By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, November 12, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Moments after Florida State's 23-19 win over Miami on Saturday, Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher was ready to end any discussion about FSU's previous special teams woes in the rivalry.

"Can y'all quit writing about wide right?" Fisher asked.

Twenty years after the infamous missed field goal cost the Seminoles a win over Miami, FSU's special teams bailed out a sputtering offense and a defense that couldn't get off the field late at Doak Campbell Stadium. The result was FSU's fifth straight win overall and second straight over the Hurricanes.

Special teams saved the 'Noles (7-3, 5-2 ACC) early in front of an announced crowd of 82,322.

Travis Benjamin muffed a first-quarter punt for Miami (5-5, 3-4) when he backtracked on a booming Shawn Powell blast and FSU's Telvin Smith recovered the ball at the Miami 28. That set up a 37-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins, one of his three in the game. Powell averaged 54.8 yards on five punts and angled one out of bounds at the 1.

"We were really let down by the kicking game," UM coach Al Golden said.

And FSU could have been let down by its offense. The Hurricanes outgained the Seminoles 203-79 in the first half and by 124 yards in the game. FSU's running game averaged only 2.2 yards per carry, and EJ Manuel was sacked three times.

The 'Noles needed two official reviews to wipe away what could have been a safety for an intentional grounding penalty by Manuel in the first half. The Hurricanes took a 7-3 lead on the next drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Jacory Harris to Clive Walford.

FSU's special teams responded. Greg Reid's 34-yard return set up a 21-yard strike from Manuel to Rodney Smith, the Seminoles' only offensive touchdown of the game.

"At the beginning we came out and didn't move the ball like we wanted to," FSU receiver Christian Green said.

The Seminoles' biggest special teams play came in the final minute of the first half as they clung to a 10-7 lead. UM's punt bounced high to Reid, who snagged the ball and saw nothing between him and the end zone.

"I looked up, and all I saw was the band, man," Reid said. "It was clearly open."

Reid raced 83 yards up the middle for a touchdown. His score seized momentum heading into the locker room and atoned for a mistake when the overanxious junior fielded a punt at the goal line.

"Greg thinks every return is a touchdown," Fisher said. "I'm going to tell you something: I would rather say 'Whoa' than 'Giddy up' any day of the week."

The Seminoles sapped the clock in the second half with two drives of more than nine minutes but couldn't reach the end zone. They mustered only two field goals on three trips into Miami territory.

That left the Hurricanes with a chance to make a late charge. Mike James punched in a 1-yard touchdown run with 6:27 left that cut Miami's deficit to 23-13. FSU's offense faltered again, and three defensive personal fouls kept the Hurricanes' final drive alive.

"You just don't want things like that to happen," safety Lamarcus Joyner said.

UM capitalized with another 1-yard scoring run by James, but special teams saved the 'Noles twice more.

The Hurricanes botched the snap on an extra point that would have cut the deficit to three, and FSU tight end Nick O'Leary snagged the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.

Times staff writer Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Saturday, November 12, 2011

VALENCIA, Venezuela — Tearing up, Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos embraced his rescuers and said he had wondered if he would survive a two-day kidnapping ordeal that ended when commandos swept into his captors' mountain hideout.

Ramos said Saturday he was thankful to be alive a day after his rescue, and the final moments had been hair-raising as police and the kidnappers exchanged heavy fire in the remote area where he was being held.

"I didn't know if I was going to get out of it alive," Ramos told reporters at a police station in his hometown of Valencia, flanked by police investigators and National Guard commanders. "It was very hard for me. It was very hard for my family."

El Aissami said authorities arrested four captors, all Venezuelan men in their 20s. A 60-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man were also arrested as accomplices for supplying the kidnappers with food from their home in the area, he said. The suspects were led past journalists at the police station with black hoods over their heads.

Authorities were still searching for four Colombian men who escaped during the rescue, El Aissami said. He didn't say whether anyone was wounded.

Ramos, 24, was seized at gunpoint outside his family's home Wednesday night and whisked away in an SUV.

El Aissami said investigators' first break came when they found the stolen SUV, a bronze Chevrolet, abandoned in the town of Bejuma alongside the mountains of central Carabobo state. They ended up checking on a rural house authorities believed had been used in a previous kidnapping.

An SUV parked outside had mud on it even though there was no mud in the area, El Aissami said. Investigators determined the house was probably used by the kidnappers as a support base while holding Ramos elsewhere, he said.

President Hugo Chavez authorized an aerial search mission and teams also set out on foot, El Aissami said.

BOSOX SEARCH: The Red Sox interviewed former Pirates and White Sox manager Gene Lamont for their managerial opening, the last of five candidates to interview.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, November 12, 2011

GAINESVILLE — As he walked off the field after being sacked on the final play of the game, Florida QB John Brantley had a slight limp and the look of a player who had been battered and bruised all day.

The stats will tell you Brantley was sacked just three times Saturday, but he was hurried, harassed and hit often. He finished 13-of-21 for 119 yards and no interceptions but no touchdowns.

It is, his teammates said, a testament to the leader he has become despite the team's record.

"John's tough," OL Dan Wenger said. "I can't be more proud of him. He's our leader out there. I thought he did a great job with how he led and how tough he was.

"I just wish I would have played better for him."

The Gators made some adjustments to their offensive line, moving Wenger to center and Jonotthan Harrison to left guard for one possession before Harrison left the game "banged up," Florida coach Will Muschamp said.

And although he defended the line's protection of Brantley leading into Saturday's game, Muschamp acknowledged there's work to be done.

"Yeah, he took some hits," Muschamp said of Brantley. "We've got to do a better job protecting. There's no question."

BITTERSWEET ENDING: If you happened to catch South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's postgame excitement Saturday afternoon, you should know he wasn't just giddy because he had just beaten his alma mater.

South Carolina's victory over Florida gave it an undefeated SEC East season for the first time in school history. Spurrier said the accomplishment is even more impressive because the Gamecocks persevered after the dismissal of QB Stephen Garcia and the loss of star RB Marcus Lattimore to a knee injury last month.

"It's interesting," said Spurrier, whose only conference losses came to Auburn and Arkansas. "Not many of you would say we'd be 6-2 in the conference without Marcus or with a quarterback who's never played, Connor Shaw, or without (OT) Kyle Nunn, who we lost the second week with a back injury. But our defense stayed pretty healthy throughout. Most of our veteran guys are on defense.

