By Mark Chisholm, Times Correspondent
Saturday, December 10, 2011

BRANDON — The 10th annual Jim Graves Invitational once again was host Brandon's time to shine on a national level.

The storied wrestling program walked away with the team title, besting 18 other schools. Their ninth Graves win included eight individual finalists and six champions.

National powers invited included Camden County (Ga.), Vestavia Hills (Ala.) and Carol Stream (Ill.) Glenbard North. All have won state titles over the past two years.

Brandon totaled 667 points to outdistance runnersup Camden and Glenbard North, which scored 547 and 532, respectively.

Senior Clark Glass led the way for the Eagles.

The four-time state champion pinned his opponent just as he did in last year's Graves tournament final.

"I love putting on the maroon and white, representing Brandon," Glass said.

"You're expected to be good. I like the challenge of living up to that."

The Eagles' other champions were: Dylan Lucas (106), James Flint (113), Rossi Bruno (126), Kevin Norstrem (132) and Jacob Haydock (170).

The bay area's only other finalist was Lennard's Freddy Guevara. The 285-pounder led Camden's Alex Washington 2-0 in the final minute of the match before getting pinned.

Brandon coach Russ Cozart said he was pleased with the high level of wrestling displayed.

"Great teams, great tradition. That's what the whole deal is about: great competition," he said. "I thought it was a great tournament. The season's still young, and I can see improvement in my guys already."

The tournament drew nearly 700 to Bryant gym on Brandon's campus over two days.

Times wires
Saturday, December 10, 2011

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Christian Watford's buzzer-beating shot Saturday night put Indiana right back on the basketball map.

He never even got to see whether the 3-pointer counted.

With students pouring onto the court and officials scrambling to reach the scorer's table for a replay review, Watford's teammates and Indiana's fans didn't even bother waiting for the call. They already knew Indiana's 73-72 upset of No. 1 Kentucky would hold up.

"I thought it was good, so I would have been, like, stunned if it wasn't," said coach Tom Crean, who stood next to the officials, pressed up against the table. "And I have no idea how we would have got that game finished if it wasn't."

He wasn't joking and, fortunately, nobody had to figure out how to get everyone back in the stands.

A few minutes later, when the call finally came, Crean pumped his fist and raced through the crowd, looking for his wife and kids.

He wasn't the only one trying to get through the chaos. Victor Oladipo went into the stands looking for his mother, who had traveled from Maryland to watch. And Watford still had to get up after hitting the deck, looking up and seeing all the students, signs and raw emotion around him.

"I was scared for him because there were people all over him," said Jordan Hulls, a Bloomington native and the only player on the roster who could remember such a crazy scene at Assembly Hall.

The last time it happened was Jan. 7, 2001, when Kirk Haston hit a buzzer-beating 3 from the right wing to beat then-No. 1 Michigan State. The only difference this time was that it came from the left wing.

It gave Indiana the biggest win of Crean's four seasons in Bloomington.

"It felt great," Watford said of the shot after scoring the last of his 20 points. "You can't really tell if it's going in. But I got it off, it felt great, it looked like I got enough rotation on it and it went in."

Indiana is 9-0 for the first time since 1989-90. Kentucky (8-1) will likely lose its hold on the top spot this week after a two-week reign.

NO. 13 KANSAS 78, NO. 2 OHIO ST. 67: Thomas Robinson had 21 points, and the host Jayhawks (6-2) never trailed against the Buckeyes (8-1), who played without injured star forward Jared Sullinger. Kansas lost starting guard Tyshawn Taylor for about three weeks with a torn meniscus and sprained MCL in his right knee.

NO. 3 SYRACUSE 85, GW 50: Dion Waiters had 19 points and six steals, both career highs, to lead the host Orange (10-0), which is poised to move to No. 1 in the national rankings.

NO. 4 UNC 84, LONG BEACH ST. 78: Former Sickles standout John Henson had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the host Tar Heels (8-2), who rallied from a 45-40 halftime deficit.

NO. 5 LOUISVILLE 80, FDU 58: Gorgui Dieng had 14 points and 12 rebounds to lift the Cardinals (9-0) to their 17th straight win at the KFC Yum! Center.

