Minnesota Sports Briefs: T-Wolves burned by Suns 114-90

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MINNEAPOLIS - Phoenix's Markieff Morris had 21 points and six rebounds off the bench as the Suns beat the Timberwolves 114-90 last night in Minneapolis.

Shannon Brown added 17 points and seven boards for the Suns, who are a game behind the Nuggets for the final playoff spot in the West. Kevin Love went for 25 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which has dropped six in-a-row. J.J. Barea netted 16 points in the lopsided loss. The Wolves are in Denver for a game tomorrow night.

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University of Minnesota guard Chip Armelin has been granted a release from the basketball program. Armelin intends to transfer and will be let go at the end of the spring semester. Armelin averaged 5.2 points in 38 games off the bench this past season. The sophomore from Sulphur, Louisiana says he will likely transfer closer to his home.

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Trey Burke will not declare for the NBA draft and will return to the University of Michigan for his sophomore year. Last season, the guard averaged 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, helping the Wolverines to a 24-10 record and a share of the Big Ten regular season title. Burke was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the media, and named conference freshman of the week seven times and player of the week once. He scored career highs in both of his games against Minnesota. He netted 27 points in a regular season game against the Gophers in January, then bettered the milestone with 30 points in a Big Ten Tournament game against Minnesota in March.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker of Cold Spring says newly acquired quarterback Peyton Manning's arm is just fine. Decker has been working out with Manning for about three weeks and has no doubt the four-time NFL MVP will be ready for the start of the season. The Broncos signed Manning to a five-year, $98-million contract this past off-season. Manning missed the entire 2011 season with the Colts recovering from several neck surgeries and reports had surfaced that his arm strength has decreased due to all of the procedures. Decker is a former star pass catcher for the University of Minnesota.

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The FDIC is hoping to sack former Vikings quarterback Jim McMahon. Multiple reports say the federal agency has sued McMahon in hopes of recovering over $100-million in bad loans given to Broadway Bank. McMahon was on the board of the bank for five years, but only approved one loan. The FDIC says the McMahon and other board members were "grossly inattentive" to bank affairs. McMahon says the lawsuit is without merit and will be dismissed. McMahon is best known for his time playing with the Chicago Bears, but he also was with Minnesota in 1993.

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The NSIC and MIAC have named the weekly award winners in baseball in each respective league. Concordia-St. Paul utility player Bryan Lippicott of Des Moines is the NSIC Player of the Week. Augustana junior infielder Derek Hansen of Fergus Falls is the league's Pitcher of the Week. Saint John's first baseman Connor Cline of Bloomington is the MIAC Baseball Player of the Week. Bethel senior closer Buddy Flaherty of Victoria is the conference's Pitcher of the Week.

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The NSIC and MIAC have announced winners of weekly awards in softball. Concordia-St. Paul senior outfielder Erin Tjornhom of Eagan is the NSIC Player of the Week. Winona State senior Stacey Struzynski of Homewood, Illinois is the league's Pitcher of the Week. St. Thomas sophomore shortstop Jenna Hoffman of Eagan is the MIAC Player of the Week Her freshman teammate Kendra Bowe of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin is the conference's Pitcher of the Week.

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