"This was a good win for us. I'm happy with this one. It's one of the best I've ever had; not because it's my old school, but because it's six wins in the conference and beating those three schools that have dominated South Carolina before '05 (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee)."

But the undefeated record might not be enough to send the Gamecocks to Atlanta for the SEC title game. Georgia leads the East after its victory over Auburn on Saturday afternoon. If Georgia defeats Kentucky next week, it will play in Atlanta.

ANOTHER BIG DAY: Senior RB Chris Rainey played with a nagging injury.

He missed last week's game against Vanderbilt with an ankle injury but finished Saturday with 17 carries for 132 yards — his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

"I can't run 100 percent," he said. "But I did the best I can."

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, November 12, 2011

Here's a question:

Why is Flyers coach Peter Laviolette being called a hero by some for having his players stall Wednesday against the Lightning to apparently send a message he does not approve of Tampa Bay's 1-3-1 trapping system?

Flyers players, with the puck, stalled in their defensive zone several times throughout the game, hoping to draw the Lightning out of its structure. That didn't happen, and in the process the Flyers lost several minutes of attack time — one stall took at least 50 seconds — in what turned into a 2-1 overtime loss.

Please explain how that was a good strategy for the league's highest-scoring team against a Tampa Bay squad depleted by three injuries, including to two of its top three defensemen: Mattias Ohlund and Victor Hedman.

Please explain how the Flyers didn't come at Tampa Bay with everything they had. And please explain it to former Devils and Wild coach Jacques Lemaire.

"Well, it didn't look good to me when I saw the Flyers stop playing," Lemaire told the St. Petersburg Times. "What does it show? What is the coach showing to his players? That 'I don't like the way they play, so we won't play?' "

Lemaire, whose neutral zone trap stirred the same vitriol in the '90s — it's boring hockey, it slows the game — said he ignored critics, especially those in the media.

"That's all they do," said Lemaire, whose 1994-95 Devils won the Stanley Cup. "They have the mike, and some guys with the mike try to coach. They couldn't coach, so they go behind the mike because they couldn't find a way to win. So they're no big deal.

"I think he's got to coach the way he feels is going to win games, and that's it," Lemaire added about his friend, Lightning coach Guy Boucher. "You want to play a certain style that maybe does not fit your team and (you) lose, and then in a month you're looking for a job. What's that?"

In other words, the coach is supposed to find ways to win, and that is the real point in this fake controversy. Laviolette — whose Flyers are (and isn't this funny) 1-3-1 against Tampa Bay since last season — did not.

Why haven't we heard more criticism of that?

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, November 12, 2011

5 questions D Matt Gilroy

You're a Long Islander. Have you visited the Empire State Building? Yep, on a second- or first-grade class trip.

The Statue of Liberty? Five times, and Ellis Island.

How about the Amityville Horror house? Actually, I have. I've been there at Halloween, too.

What's that like? Scary, very scary. We went in high school.

Is it done up? No, the aura of it is scary enough.

A father's advice

Jean-Pierre Raymond, father of Lightning assistant coach Marty Raymond, above, did not want his son going into the family business. "My father didn't want me to be a mechanic," Marty said. "He wanted me to be something else and go to school. I grew up being told being a mechanic is not good for me."

How exciting for father and son, then, when Marty, 44, recently was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at Montreal's McGill University, where he spent five seasons as a player and 14 as head coach, going 293-192-35 and winning the 2008 Queen's Cup, a league championship the school hadn't won since 1946.

"I was pretty excited about it," Marty said of the induction. "It was an emotional day for me."

Not only because he was surrounded by former players and associates but because of what it must have meant to Jean-Pierre, 71, who still works at the auto shop he owns in Pierrefonds, Quebec.

"My father worked seven days a week," Marty said. "I was raised to put in your long hours. That's how you're going to beat the competition. I instilled that in my players. Hopefully, my father got a little bit of a reward out of that induction as well."

Quote to note

"There's humble and there should be another word for Marty in the dictionary. He's beyond humble. He'll diminish anything he'll do. He'll put himself down. He's Mr. Humility."

Lightning coach Guy Boucher, on assistant coach Marty Raymond

Number of the day

15 GMs who blamed the Lightning's 1-3-1 defensive system for the stalling controversy in Wednesday's game with the Flyers, out of 18 GMs who responded to a poll by Canada's TSN TV network.

Home game

Lightning video coach Nigel Kirwan lived in Winnipeg for 15 years growing up. Not only was he a huge fan of the original Jets franchise, he attended St. John's-Ravenscourt School with the kids of owner Barry Shenkarow. He said he watched the team practice at the school's Dutton Memorial Arena.

No surprise, then, that Kirwan, whose family left the city in 1987, is excited about the NHL's return to Winnipeg and Tampa Bay's game there Monday against the new Jets. "I was very disappointed when the Jets left (for Phoenix)," Kirwan said. "I felt a real, genuine loss for the city and the people. I'm thrilled that the Jets are back. I wanted it to happen."

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, November 12, 2011

Vikings (2-6) at Packers (8-0)

8:30 Monday, ESPN

Packers by 13, 51

One thing we know about this game is Vikings rookie and former FSU QB Christian Ponder, above, isn't going to be fazed by facing the Packers, against whom he made his first pro start last month. That is hardly a suggestion he'll outplay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, however. Here's something to watch: Green Bay's defense has been leaky lately. And with games against the Lions and Giants coming up, there's not too much time to get it fixed. That has to be a bit troublesome for coach Mike McCarthy.

Packers 34, Vikings 23

Broncos (3-5) at Chiefs (4-4)

1 p.m.

Chiefs by 3, 41½

When the then-winless Dolphins blew out the Chiefs by four touchdowns last week, it was, inarguably, the most shocking result in recent weeks. Then you have the Broncos, led by mystifying QB Tim Tebow, coming off a 38-point outpouring against the Raiders. In other words, this is one of the week's toughest picks. A key point: Broncos RB Willis McGahee has been reborn the past few games. But behind DE Tamba Hali, above, Kansas City has allowed just one 100-yard rushing performance.