NO. 7 DUKE 86, WASHINGTON 80: Freshman Austin Rivers scored 18 for the Blue Devils (9-1), who hung on at Madison Square Garden despite making only 12 of 18 free throws over the final 2:30.

NO. 10 MISSOURI 84, NAVY 59: Marcus Denmon had 22 points for the host Tigers (9-0), who matched their best start since the 2006-07 season.

NO. 11 MARQUETTE 79, GREEN BAY 61: Jae Crowder had 21 points and seven rebounds as the host Golden Eagles (9-0) romped.

NO. 14 WISCONSIN 62, UNLV 51: Ben Brust came off the bench to score a career-high 25 for the host Badgers (8-2), who blew it open with a 13-0 run midway through the first half.

NO. 15 PITT 74, OKLA. ST. 68: Ashton Gibbs had 17 points, including three free throws in the final 17 seconds, to lead the Panthers (9-1) at Madison Square Garden.

NO. 17 MISS. ST. 106, TROY 68: Dee Bost had a season-high 28 points, Arnett Moultrie added 20 points and 12 rebounds and the host Bulldogs (9-1) won their eighth straight game.

NO. 18 G'TOWN 62, HOWARD 48: Playing their first game this season as a ranked team, the host Hoyas (8-1) held the Bison scoreless for nearly 10 minutes at the start then staved off a strong comeback bid.

SAINT JOSEPH'S 80, NO. 19 CREIGHTON 71: Carl Jones had 29 points as the host Hawks spoiled the first week in the Top 25 in five years for the Bluejays (7-1).

NO. 20 MICHIGAN 90, OAKLAND (MICH.) 80: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 of his 21 in the second half, and the host Wolverines (7-2) held off their in-state rival.

NO. 22 TEXAS A&M 67, LA.-MONROE 54: Khris Middleton returned after missing seven games with a torn meniscus in his right knee and scored 24 for the host Aggies (8-1).

MICH. ST. 74, NO. 23 GONZAGA 67: Draymond Green had 34 points for the Spartans, who upset the Bulldogs (5-1) for their first road win over a ranked non-conference team since 2002.

NO. 25 HARVARD 76, BU 52: Kyle Casey had 20 points and 11 rebounds to give the visiting Crimson (9-1) hope of holding onto its first-ever ranking.

UCF 53, B-CU 51: Isaiah Sykes hit two free throws with 3.5 seconds left and scored the final eight for the host Knights (6-2).

W. VA. 77, MIAMI 66: Darryl "Truck" Bryant scored a career-high 27 for the host Mountaineers, who handed the Hurricanes (5-4) their fourth loss in their past five games.

ECKERD 68, NOVA SE 58: Lance Kearse and Walade Wade had 12 points and five rebounds each, leading the host Tritons (4-2, 1-1 Sunshine State).

Women

NO. 9 MIAMI 76, OLE MISS 48: Riquna Williams had 17 points for the host Hurricanes (8-1), who secured the win on an 11-0 run during a 2:08 stretch midway through the second half.

FSU 90, AKRON 64: Cierra Bravard had a career-high 28 points and added 12 rebounds, and Natasha Howard had a career-best 24 points and tied a career high with 13 rebounds for the visiting Seminoles (5-5).

ECKERD 71, NOVA SE 55: Linsey Niles had 14 points for the host Tritons (6-1, 2-0 SSC), who blew it open with a 14-0 run bridging halftime.

TAMPA 53, SOUTHEASTERN 27: Sarah Wickham had 12 points for the host Spartans (5-5), who never trailed.

NO. 3 NOTRE DAME 66, NO. 12 PURDUE 38: The Irish (9-1) used their pressure defense to hold the host Boilermakers (7-2) to 24.1 percent shooting, fifth worst in school history.

NO. 13 OHIO ST. 84, CANISIUS 41: Tayler Hill had 21 points and Samantha Prahalis 20 for the host Buckeyes (8-0), who matched their best start in coach Jim Foster's 10 seasons.

