No. 1 UConn cruises

Stoors, Conn. — Ben Gordon, above driving against Nevada’s Marcelus Kemp, scored a career-high 37 points to lead No. 1 Connecticut to a 93-79 victory Wednesday night in the Preseason NIT. Emeka Okafor grabbed 14 rebounds, and Denham Brown had a career-high 22 points for the Huskies (2-0), who will play the winner of tonight’s Georgia Tech-Hofstra game. The semifinals are Nov. 26 in Madison Square Garden in New York. College basketball on page 6C.

Baseball

Ibanez returns to Seattle

Seattle — Free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez agreed Wednesday to a $13.25 million, three-year contract with the Seattle Mariners, who hope his left-handed bat can boost the offense at spacious Safeco Field.

Ibanez, who came up in Seattle’s system but saw limited action with the Mariners from 1996-2000, blossomed over the past two years in Kansas City, where he hit .294 both years.

He drove in 103 runs in 2002 and 90 last season.

“When I first realized I was coming back here, I was ecstatic,” said Ibanez, drafted by Seattle in the 36th round in 1992. “It didn’t really hit me until I walked in the locker room yesterday.”

Ibanez gets a $2 million signing bonus, $3.25 million in 2004, $3.75 million in 2005 and $4.25 million in 2006.

Ken Brett dead at 55

Spokane, Wash. — Ken Brett, the youngest World Series pitcher in history and the brother of Hall of Famer George Brett, has died. He was 55.

Ken Brett died Tuesday night after a long battle with brain cancer.

Brett pitched 14 years in the major leagues, going 83-85 with a 3.93 ERA. He was the winner in the 1974 All-Star game, twice lost no-hit bids in the ninth inning and gave up Hank Aaron’s 700th home run.

He also was known for his outstanding hitting.

Brett set a record for pitchers by hitting a home run in four straight starts for the Phillies in 1973. He batted .262 lifetime with 10 homers.

Brett was 19 years, 1 month old when he pitched 11/3 scoreless innings for Boston in the 1967 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

He had pitched in only one big-league game before the Series, going two innings against Cleveland during the final week of the season.