Chiefs 23, Broncos 17

Redskins (3-5) at Dolphins (1-7)

1 p.m.

Dolphins by 4, 37½

Interesting subplot here: Dolphins QB Matt Moore, above, was named the AFC offensive player of the week for his three-touchdown performance against the Chiefs a week ago. That helped the Dolphins earn their first victory, thereby reducing their odds of having the draft's first overall pick and selecting Stanford QB Andrew Luck. See where are we going with this? Moore has an opportunity to give himself a little more long-term job security today in this winnable game against the declining Redskins.

Dolphins 26, Redskins 23

Cardinals (2-6) at Eagles (3-5)

1 p.m.

Eagles by 14, 46½

Not much difference in the records. But Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb (toe) is hobbled, and this is a long trip to the East Coast for Arizona. Plus, the Eagles are desperate after letting a Monday matchup against the Bears slip away. The Eagles' LeSean McCoy, above, leads the NFL with 825 rushing yards, likely creating chances for QB Michael Vick to make downfield throws against the Cards' 29th-ranked pass defense. However, beware of Arizona rookie DB Patrick Peterson and his three punt returns for TDs.

Eagles 30, Cardinals 17

Ravens (6-2) at Seahawks (2-6)

4 p.m.

Ravens by 6½, 41

The Seahawks have scored 3, 12 and 13 points in their past three games, respectively. Surely, they're due for a breakout game, right? Maybe next week against the Rams. The Ravens are focused, particularly on defense. We can't find any reason to believe Seattle is going to suddenly have an offensive rejuvenation against the likes of LB Ray Lewis, above, DE Haloti Ngata and LB Terrell Suggs. For what it's worth, Baltimore has won five in a row against NFC opponents. This one will make it six.

Ravens 29, Seahawks 13

Giants (6-2) at 49ers (7-1)

4:15 p.m.

49ers by 3½, 42½

Six consecutive wins and counting for the Niners. And they've got another important streak going, too: Frank Gore, above, has five consecutive 100-yard rushing performances. No player in the franchise's glorious history has ever done that. That's key because the Giants are good enough in their front seven to put significant stress on 49ers QB Alex Smith. If the 49ers have to win through the air, it's going to be tough, at best. The Giants have won three in a row, including last week's last-minute rally against the Patriots.

49ers 23, Giants 21

Patriots (5-3) at Jets (5-3)

8:20 p.m., Ch. 8

Jets by 2, 47½

The Patriots are coming off consecutive losses (25-17 to the Steelers and 24-20 to the Giants) for just the third time in nine seasons, an astounding sign of their decade of dominance. But it's fair to ask whether there are starting to be legitimate signs of weakness in this team. Their defense, giving up 23 points per game, has been dreadful lately. Meanwhile, the offense is averaging just 19 points over its past three games. Defensive-minded Jets coach Rex Ryan, above, has to be smelling blood in the water.

Jets 24, Patriots 21

Lions (6-2) at Bears (5-3)

4:15 p.m.

Bears by 2½, 45

The Bears are, to some extent, flying under the radar. But what's going on in Chicago is worth touting. They have won three consecutive games, including last week's at the Eagles, since losing at Detroit on Oct. 10. QB Jay Cutler, above, is playing solidly, but what continues to drive the Bears is the play of RB Matt Forte. He and Saints RB Darren Sproles might be the two most indefensible players in football right now. Forte's a blast to watch, but more important, he gives the Bears a chance to win every Sunday.

Bears 24, Lions 21

Saints (6-3) at Falcons (5-3)

1 p.m.

Pick 'em, 50

As poorly as the Bucs played against the Saints last week, they had a chance to win the game if they had a better finish. That's largely because the Saints defense has its issues, and it's particularly bad against the run. They are giving up a league-high 5.3 yards per carry, and you can't help but believe the Falcons' Michael Turner, above, is wearing a big smile because of that. If the Falcons can consistently move the chains, they will keep Saints QB Drew Brees on the sideline and control the pace.

Falcons 24, Saints 23

Titans (4-4) at Panthers (2-6)

1 p.m.

Panthers by 3½, 46½

It's hard to have much conviction about the Titans nowadays given their inconsistent ways. They started 3-1 and are 1-3 since, looking like a certain team in our area that wears pewter and red and similarly can't get it together. At this point, there's no sense basing this pick on invisible Tennessee RB Chris Johnson, above, but there's enough collective talent on this roster to pull this one out. A big question here is if Tennessee can prevent big plays by QB Cam Newton and WR Steve Smith.

Titans 24, Panthers 20

Steelers (6-3) at Bengals (6-2)

1 p.m.

Steelers by 3½, 41½

A big, big game for the Bengals. Right now, they're the team with the nice little record but few believers. That would change with a win here. But the Steelers know they are 0-2 in the AFC North, including last week's loss to the Ravens. Given how the Bengals and Ravens are playing, 0-3 would be big trouble. Expect a focused effort from Pittsburgh, and look for defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to throw the kitchen sink at rookie QB Andy Dalton, above. A defensive struggle is brewing here.

Steelers 20, Bengals 17

Rams (1-7) at Browns (3-5)

1 p.m.

Browns by 2½, 37

Patriots QB Tom Brady is averaging 337 passing yards per game this season, most in the NFL. A little context: That's more than the average total yards of either offense featured in this game. Just thought we should set the tone for the kind of barn burner this is going to be. If there's a difference here, it would have to be the Browns defense, No. 1 against the pass (though dreadful against the run). Browns QB Colt McCoy, above, should make a play or two to win it.

Browns 21, Rams 17

Jaguars (2-6) at Colts (0-9)

1 p.m.

Jaguars by 3, 37½

Look, we realize QB Peyton Manning is a pretty big loss for the Colts. But jeepers! Where's the pride? A better question: Where's the defense? Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew, above, could score a bunch of fantasy points against the NFL's 31st-ranked run defense. In the past four games, Jones-Drew has faced a quartet of ferocious defenses (Bengals, Steelers, Ravens and Texans). He still managed to make some noise in each game. He could have his way today.

Jaguars 24, Colts 20

Bills (5-3) at Cowboys (4-4)

1 p.m.