NO. 15 LOUISVILLE 92, GARDNER-WEBB 27: Antonita Slaughter scored a career-high 23 for the host Cardinals (8-2), who opened with a 10-0 run.

NO. 25 TEXAS 61, MICH. ST. 53: Cokie Reed returned to the court after a hard fall in the first half and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for the host Longhorns (6-2).

Times wires
Saturday, December 10, 2011

The Florida volleyball team's run in the NCAA Tournament ended Saturday in Gainesville when No. 3 seed Illinois defeated the Gators 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

The unseeded Gators (26-6), in their first Elite Eight since 2005, lost 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 25-20 before 3,523 at the O'Connell Center.

Senior outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel had 19 kills to lead three Gators in double figures.

Colleen Ward had 23 kills to lead Illinois (31-4), which faces either USC or Pepperdine in the Final Four.

Both teams had seven blocks.

No. 12 seed Florida State (27-6) faced No. 4 Iowa State in a quarterfinal late Saturday in Minneapolis. The winner faces No. 9 UCLA, which defeated top seed Texas 3-1 in Lexington, Ky.

Soccer: College Cup has all-N.C. final

HOOVER, Ala. — The last meeting between North Carolina and Charlotte meant little.

Today, the two play for both a state and national title in the NCAA men's soccer final, four months after that August exhibition. Neither tournament top seed North Carolina nor unseeded Charlotte had reason to think back then they'd meet again in December.

"You know when we played them at the beginning of the season we knew they were a good team and we knew we were a good team but we weren't thinking that far ahead," Tar Heels defender Matt Hedges said Saturday, a day after UNC defeated UCLA in penalty kicks after a 2-2 regulation tie. "That would just be dumb to be thinking we might face you in the final at the first game."

In that Aug. 21 game. UNC led 2-1 when the game was called due to weather in the 70th minute. This is the first time the teams have met in a game that counted since 2001, the year the Tar Heels (21-2-2) won their first — and so far, only — NCAA title.

They're playing in their fourth consecutive College Cup. Charlotte (17-4-3) is trying to make the most of its second College Cup and first since 1996.

Times wires
Saturday, December 10, 2011

The Florida State volleyball team reached the Final Four for the first time in program history, defeating No. 4 seed Iowa State in five sets in the Minneapolis region final Saturday night.

The Seminoles (28-6), seeded 12th, reached next weekend's Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, winning 25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-11.

FSU faces No. 9 UCLA, which defeated top seed Texas 3-1 in Lexington, Ky., in the semifinals.

Florida's run ended in Gainesville with a 3-1 loss to No. 3 seed Illinois in the quarterfinals.

The unseeded Gators (26-6), in their first Elite Eight since 2005, lost 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 25-20 before 3,523 at the O'Connell Center.

"Unfortunately we didn't get every Gator's A game," Florida coach Mary Wise said. "And we knew that to win the match we would need everybody's A game.''

Senior outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel had 19 kills to lead three Gators in double figures. Colleen Ward had 23 kills to lead Illinois (31-4), which faces either USC or Pepperdine in the Final Four.

Soccer: College Cup has all-N.C. final

HOOVER, Ala. — The last meeting between North Carolina and Charlotte meant little.

Today, the two play for both a state and national title in the NCAA men's soccer final, four months after that August exhibition. Neither tournament top seed North Carolina nor unseeded Charlotte thought they'd meet again in December.

"You know when we played them at the beginning of the season we knew they were a good team and we knew we were a good team but we weren't thinking that far ahead," Tar Heels defender Matt Hedges said Saturday, a day after UNC (21-2-2) defeated UCLA in penalty kicks after a 2-2 regulation tie. "That would just be dumb to be thinking we might face you in the final at the first game."

UNC led that Aug. 21 game 2-1 when its was called due to weather in the 70th minute.

The Heels are in their fourth straight College Cup. Charlotte (17-4-3) is in its second College Cup and first since 1996.

Times staff
Sunday, December 11, 2011

A second-quarter collapse, in which the Bucs gave up 28 points in less than 8 minutes, led to Tampa Bay's seventh consecutive loss Sunday, falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 41-14.

