Football

No. 25 BYU holds off Houston — Taysom Hill threw for 200 yards and a touchdown while running for 160 yards and another score, and No. 25 BYU beat Houston 33-25 on Thursday night in Provo, Utah. Jamaal Williams rushed for 139 yards and two TDs for BYU, which won its opening three games for the first time since 2008. The Cougars moved into the rankings after a 41-7 victory over Texas last weekend. BYU jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the first half, but the Cougars (1-2) rallied to narrow the deficit to 23-15 at halftime. Houston’s John O’Korn passed for 307 yards and three touchdowns, including a 45-yard desperation heave to Daniel Spencer as time ran out in the first half. Deontay Greenberry caught a pair of O’Korn’s touchdowns.

Cycling

Aru wins Vuelta’s 18th stage — Fabio Aru of Italy surged to win the Spanish Vuelta’s hilly 18th stage on Thursday in Monte Castrove, Spain, while Alberto Contador kept the leader’s red jersey with three stages remaining. Chris Froome finished one second behind, gaining time overall, and Alejandro Valverde came third 13 seconds behind. Froome, who charged up the category-2 Monte Castrove ascent with Aru just behind him, improved to second overall, one minute, 19 seconds behind Contador, having overtaken Valverde, who was third overall, 1:32 down. Although Contador looked tired and conceded time to Froome, he appears totally recovered from the broken shin that forced him to retire from the Tour de France on July 15.

Livestrong takes hit after confession — The Livestrong cancer charity is reporting a sharp drop in donations and revenue after founder Lance Armstrong admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs during most of his record-setting cycling career. In federal forms released this week, Livestrong noted its 2013 donations dipped 34 percent, from nearly $23 million to $15 million after Armstrong’s televised admission to Oprah Winfrey in January 2013. Total revenue also took a 38 percent dive after commercial sponsorships were canceled or not renewed. Without specifically referring to Armstrong, Livestrong blamed the financial downturn on fallout from “revelations and disclosures” made in January 2013.

— From wire reports