Cowboys by 5½, 47½

Are the Bills back to being the Bills? After a 3-0 start, they looked eerily similar to the sub-.500 teams of past seasons in last week's 27-11 home loss to the Jets. Whatever the case, the Bills are still in a three-way tie for first in the AFC East. But this doesn't appear to be a good matchup. They're on the road, and they're facing a team with a potent passing game. Buffalo has given up big individual receiving performances this season. So it could be a big game for Dallas TE Jason Witten, above.

Cowboys 27, Bills 21

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, November 12, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — This could be a pretty significant week for the Rays, who have some top candidates for baseball's major awards, voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

There's a chance Tampa Bay matches its highest award total; it took manager of the year (Joe Maddon) and rookie of the year (Evan Longoria) in 2008. This time, Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson (AL rookie) and Maddon are up for the honors, with RHP James Shields looking like he'll crack the top five in the AL Cy Young race.

We break down each of their chances:

• AL rookie of the year (Monday): Hellickson has a good shot. He went 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA, with a .210 opponent's average and 20 quality starts, best of all major-league rookies. The fact he did so while pitching in the AL East should hold some weight with voters. The same could be said for Yankees RHP Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.70). Hellickson's other chief competition could be Angels 1B Mark Trumbo (.254, 29 homers, 87 RBIs), who won the players' choice AL rookie of the year award, with Mariners RHP Michael Pineda (9-10, 3.74 ERA) garnering attention.

"I've definitely been thinking about it; I'd like to win it," Hellickson said. "But there are a few other guys that have just as good a chance."

• AL Cy Young (Tuesday): This one likely will be unanimous for Tigers RHP Justin Verlander, who also probably will earn some MVP votes for his spectacular season (24 wins, 2.40 ERA for a division-winning team).

Though Shields won't win, he would seem almost certain to finish in the top five (which would kick his contract to $8 million next season). Shields put up career highs in wins (16) and innings (249 1/3) while throwing a major league-high 11 complete games. Shields, who admired what Verlander did from afar, will be in the mix for second place with the likes of Angels RHP Jered Weaver and Yankees LHP CC Sabathia.

"It's kind of hard to beat 24 wins," Shields said. "(Verlander) had a phenomenal year. I tried to keep up with him in every category. It'll be interesting to see how everything turns out. If I get some votes, that'd be awesome, with the season I had."

• AL manager of the year (Wednesday): You could make the case Maddon did an even better job this season than when he won after the 2008 World Series run.

With the team losing LF Carl Crawford, 1B Carlos Peña, RH closer Rafael Soriano and nearly the entire bullpen, Maddon helped lead Tampa Bay to an improbable September comeback to take the AL wild card on the season's final day.

The Indians' Manny Acta (80-82, second place) deserves some kudos, but rarely do winners of this award go to managers who didn't make the playoffs. The Tigers' Jim Leyland will be in the running, too, as will the Rangers' Ron Washington. But Maddon is a good bet for what he did with what he labeled "the best 0-6 team in the history of major-league baseball."

RAYS RUMBLINGS: ESPN's Keith Law had RHPs Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann as two of the four "intriguing names/trade targets" for this offseason. … Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo writes Davis "is the pitcher (the Rays) will likely end up dealing for an outfielder or catcher." … Shields will be autographing copies of his book, September Nights, he wrote with MLB.com's Bill Chastain from 5:30-8 p.m. Monday at Beef O'Brady's, 2819 S MacDill Ave., Tampa. … Ex-Rays INF Willy Aybar will spend three months in prison before his trial on charges of battering his wife, according to the Dominican Today.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Saturday, November 12, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton was added to the team's injury report Saturday as probable for today's game against the Titans after developing stiffness in his right (throwing) shoulder.

A team spokesman said he's expected to play after having an MRI exam on Friday.

Newton took all of the reps last week in practice but developed some soreness in the arm Friday.

Newton, the first overall pick in April, has thrown for 11 touchdowns and rushed for seven.

Giants: Receiver Mario Manningham is questionable after swelling was detected in his knee. The team did not say how he was injured. Fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks, who has been slowed by a hamstring injury and missed last week's game, made the trip to San Francisco and will be a game-time decision.

Patriots: Right tackle Nate Solder was added to the injury report with a concussion. The team did not say when or how the rookie and first-round pick, who is listed as questionable, sustained the injury.

Redskins: Rex Grossman, replaced as the starting quarterback four games ago, split first-team reps with John Beck during practice, the Washington Post reported. Beck, 0-3 as the starter this season, is still scheduled to go today against the Dolphins.

Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield, one of Minnesota's top defensive players who has missed the past four games with a neck injury, fully participated in practice for the third consecutive day and is expected to play Monday against the Packers.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

X

X

Sept. 17

Okla. 23, FSU 13

(2-1, 0-0)

Sept. 10

FSU 62,

Charleston South. 10

(2-0, 0-0)

Sept. 3

FSU 34,

Louisiana- Monroe 0

(1-0, 0-0)

Oct. 15

FSU 41, Duke 16

(3-3, 1-2)

Oct. 8

W. Forest 35, FSU 30

(2-3, 0-2)

Sept. 24

Clemson 35, FSU 30

(2-2, 0-1)

Nov. 3

FSU 38, Boston College 7

(6-3, 4-2)

Oct. 29

FSU 34,

N.C. State 0

(5-3, 3-2)

Oct. 22

FSU 41, Maryland 16

(4-3, 2-2)

Nov. 26

at

Florida

TBA

Nov. 19

vs.

Virginia

TBA

Saturday

FSU 23, Miami 19

(7-3, 5-2)

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, November 12, 2011

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jason Pierre-Paul isn't sure he expected this much of a breakout performance in his second season with the Giants, simply because the former USF defensive end has never had a second season anywhere during his football career.

"This is my first time being in the same locker room two years in a row," said Pierre-Paul, who played just one season at USF and at two junior colleges after picking up the sport as a senior in high school.

"I'm very excited not to have to switch out, to learn the ins and outs again, learn everything, the new plays."

Pierre-Paul is a big part of why the Giants are 6-2 and leading the NFC East entering today's game against the 49ers, having piled up 9½ sacks (second most in the league) and played well enough to be mentioned on midseason All-Pro lists.

A year ago, he had zero sacks in his first 10 games. But as the game around him slowed down, his progress sped up.