The Bucs had seven turnovers on the day — three interceptions and four fumbles, including two that resulted in Jacksonville touchdowns — as they fell to 4-9 on the season. Tampa Bay has 17 turnovers in their last three games.

Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who entered the game as the NFL's leading receiver, scored a career high four touchdowns — two rushing and two receiving.

For a change, the game started well for Tampa Bay.

For the first time this season, the Bucs scored a touchdown on their opening possession, marching 80 yards in 10 plays for an early 7-0 lead. Josh Freeman hit third-down specialist Preston Parker for a 14-yard gain on third and 4 early in the drive. Then, facing fourth and 1 at the Jacksonville 36, Freeman rolled right on a play-action pass and found tight end Kellen Winslow for 28-yard pickup. LeGarrette Blount scored from the 1 two plays later.

Ronde Barber's third interception of the season, at the Bucs' 48, helped set up Tampa Bay's second touchdown, a 13-yard scramble up the middle by Freeman. Freeman hit fullback Erik Lorig for a 22-yard gain to the Jacksonville 16, then scored himself three plays for the 14-0 lead.

But then the wheels came off.

The Jaguars cut Tampa Bay's lead in half after Preston Parker's second fumbled punt of the game. Parker lost the ball when hit by Jacksonville running back Montell Owens, and tight end Colin Cloherty scooped it up and covered the final 9 yards for the touchdown. The score pulled the Jaguars within 14-7 with 7:36 left in the second quarter.

Jacksonville tied the score thanks to Blaine Gabbert's first big completion of the day. Gabbert hit Jarett Dillard for an 11-yard reception, then found Marcedes Lewis loose behind the Bucs secondary for a 62-yard gain to the Bucs 2. After Tampa Bay was flagged for too many men on the field, Maurice Jones-Drew powered in from the 1 for the tying touchdown with 2:05 left in the half.

Bucs the Jaguars were hardly done.

Another Bucs turnover enabled the Jaguars to take their first lead of the game just 12 seconds later. Facing first and 20 from his own 10 after a holding penalty, Freeman fumbled when hit by Jacksonville linebacker Daryl Smith and tackle Nate Collins recovered the loose ball in the end zone, giving the Jaguars a 21-14 lead with 1:53 left on the clock.

And another Freeman turnover, this time an interception by Ashton Youboty at the Bucs 49, helped the Jaguars score their fourth consecutive touchdown in less than 8 minutes. Gabbert completed 5 of 7 passes in the drive, including the 5-yard scoring toss to Jones-Drew with just 4 seconds left, to give the Jaguars a 28-14 halftime lead.

Jones-Drew picked up his third touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter, capping a 10-play, 74-yard drive. Jones-Drew had a 14-yard run and receptions of 17 and 10 yards before his 5-yard touchdown reception. His backup, DuJuan Harris, added a 24-yard run as the Jaguars extended their lead to 35-14 with 10:22 left to play.

Jacksonville tried to take mercy on the Bucs later in the game, choosing to attempt a fourth-and-9 pass rather than tack on a field goal from the Bucs 19. But Tampa Bay's E.J. Biggers was flagged for "hitting a defenseless receiver" on the incomplete pass, giving the Jaguars a first down at the 9. Jones-Drew scored his fourth touchdown three plays later.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, December 11, 2011

JACKSONVILLE — After the Buccaneers committed seven turnovers Sunday, including three during a gift-wrapped stretch of 7:32 in the second quarter during which the Jaguars scored 28 points, discarded gloves were strewn across the locker room floor at EverBank Field.

But the equipment staff didn't bother searching for the owners of the abandoned mitts. Because, like the loss, everybody had a hand in it.

The Bucs fumbled six times and lost four — including two that turned into touchdowns — blowing a 14-0 lead to fall 41-14 to a Jaguars team that had not scored more than 20 points in a game all season.

The seventh straight defeat for the Bucs (4-9) also featured three interceptions, including two by starter Josh Freeman.

"You have to hold onto the ball," coach Raheem Morris said.

