livingstone women

Amber Curtis scored 18 points for Livingstone’s women’s basketball team in a 75-70 win against Bluefield State in Frankfort, Ky.

The Blue Bears improved to 2-1.

Major leagues

The Chicago White Sox had one of the majors’ most powerful right-handed bats last season in Jose Abreu. Now they are hoping Adam LaRoche can help balance their lineup.

LaRoche has agreed to a contract with the White Sox, a person familiar with the situation said Friday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the deal with the free-agent first baseman.

LaRoche is likely to see most of his time at designated hitter. Abreu is entrenched at first after the Cuban slugger hit .317 with 36 homers and 107 RBIs in 145 games, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award.

LaRoche, who turned 35 on Nov. 6, gives the White Sox some sorely needed power from the left side. He hit .259 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs in 140 games this year for NL East champion Washington. He has 243 career homers and 838 RBIs in 11 years in the majors.

But LaRoche has spent almost his entire career in the National League, save for six games for Boston in 2009. Now it looks as if he will have to make the adjustment to regular DH duties.

It was the second big addition for the White Sox this week. They bolstered their bullpen on Tuesday with a $15 million, three-year contract for left-hander Zach Duke, who was 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA in a career-high 74 appearances this year for Milwaukee.

College hoops

Pierria Henry knew Charlotte wouldn’t give up against South Carolina, not after what the team had already been through at the Charleston Classic.

The 49ers, down 14 points in the opening half, rallied past the Gamecocks 65-63 to reach the finals of the eight-team tournament. Mike Thorne made two foul shots with 1:10 left for the winning points, then Charlotte endured a crazy finish of turnovers, missed shots and reversed calls.

In the end, South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell missed a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left and the 49ers (3-0) won their eighth straight regular-season tournament game. This latest victory followed a double-overtime effort on Thursday night when Charlotte lost a 17-point lead in the second half, yet prevailed in extra time.

Henry said that showing bonded the players and proved to them what they could achieve.

“It gave us hope, a lot of faith in our own program and a belief we could overcome anything,” Henry said.