"Experience has helped him tremendously," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "A year ago, everything was first time. It's not the first time anymore. We've got more to go, but I think he's doing well."

Teammates who developed over four or five years of major-college football give him grief for his short college tenure. But as he builds experience as a pro, the 22-year-old is learning and enjoying the kind of swift transformation many players only see as a college upperclassman.

"Confidence comes from demonstrated performance," Giants defensive end Chris Canty said. "He has not played a lot of organized football to say the least. He played a year in (junior college), played a year in college and what, he's in the NFL.

"It's a big step for him. Him coming back to something familiar, it's boding well for him, and you see it in his play."

Pierre-Paul said his initial transition to the NFL was difficult, both in the complexity and speed of the pro game and the need for him to mature quickly and act like a professional.

"When I first got here, everything was so fast," he said. "I couldn't react fast enough. I feel like I've grown up a lot.

"I'm still learning, but I know what I'm doing. I don't have to worry about people yelling at me for making a stupid mistake. I had a lot of that. It was what it was."

In the past 14 games, Pierre-Paul has 14 sacks, including one last week in a win against the Patriots despite being missing practice because of concussion-like symptoms two days earlier. The difference is easy to see on Sunday afternoons, but teammates see it during the week, in a newfound dedication in the film room and attentiveness during position meetings.

"The biggest progress is mental, how he approaches the game," defensive end Justin Tuck said. "He's always had the athletic attributes. I didn't think he understood what it took to be really great in this league. Last year, he thought he could just do it off his talents. I can see him understanding now. He's starting to pick those things up. I remember the eye-opening experience that Year 1 was (for me)."

Pierre-Paul, who is of Haitian descent and grew up in Deerfield Beach in South Florida, played only one season at USF, racking up 16½ tackles for loss and showing enough promise that the Giants took him with the 15th overall pick, the highest any USF player has been drafted.

He's making good on those high expectations with a confidence built on performance, not reputation.

"He's just trusting what he sees, trusting himself, trusting his technique," Canty said. "That confidence is kind of exuding from him, and that's what makes a difference."

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com and at (813) 226-3346.

By Tyler Jett, Times Correspondent
Saturday, November 12, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. — As sophomore Dominique Easley teetered off the field, his left leg was limp, his shoulders hunched, his head down.

It was late in the second quarter of Saturday's 17-12 loss, and Easley had just been driven into the ground. As he hobbled toward the locker room, trainers supporting the 282-pound defensive tackle, Easley did not watch South Carolina finish its drive. He didn't need to.

With Easley on the field, the Gamecocks drove the ball into the heart of the Gators defense. With him out, they did more, capping an 11-play, 46-yard drive with a goal-line sneak into the end zone by Connor Shaw.

The quarterback's carry gave South Carolina a 14-3 edge. It was the 10th straight run by the Gamecocks. On their previous drive, they pounded the ball on nine of 11 plays, also capped by Shaw's rushing score.

In all, the Gamecock gained 215 yards on 52 runs. Brandon Wilds led the attack, carrying the ball 29 times for 120 yards. Shaw scrambled for 88 yards on 16 carries. He threw the ball just 13 times.

"We got tired," coach Will Muschamp said. "The second quarter wore on there in the run game, and that's really where they gained most of their yards."

South Carolina entered the game ranked third in the SEC at 188.3 rushing yards per game. On paper, the Gators' run defense should have matched up. Florida was allowing 123.3 yards on the ground per game, but that number was skewed with strong performances against bottom dwellers such as Florida Atlantic and UAB.

During UF's four-game losing streak in October, it allowed an average of 201 yards.

"It's frustrating," linebacker Jelani Jenkins said. "One of the main things we want to do is stop the run. When we don't, they're able to be effective, take shots, just keep the clock running."

Jenkins said Florida did not recognize some of South Carolina's packages, such as when it ran it with no one lined up at running back. Coaches drew South Carolina's formations on a blackboard at halftime, showing players how to attack.

Easley returned in the second half, rejuvenated, as did Florida's run defense, which held South Carolina to just 55 yards in the third and fourth quarters.

Still, the Gators defense could not get off the field at a critical time. Down by five with 5:34 left, Florida stopped Wilds twice.

But on third and 2, Easley fell forward. Offside.

After the flag, he rolled over, his hands gripping his face mask, his head tilted up, looking to the sky.

Times wires
Saturday, November 12, 2011

SYDNEY — Tiger Woods keeps referring to the "process" as he tries to work his way back toward the top of golf.

Despite a setback Saturday at the Australian Open, it looks like he is making progress.

With a one-shot lead going into the third round — his first time atop a leaderboard in nearly a year — Woods trudged off the 18th green at the Lakes with 3-over 75 and, with Bubba Watson (72), was six shots behind leader John Senden, who was at 12-under 204 after 63.

Woods started the day posing over a short iron that was headed right for the flag, only for the ball to take one hop forward and trickle off the steep bank to the left of the green that set up the first of three straight bogeys. By the end of his round, he was staring down putts and looking perplexed when they turned away from the cup.

Since his last win, two years ago at the Australian Masters, Woods has been in front three times. And all three times, he then failed to break par.

Disappointed?

"Well, 75s are never exciting," Woods said.

"I just got off to an awful start. The round should have been an easy 71, no problem. I played the par 5s bad; I didn't take care of 13. But if I take care of the par 5s and make a couple of putts, it's a 1- or 2-under round. But I made nothing (Saturday)."

Day celebrated his 24th birthday Saturday with 68, which put him one shot behind Senden. The Australian was in position to win his national championship in his first time home in nearly five years.

LPGA: Catriona Matthew shot her second straight 4-under 68 to take a three-stroke lead at 11-under 205 after the third round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico. Suzann Pettersen (71) was second. Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, 51, tied for the lead after the first two rounds in the 36-player event, was 5 under after 75. She is trying to become the oldest winner in LPGA Tour history. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot 3-under 69 and was at par 216.

european: Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano shot 10-under 61 for a three-shot lead after the second round of the rain-delayed Singapore Open. He was at 15-under 127. In second were James Morrison and Edoardo Molinari, who both had 68s. Phil Mickelson shot 67 and was 4 under in a group that also included Ernie Els (66). Play was suspended just as the third round began because of the threat of lightning. It never resumed because of rain continued, and officials shortened the tournament to three rounds.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, November 12, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C.