"You're carrying everybody's livelihood in your arm."

So how did the Jaguars (4-9), the second-lowest scoring team in the NFL prior to Sunday (now the fourth-lowest), pile up 28 points over the final eight minutes of the first half?

• Preston Parker, who fumbled away the first punt he attempted to field under a weepy sky, got the snowball rolling with the Bucs leading 14-0. After he was hit by Montell Owens (who also forced Parker's first fumble) at the Tampa Bay 20, the ball bounced to the 8. Colin Cloherty scooped it up and ran it in for a touchdown with 7:36 remaining. Parker was replaced as the punt returner in favor of Micheal Spurlock and refused to comment after the game.

• Safety Tanard Jackson bit on a pump fake by Jags rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert, allowing tight end Marcedes Lewis to slip through the secondary for a 62-yard reception to the Bucs 2. That set up the first of four touchdowns by running back Maurice Jones-Drew, this one a 1-yard plunge to tie the score with 2:05 left. "One of our better players can't guess," Morris said of Jackson's mistake. "You've got to go do your job."

• Freeman, playing despite a sore right (throwing) shoulder, was sacked and lost a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by tackle Nate Collins. The touchdown, which came 12 seconds after Drew's score, gave the Jaguars a 21-14 lead.

• Just 51 seconds later, Freeman's first of two interceptions set up Gabbert's 5-yard touchdown flip to Jones-Drew with four seconds left that made it 28-14.

"It was a bit of a snowball effect," Freeman said. "Everything was going perfectly. We had the first fumble and recovered from that. The second fumble, third fumble, interception — that's three turnovers in like half a quarter."

Freeman admitted he played in some pain and lost some velocity off a few passes, but he wasn't making excuses.

"Regardless of how everything felt, being out there as the quarterback of this team, I've got to go out there and execute better, point-blank," Freeman said. "Some of those things that really didn't go our way, I've got to find a way to right the ship and get it done.

"A few (passes) kind of died on me and got away from me. But like I said, you can't make an excuse. I took practice reps, and I just have to play better."

For good measure, Josh Johnson replaced Freeman late in the game and — what else? — threw an interception on his very first attempt.

Running back LeGarrette Blount, who fumbled twice in the rain at Tennessee two weeks ago, put the ball on the ground two more times Sunday, losing one. Dragging defenders for a 23-yard run in the third quarter, he was stripped by linebacker Russell Allen, and end Jeremy Mincey recovered.

"When you have five, six, seven turnovers in the game, and your running back can't hang onto the football, now you have a problem," said Blount, who has lost just those three fumbles this season.

"The guys I go against are professionals also. They watch game film and see that I've fumbled the ball a few times. They're going to go for it. That's a weakness I have to work on to make stronger."

After the game, Morris said the Bucs will work on fundamentals during practice this week, such as holding onto the football. As they proved Sunday, turnovers and losing go together like a hand and glove.

"You get a bunch of turnovers," he said, "they're going to score a bunch of points."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com.

By Jackie Otto, Times Correspondent
Sunday, December 11, 2011

What's hot: Time for a change? Try going after our tastiest inshore fish: flounder, sheepshead and mangrove snapper. These three are abundant in Tampa Bay and can be found wherever rocks and sand meet. Find oysters encrusted on docks, jetties and seawalls, and you will have a chance to have some fun with the less-popular inshore fish. Mangrove snapper's legal length to keep is 10 inches. Flounder and sheepshead need to be 12 inches. Some of the best places to catch these fish are near docks in the Fort De Soto area, the rocks at the entrances (both north and south) of the Sunshine Skyway bridge and most of the intracoastal bridges.

Techniques: For all of these species, use a small No. 1 or No. 1/0 hook (circle hook for snapper as it is considered a reef fish) and a rod and reel heavy enough to handle a 15- to 20-pound line. Use a split-shot sinker large enough to hold your bait near the oysters or rocks and 20- to 25-pound fluoro­carbon leader. The bait of choice at this time of year would be shrimp or oyster meat.

