Brandon Knight

Four match points had just slipped away from Andy Murray. Frustration was starting to build. The nearly 100-degree temperatures on the court were getting to him, too. Was he going to let a chance for his first Masters championship melt away like this? Showing a newfound concentration, Britain's top player regained his bearings and took the set to another tiebreaker. Then he took control with the best shot of the match, an in-the-corner winner that set up a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5)

History lesson In 2002, the Cy Young Award winners were Randy Johnson (Arizona) and Barry Zito (Oakland). Johnson went 24-5 and Zito was 23-5. They faced each other yesterday in San Francisco, where Zito is on the verge of becoming the biggest free-agent bust perhaps ever. The righthander (5-13) became the first 13-game loser in the majors, giving up six runs and six hits in five innings. He also walked four batters in Arizona's four-run fourth. Johnson recorded the 292d win of his glamorous career and extended his scoreless inning streak to 15. Zito is 30. Johnson will be 45 next month.

Philadelphia University is a picturesque campus nestled in the East Falls section of the city. The tiny Division II school's athletic program doesn't receive a fraction of the attention that the Big Five schools get. Well, not until this week. As the host of the Reebok All-American Camp, Philly U. was the center of the college basketball universe. The five-day camp, which concluded last night, showcased 151 of the nation's premier high school boys' basketball players.

TRENTON - Jeff Karstens and two Trenton relievers combined on a four-hitter in a 4-1 Eastern League win over the Harrisburg Senators last night. The victory was the 12th in the last 16 games for the Thunder. Karstens worked through six innings for the win, scattering four hits with two walks and five strikeouts. He allowed a home run by Prentice Redman in the sixth. J.B. Cox followed with two scoreless innings of relief. Justin Pope worked the ninth to record his league-leading 18th save.

Melvin Ely scored 14 points, all in the second half, to help No. 23 Fresno State (3-1) defeat No. 13 Michigan State, 63-58, last night in the consolation game of the preseason NIT in New York. Ely missed both his first-half shots but had six rebounds. Fresno held a 32-23 halftime lead. The Bulldogs were hot if Ely was not. Fresno hit 12 of 21 shots while Michigan State (2-1) managed only 10 of 34 in the first half. Ely, a 6-foot-10 senior, scored the first Fresno basket of the second half, and after Damon Jackson nailed a three-point shot, Ely scored again and Fresno opened the lead to 39-30.

Winning four World Series titles in five seasons as the manager of the New York Yankees has not been enough to get Joe Torre a contract extension. Torre, in the final year of his contract, discussed his future with owner George Steinbrenner yesterday for the first time since spring training. "We're in agreement that we'll get something worked out," Torre said before the Yankees played Toronto. Torre is in his sixth year with the Yankees - the longest stint of any manager during Steinbrenner's 29 years as owner.