He was the first one off the field, the first one into the locker room. As Florida players trudged, and as Steve Spurrier cele­brated, Will Muschamp seemed to be the only person in the stadium walking with a purpose.

Maybe he was hurrying away from the disappointment. Maybe he was rushing toward a new day. Either way, the first-year Florida coach left a lot of questions in his wake.

This is the way it goes at big-time programs. If you're not collecting victories, then you're picking up critics. And right now, Muschamp's wins are not stacked real high.

For the first time in 25 years, the Gators have a losing record in the SEC after falling 17-12 to South Carolina on Saturday. Their streak of losses against ranked teams has risen to nine.

So is this Muschamp's fault? Sure, some of it. Maybe a lot of it.

When you're the most penalized team in the nation, when you're 110th in turnover margin, when you've lost this many close games, it's hard not to look at the coach.

It's even worse when you've never been a head guy before and you're with a program that could justify a full-time employee just for trophy polishing.

But blame is not important today. There is enough of that to go around.

The bigger question is whether Muschamp has justified or damaged UF's faith in him. It may be way too soon for a referendum on Muschamp's fortunes as a head coach, but a 5-5 record at Florida tends to look a lot like chum.

Eight games into his SEC career, and Muschamp already has five losses. Galen Hall didn't lose five until his 14th league game. It took Ron Zook 17 SEC games. Urban Meyer was in his 19th, and Spurrier played 38 SEC games before losing five.

"I hate this for Gator Nation. I hate it for our coaching staff. I hate it for Will," said UF athletic director Jeremy Foley. "The guy is a competitor. He's got a fire in his belly. I've had to tell him, 'Will, I can't help you. It's unfortunate, but I can't help you get through this. The future only comes one day at a time.'

"For successful coaches, and I've been around them, the Billy Donovans of the world, the Kevin O'Sullivans of the world, the Urban Meyers, it's always one day at a time. We can't just fast-forward tomorrow and it will be next year. We'll go back to work. And we'll be okay. We'll be fine."

Suggest to Foley that the sniping is bound to grow, and he dismisses the thought with a wave of his hand. He has been through it before and understands the feeding of the beast.

If anything, he says, he is more impressed with Muschamp today than 11 months ago, when he hired him to replace Meyer.

"He's a hard worker. All of his coaches are," Foley said. "I like the way Will handles himself. He doesn't make excuses. He accepts responsibility. 'It's all on me.' He says it every time we lose. 'It starts with me.'

"He doesn't blame the youth. He does say we need more numbers, but that's a fact. We have less than 70 on scholarship. Saying that is not an excuse."

If you are so inclined, this is where Muschamp deserves some slack. The Gators have lost some players early to the NFL, some to transfers and some to injuries. Some hotshot recruits have turned out to be busts.

The receivers look pedestrian, and the defensive line does not appear to have many prospects. There is also the issue of Meyer recruiting specific types of players who do not seem to fit the offense being run by new coordinator Charlie Weis.

All of this is true. All of this is valid.

At the same time, shouldn't Florida be able to rise above that? A 10-2 record might be unrealistic every year, but then again, .500 has to be unacceptable.

So yes, there is room to criticize how the roster has been used. And there are legitimate doubts about the team's discipline on the field and its identity on offense.

Now in his 22nd year as a college coach, Spurrier has never been in charge of a more futile passing attack. Yet he has adapted. He's winning with defense. With a running game. He's lost his No. 1 QB and No. 1 running back and is still alive in the SEC race.

Muschamp and Weis have not yet shown that ability to rise above shortcomings. Maybe their roster problems are more acute than Spurrier's at South Carolina. And maybe, at this point next season, Muschamp will be looking like the brightest young guy in the SEC.

"He's going to keep working. He's going to keep grinding. There is no woe-is-me," Foley said. "He'll probably be back in his office tonight. When you work that hard, you have a chance to be really special."

Muschamp still has plenty of time to prove that.

Even if it's a little less time than he started with.

Times wires
Saturday, November 12, 2011

CINCINNATI — Tony Miliano's tying field goal try barely got off the ground when Eain Smith dived in from the side and swatted it away, keeping West Virginia in the Big East race.

Pretty much everybody else, too.

The Mountaineers erased a fourth-quarter deficit behind Geno Smith, then swatted away No. 23 Cincinnati's kick in the closing seconds Saturday for a 24-21 victory that left the conference race wide open.

"It's about how much energy we played with," said WVU coach Dana Holgorsen, who had threatened to leave players back in Morgantown if they didn't give a better effort in practice last week. "… We talked about not hanging our heads on the sideline. Our talks weren't about X's and O's this week."

The Bearcats lost senior quarterback Zach Collaros to a right ankle injury in the second quarter. Coach Butch Jones said Collaros would have tests to determine the severity of the injury.

Untested sophomore quarterback Munchie Legaux got the 48,152 fans at Paul Brown Stadium chanting his first name when he led the Bearcats to two touchdowns for a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. He ran 7 yards for a score, and Isaiah Pead went 10 yards for his second.

Smith then led a 10-play drive that culminated in Shawne Alston's 1-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown with 8:52 left.

PITT 21, LOUISVILLE 14: Tino Sunseri threw for one TD and ran for one as the Panthers got their first road win under coach Todd Graham, ending the Cardinals' three-game winning streak.

RUTGERS 27, ARMY 12: Mohamed Sanu set a Big East season record for catches for the Scarlet Knights at Yankee Stadium. Sanu's 93rd catch broke the mark of 92 by Pitt's Larry Fitzgerald in 2003.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, November 12, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Somewhere, you imagine, Bobby Bowden might have changed the channel. Somewhere else, Jimmy Johnson might have lost his lunch.

This is what they have done to their game? This is what remains of the most essential rivalry in college football? This is how far FSU and Miami have fallen?

It was ugly as roadkill, this one. It was penalties and replays and turnovers and pestilence and locusts and botched plays and bad calls and bad football. It was enough to make every All-American who has ever taken part in the rivalry hold his nose.

On the other hand, it was FSU over Miami.

For Jimbo Fisher, and for the others who follow his program, that never feels bad.