Tips: Oysters and green mussels are abundant at all bridges. Scrape them into a bucket from the pilings using a shovel. Crush them with a hammer. Use the meat for bait and the leftovers as chum (shells and all). Wear protective gloves to avoid cuts, and remember do not scrape from private property, including residential docks.

Jackie Otto can be reached at Betts Fishing Center at (727) 518-7637 and jackieotto@msn.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, December 11, 2011

. Tonight

Lightning vs. Devils

When/where: 7; St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa

TV/radio: Versus; 970-AM

Key stats: The Devils have the league's top penalty kill at 93.4 percent and have killed 74 of 78 penalties (94.8 percent) in their past 21 games. … Tampa Bay's power play is 2-for-23 in its past eight games. … New Jersey has been outscored 36-20 in the third period. … The Devils have allowed a league-worst eight shorthanded goals.

Times wires
Sunday, December 11, 2011

Golf

Donald wins historic double in money titles

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Luke Donald became the first golfer to win the PGA Tour and European Tour money titles, finishing third in the Dubai World Championship on Sunday behind winner Alvaro Quiros.

Quiros made a 40-foot eagle putt on No. 18 for 5-under 67 and a two-shot victory at 19-under 269 over 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie (67).

The top-ranked Donald, 34, who won the PGA title earlier, had to finish better than ninth or hope Rory McIlroy didn't win. McIlroy, weakened by a virus, tied for 11th at 9-under 279 after finishing with 71. That left him more than $1.34 million behind Donald, who shot 66 and finished 16 under.

"You know, this is something I've wanted for the past few months," said Donald, who has just come back from five weeks off, during which he buried his father and became a father for the second time. "The last six holes were kind of surreal."

McIlroy, this year's U.S. Open champion, believes he picked up a mild case of dengue fever when he played tournaments in South Korea and China recently. He said he wouldn't play again until next month's European Tour event in Abu Dhabi.

Franklin Templeton Shootout: Keegan Bradley, this year's PGA Championship winner, and Brendan Steele shot 13-under 59 in scramble play to become the first PGA Tour rookies to win the tournament at Naples. They finished at 32-under 184 for a three-stroke victory over two teams.

Sailing

Clearwater's Railey wins world bronze

Paige Railey of Clearwater won the bronze medal in Laser Radial at the world championships in Perth, Australia, after finishing ninth in the medal race.

She was in third overall going into the race and had a chance to move up to second with a good performance. Soon after the start, Railey was on the wrong side of the course and slowly fell behind the fleet. "Off the start there were a lot of quick moves, and I was just on the wrong side of them," she told USA Sailing. "It's good to win bronze here."

Marit Bouwmeester of the Netherlands won the gold medal and Evi van Acer of Belgium silver.

Clearwater's Zach Railey, Paige's brother and 2008 Olympic Finn silver medalist, finished ninth in Finn after the medal race.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie of Britain was disqualified in Finn after a championship jury found him guilty of gross misconduct for grappling with a cameraman on a media boat after a race late Saturday. Ainslie called the disqualification a "massive overreaction." The 2008 Olympic Finn gold medalist was leading the class by eight points.

On the first day of Star racing, Mark Mendel- blatt of St. Petersburg and teammate Brian Fatih of Miami were fourth overall after second- and ninth-place finishes.

Et cetera

Cross country skiing: American Kikkan Randall won her second straight World Cup freestyle sprint at Davos, Switzerland.

Figure skating: World champions and 2010 Olympic silver medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States won the ice dance at the International Skating Union Grand Prix Final. Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the 2010 Olympic champions, took the silver.

short-track speed skating: American Katherine Reutter won a World Cup 1,000 meters at Shanghai, China.

Times wires

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, December 11, 2011

TAMPA — USF coach Stan Heath went into Sunday's game against Florida A&M with just six healthy scholarship players available, with two Bulls limited by strep throat, another healthy but suspended, and another leaving to transfer.

All that didn't matter as the Bulls (6-4), trailing with five minutes left in the first half, scored the next 17 and cruised to an 83-59 win at the University of Tampa's Martinez Center against a team winless against Division I opponents.

