Former Gophers men's basketball recruit Alvin Ellis has signed with Michigan State.

"Alvin will be a great addition to our backcourt," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said in a news release issued Wednesday. "We like his offensive skill set, especially his shooting touch."

Ellis, a 6-4, 190-pound guard for Chicago De La Salle High School, had committed to the Gophers but reopened his recruitment after former coach Tubby Smith was fired after the season.

U wins in baseball

Shortstop Michael Handel hit a two-run homer and had three RBI as the Gophers beat North Dakota State 5-3 in a nonconference game on Wednesday at Siebert Field. Ben Meyer, the Gophers' second of five pitchers, went 2â…“ innings in the middle of the game for his fourth victory. Billy Soule pitched the ninth inning for his eighth save.

The Gophers (24-13) fell behind 1-0 in the second inning when Wes Satzinger hit a solo homer for NDSU (15-15). But Minnesota scored two runs in the fifth inning and three in the seventh inning to take a 5-1 lead.

Softball sweep for U

The Gophers' softball team scored 25 runs in sweeping a doubleheader from Iowa State 12-6 and 13-1 in Ames. Kayla Wenner and Tyler Walker hit homers in the first game for the Gophers, who led 9-1 after the top of the sixth inning. Sara Moulton got the victory, her 23rd of the season. Kayla Richardson went 3-for-4 and had three RBI in the second game while Wenner was 2-for-3, including a two-run triple.

Etc.

• Steve Rohlik, a former player and coach for Hill-Murray, was named the Ohio State men's hockey coach. He has been the Buckeyes' associate head coach the past three seasons and before that was a Minnesota Duluth assistant for 10 years.

He replaces Mark Osiecki, a Burnsville native, who was fired last week.

• Swarm transition player Jordan MacIntosh is the National Lacrosse League's Transition Player of the Week for the fourth consecutive week and the fifth time in six weeks. MacIntosh, 23, set a franchise record for most loose balls in a game with 24 against visiting Colorado last Saturday. The native of Oakville, Ontario, also had one goal and three assists and won 22 of 34 faceoffs.