There was nothing classic about FSU's 23-19 victory over Miami Saturday evening. No one will win a national championship from here, and no one will win a Heisman. More than anything, this was FSU proving why it was No. 43 and Miami proving why it was No. 45 (in the Anderson-Hester computer rankings, one of the BCS components) while scouts from the Chik-Fil-A Bowl looked on.

Still, that was Miami on the other sideline.

For FSU, there are worse ways to spend an afternoon.

"You win the game," said Fisher. "You find a way to win. That's part of athletics. Everyone wants you to be pretty. Everyone wants you to be perfect.

"Competing doesn't work that way. That's in the movies. I keep saying this isn't entertainment. It's competition, and there is a difference. In entertainment, you script it, you set it up and a guy makes the big play, the heroic play. He throws a TD or makes the big run. This is real life.

"Do we have problems? Yes. Do we have to fix some things? Yes. But there is a knack for learning how to win."

Give the Seminoles credit for that. It was the fifth straight win for FSU, which forgives a lot of stumbling. As a program, FSU is like a guy circling the frat house as he tries to find his way to the party. For all it may have lacked, this was at least a step toward reclaiming the program that used to be.

Yes, the Seminoles have to be better. They rushed for only 63 yards all night. They fielded a punt at their own goal line. They had 10 penalties. They gave up 124 more yards than they gained and nine more first downs than they made. They did not take advantage of several opportunities to close out the game.

Miami? Miami was worse. It muffed punts and it threw interceptions and it seemed as if it had never covered a kick.

"The flow of that game was weird," Fisher said. "It was a different type of game. It wasn't fluid. There was no rhythm to the game. It was two teams scratch and clawing."

Actually, if you count the officiating, there were three teams that were struggling. There were eight reviews and 19 penalties. There was a fumble that wasn't a fumble and safety that wasn't a safety and a replay ruling that was overturned after a second replay ruling.

For those who remember the classic Miami-FSU matchups, where both teams always seemed to be ranked high and the rosters were chocked with No. 1 draft picks and the play was thrilling and the result usually came down to a last-second kick (usually missed by FSU), then this was a stunning sight, as if the rivalry had been taken over by, oh, North Dakota vs. South Dakota.

Still, FSU won.

Still, it beat the alternative.

"When you start to become a good team, you don't always play well," Fisher said. "But you can figure out how to scratch and claw and make plays at the right time and win. Hopefully, that's what we're learning to do."

Bottom line, there is no problem with winning ugly. If Fisher is indeed going to rebuild this program, it will take some days like this. Sometimes, you have to travel dirt roads, and sometimes, you hit a few potholes.

No, this was not the FSU that Fisher, or perhaps you, wants it to be. It was not smooth enough. It was not explosive enough. It was not pretty enough.

For FSU, however, it was a win.

Sometimes, that's enough.

Times staff
Saturday, November 12, 2011

Sprint Cup scouting report: Phoenix

You can throw out the record books for this one, the second-to-last race in the Chase for the Championship. Phoenix International Raceway has been repaved since the February race, meaning the 1-mile oval might be even trickier than usual. And qualifying gave little hint as to who would have the edge in what has basically become a two-driver battle for the Sprint Cup championship — leader Carl Edwards qualified ninth for today's race and second-place Tony Stewart will line up eighth. Kevin Harvick, pole-sitter Matt Kenseth and Brad Keselowski are just trying to hang on in the title race but if Edwards or Stewart finish in the top five today it's all over for them.

Times wires

Saturday, November 12, 2011

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Phoenix International Raceway had become like a comfortable old chair for NASCAR drivers over the past 20 years: cracked and creaky, yet familiar and fitting.

This weekend, it's like something fresh out of the box.

Repaved and reconfigured, the mile oval will look and feel vastly different for NASCAR's second race at the track this season than it did nine months ago.

That's going to add a whole lot of extra intrigue, not to mention some guesswork by the teams and drivers, for the penultimate race in the Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship.

"With two races spread out the way that they have it, I guess they felt that during the offseason wasn't going to be right for them," Jeff Gordon said. "I'm sure it's something that many of us would disagree with, especially with how much it is going to change things for the championship, but I think it's their choice and their decision."

Despite its flaws and eccentricities, PIR had become a place where veteran drivers felt comfortable since its last repave 20 years ago.

But the track became too worn down.

"It just got to the point where we were just patching patches," track president Bryan Sperber said. "The last weekend we had in February, we had the track break apart in four or five different places and had to go in at night to fix it."

Normally at a track such as Phoenix, teams have a deep database. But with the repaving and the alterations to the banking and dogleg, they're nearly starting anew.

"They did a really nice job with the work they've done here, so it's just a matter of us trying to figure out what we have to be good for the weekend now," said Tony Stewart, three points behind Carl Edwards.

PIR did its best to break in the track. In addition to tire tests in August and October, the track ran a tire dragging machine that spun 80 tires over the track for more than 90 hours. It also had some lower-series drivers turn laps last week in an attempt to widen the upper groove.

But still it could take drivers in today's race a little while to get comfortable with this new version of PIR.

Times wires
Saturday, November 12, 2011

DAYTONA BEACH — David Blackwell rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two as Bethune-Cookman's ground game was too much for Savannah State in a 59-3 win Saturday.

Blackwell ran for 203 yards on six carries as the Wildcats amassed 431 yards rushing on 41 carries. Blackwell scored on runs of 80, 37 and 59 yards. He also completed 8 of 10 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

The Wildcats piled up 625 yards of total offense, but their quick scores enabled Savannah State to hold possession for 33:52 compared to 26 minutes for Bethune-Cookman.

The Wildcats (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) have won five in a row. They allowed their fewest points since beating South Carolina State 14-0 on Oct. 16, 2010. Savannah State has lost six in a row, the past four by a combined 173-18.

The Wildcats face Florida A&M Saturday at the Florida Classic in Orlando.

FAMU 31, N.C. CENTRAL 10: Eddie Rocker carried 17 times for 128 yards and Damien Fleming passed for 186 yards and two touchdowns to lead the visiting Rattlers (7-3, 5-2 MEAC).