Junior forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick, a former King High standout, had a career-best 25 points on 11-for-16 shooting, and guard Hugh Robertson, starting due to Victor Rudd's illness, had nine points and 21 rebounds, the latter the second-most by a Bull in the past 19 years.

"Toarlyn, I thought, was very good on the offensive end, knocking down shots, being aggressive and being versatile," Heath said. "I thought Hugh Robertson was just fantastic — his energy level, just his effort plays, rebounding the ball and rebounding the ball and rebounding the ball."

Freshman point guard Anthony Collins continued his strong play, with 10 points in the first half and a season-high eight assists and three steals against just two turnovers. The starters limited by illness, Rudd and center Ron Anderson, both played, with Rudd getting 11 points in 23 minutes; Anderson played three minutes. Guard Shaun Noriega went 3-for-6 on 3-pointers for 12 points, his best showing since the season opener.

The Bulls announced before the game that sophomore point guard Lavonte Dority had left the team and is seeking to transfer. His minutes had dropped considerably with the arrival of Collins — after averaging 26 points in the first three games, he totaled three in the previous two games.

Guard Reggie Lewis led Florida A&M (2-8) with 17 points and five assists.

The Bulls play Wednesday at Auburn, then play host to Cleveland State on Saturday at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Times staff
Sunday, December 11, 2011

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, December 11, 2011

TAMPA — Why is shooting the puck seemingly such a chore for the Lightning?

We're not talking about getting shots on net or avoiding blocked shots, but just shooting.

"You'd think it would be easy enough," center Steven Stamkos said. "It seems easy. It should be easy, but we're not doing it."

The problem was on brutal display during Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Flyers, when Tampa Bay was outshot 32-19, including 26-11 in the final two periods, and had three shots on four power plays.

On two critical power plays when the Lightning could have padded a 1-0 lead, Tampa Bay, losers of six of seven games and 10 of 14, had zero shots.

"It should be more," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "We have to get more shots. We have to get more shots from the point. We have to get more shots off the rush, create that chaos."

Right now all the Lightning is doing is making it easier for its opponents.

• Tampa Bay's average of 28.5 shots per game entered Sunday 21st in the 30-team league. Last season its average of 31.8 shots tied for seventh.

• The problem is especially acute on the power play. The Lightning has only 131 shots in 102 opportunities with an extra man, a dreadful 1.3 average. It's no surprise the power play is on a 2 for 23 skid overall and 3-for-33 on the road.

• Shots equal goals, coach Guy Boucher likes to say. Tampa Bay's average of 2.52 goals entered Sunday 21st in the league, and the Lightning has scored more than two in just three of its past 15 games.

Saturday's loss drove Boucher to distraction, especially in the third period, when Tampa Bay had four shots and did not get a shot for 13 minutes, 1 second after Lecavalier's power-play goal cut its deficit to 3-2.

"First of all, we're not shooting," Boucher said. "We didn't shoot the whole third period. We had the slot open I don't know how many times, we don't shoot. We're looking for a play here, we're looking for a play there. If we don't shoot, we can't score, plain and simple."

It is a curious situation for a team with players such as Lecavalier, Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Teddy Purcell and Marc-Andre Bergeron, who can shoot with authority.

But Stamkos, who entered Sunday tied for third in the league with 16 goals, was 13th in the league with 102 shots. Lecavalier, with 11 goals, was 15th with 98.

But this isn't about how hard or fast one can shoot. It is about getting a commitment from everyone to develop a shoot-first mentality. It is about players not turning over pucks, working harder to get time in the offensive zone and being willing to go to the net and battle, something that will come in handy tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum against the defense-first Devils.

Bottom line: Tampa Bay has been outshot 892-827 in 29 games. That means 65 fewer chances to score. Over an 82-game season, that is 184 fewer chances.

"If we had the secret, we would do it," Lecavalier said about reversing the trend. "A good start would be to shoot the puck more and get the puck on net."

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8622. View his blog at lightning.tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @LightningTimes.

Times wires
Sunday, December 11, 2011

Texans rally earns first division title

CINCINNATI — Eighty yards to cover, a little more than two minutes left, no timeouts to help. Rookie quarterback T.J. Yates faced his biggest challenge.