JU 34, BUTLER 24: Josh McGregor threw for a career-high 422 yards to help the host Dolphins (7-3, 6-1 Pioneer League) rally. McGregor threw touchdowns to Larry Thompson, Josh Philpart and Adrian Riley as Jacksonville erased a 21-10 deficit.

FIU 41, FAU 7: T.Y. Hilton returned a punt 97 yards for a score, and the host Panthers (6-4, 3-3 Sun Belt) beat the Owls (0-9, 0-6) for the first time since 2005 and become bowl eligible for the second year in a row.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

DURHAM, N.C. — Mike Krzyzewski hustled off the court, as he has done many times during three-plus decades at Duke.

The Hall of Fame coach tried to turn this one into just another victory, and it didn't work.

This time, Coach K caught his college coach on the career wins list.

Krzyzewski tied Bob Knight atop the Division I men's list with his 902nd victory in No. 6 Duke's 96-55 rout of Presbyterian on Saturday.

"Whenever an individual coaching honor occurs, it's because of your players and your assistants and the infrastructure you build," Krzyzewski said. "You're just the recipient of a lot of good things, then, because you're the head of it. Good players and unselfish kids win a lot of ballgames."

Ryan Kelly had 17 points for the Blue Devils (2-0), who shot 61 percent and used a huge first-half run to deliver another milestone victory to their Hall of Fame coach. Krzyzewski improved to 902-284 during his 37th season as a college coach at Army and Duke. He can pass Knight, his coach and mentor, Tuesday night against Michigan State at Madison Square Garden.

Krzyzewski entered this season needing three wins to pass Knight and repeatedly has said how proud he is that the first two Division I men's coaches to reach 900 wins are a coach and his former point guard. That bond, naturally, led to some good-natured needling between the two.

"He says to me, 'Michael … can you tell your kids to win those three games real quick?' " Krzyzewski said. "I said, 'Coach, yeah, those first three, every game's important.' He says, 'No, no, not for that. I'm getting tired of saying nice things about you.'

"He says, 'Tell your players I'm getting angry, and maybe that will motivate them.' I said, 'Well, Coach, I've spent my entire life trying to make sure you haven't been angry.' "

NO. 5 SYRACUSE 78, FORDHAM 53: Kris Joseph scored 16 and Dion Waiters 14 for the host Orange in its season opener.

NO. 15 WIS. 85, KENNESAW ST. 31: Ben Brust and Josh Gasser had 14 points each, and the host Badgers tied a team record with 15 3-pointers in their season opener.

UCF 74, ST. THOMAS (FLA.) 61: Keith Clanton had 18 points and Isaiah Sykes 15 to lead four players in double figures for the host Knights, who held off the NAIA Bobcats in their season opener despite making 26 of 47 free throws and committing 20 turnovers.

COACH BLASTS LOGOS: Michigan State Tom Izzo ripped the practice of painting logos at midcourt for special events after one of his players was hurt during Friday's Carrier Classic. "We've got to get rid of those logos in the middle of the court," Izzo said. "We can put logos other places. I'll wear logos to support the people who sponsor us. They can paint me. But we have to get rid of the logos for the safety of the players." Spartans freshman Branden Dawson slipped on the logo while running and twisted his knee but later returned.

LATE FRIDAY: Ashley Hamilton had 23 points, Anthony Ireland added 21 and Loyola Marymount upset No. 17 UCLA 69-58 in the teams' season opener, the Bruins' first game in their temporary home at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. UCLA was in the preseason poll for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

Times wires
Saturday, November 12, 2011

DAYTONA BEACH — USF blew several opportunities to pull out a victory Saturday, falling 65-61 to Arkansas in overtime in the Women's Basketball Invitational Tipoff.

USF (0-2) rallied late in regulation, forcing overtime when Caitlin Rowe grabbed a rebound and put it back to tie it at 56. But a costly turnover late in OT squelched a final chance.

"You don't lose games in the final minute of overtime," coach Jose Fernandez said. "There were so many opportunities to win this game early on, but we couldn't do it."

Arkansas opened the extra period with a 6-0 run before the Bulls came back.

USF cut the lead to 62-58 on a driving layup by Jasmine Wynne with 50 seconds left. Tahira Johnson then got fouled and hit the first free throw. She missed the second, but Tiffany Conner grabbed the rebound and put it back to cut it to 62-61 with 21 seconds left.

C'eira Ricketts, a preseason All-SEC selection who scored 28 for the Razorbacks, went to the line with 15 seconds left and hit 1 of 2 free throws. Andrell Smith took the ball up the right sideline but forced a pass to Saunders that was picked off.

Saunders had 16 points, all after halftime, and made all six free throws. Smith had 12 points and nine rebounds.

NO. 14 FSU 68, MINN. 56: Alexa Deluzio had 17 points and sparked a 15-2 run in the final minutes with back-to-back 3-pointers, leading the Seminoles (2-0) in the WBI Tipoff.

Rachel Banham's 3-pointer with 6:39 to play pulled the Golden Gophers within 51-50, but Florida State held Minnesota to two points in the next 5:34.

"The defensive end is where it happened," FSU coach Sue Semrau said. "To be able to buckle down on the second day (of the tournament), playing another BCS school and hold a team (nearly) scoreless for six minutes and only to six points — four free throws and one jumper — in the last seven minutes is a huge complement to our growth, and you want that."

ECKERD 60, UWF 58: Junior forward Krystal Charles spun away in the post and hit an 8-foot leaner with 4.8 seconds left to lift the host Tritons to a season-opening win.

CLAYTON ST. 55, TAMPA 47: The defending Division II national champion Lakers overcame 50 percent shooting by the host Spartans (0-2).

Top 25

NO. 20 UNC 109, GARDNER-WEBB 44: Chay Shegog tied her career high with 19 points and had 10 rebounds and Laura Broomfield added 15 points and 14 rebounds for the host Tar Heels.

ST. BONAVENTURE 64, NO. 25 ST. JOHN'S 58: Megan Van Tatenhove had 16 points and Jessica Jenkins 14, and the visiting Bonnies rallied to their first victory over a ranked team since 2008 in the season opener for both.

COACH HITS MILESTONE: Villanova coach Harry Perretta became the 22nd Division I women's coach to reach 600 victories after the Wildcats beat Iona 76-47 in the Gaels' Tip-Off tournament in New Rochelle, N.Y.