He pulled it off.

Yates led the biggest drive in Texans history, which put them in the playoffs. His 6-yard score to Kevin Walter and Neil Rackers' PAT with 2 seconds left lifted Houston to its first postseason berth, an AFC South title, in its 10th season.

Houston clinched when Tennessee lost to New Orleans. The Texans screamed, hugged, and donned black championship caps and white T-shirts. Star receiver Andre Johnson, out with a strained hamstring, got a game ball for helping turn the team into a winner. "Words really can't describe it," said Johnson, who has spent all nine of his NFL seasons with Houston after being drafted third overall out of Miami in 2003. "It's something I've been waiting for for a long time."

Times wires
Sunday, December 11, 2011

Ravens roll again

BALTIMORE — As long as Terrell Suggs continues to go harass opposing quarterbacks, the Ravens will keep winning without star linebacker Ray Lewis.

Fellow linebacker Suggs had three sacks and forced three fumbles as part of an overwhelming defensive effort by Baltimore, which kept the Colts winless, three losses from the league's second 0-16 season. Lewis missed a fourth straight game with a right toe injury, but the Ravens have won each of those games.

"Right now I think we're all just doing our part holding the levee until the general gets back," Suggs said. "That's why I honestly think we're playing the way we are."

Times wires
Sunday, December 11, 2011

9 sacks lift Eagles

MIAMI — Michael Vick made a triumphant return from injury by throwing for 208 yards and a touchdown, and the Eagles had nine sacks to beat the Dolphins.

Philadelphia took advantage of three takeaways for 24 points in a nine-minute span in the second quarter and later sent Miami quarterback Matt Moore to the sideline with a head injury as the Dolphins were eliminated from the playoff picture.

"All the blame is squarely on our shoulders," guard Richie Incognito said. "We got Matt hurt. They're a physical group. They just beat us one-on-one."

The Eagles still need to sweep their final three for any chance to repeat as NFC East champions.

Times wires
Sunday, December 11, 2011

Jets keep charging toward playoffs

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mark Sanchez jogged onto the field for the first play of the game and immediately had to call an embarrassing timeout.

It was about the only thing that stopped the Jets all afternoon.

Sanchez became the first Jets quarterback to throw for two touchdowns and run for two more as New York improved its positioning in the AFC playoff race by cruising past the Chiefs.

The Jets, plagued by slow starts all season, opened with a timeout — and boos from the MetLife Stadium crowd — because they had the wrong personnel but rebounded to score 28 in the first half and hold the Chiefs to 4 yards in the first two quarters.

New York, which sacked Tyler Palko five times. leapfrogged Cincinnati, Tennessee and Oakland for the AFC's No. 6 spot.

"I guess it would be our best game so far this year," coach Rex Ryan said.

Times wires
Sunday, December 11, 2011

Ryan, Falcons stay on playoff course

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Ryan can't explain why he seems to own the Panthers. He just does.

Ryan led yet another comeback victory over Carolina, giving him six wins in his past seven starts against the division rival.

Ryan threw two of his four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rookie Julio Jones as Atlanta erased a 16-point halftime deficit. The Falcons quarterback matched his career high for TD passes and kept his team in playoff position with three games left.

"We approached it as the first of four legs," Ryan said. "We've knocked the first leg out and now we've got to move on and keep going."

In the first meeting Oct. 16, Atlanta trailed by three in the fourth quarter but rallied for a 31-17 win.

This time Ryan threw for 232 yards and three scores after halftime.

"He just kept his poise," Jones said of Ryan.

Times wires
Sunday, December 11, 2011

Patriots keep their cool, more or less

LANDOVER, Md. — Tom Brady's first interception in more than a month led to a screaming match on the sideline. That's how perfection-driven the Patriots are.

Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson's interception with 6:30 left set off an angry exchange between Brady and offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.

Brady cooled off enough to say later, "He let me have it; I deserved it."

New England's Rob Gronkowski set the NFL single-season mark for touchdown catches by a tight end; his 14th broke a tie with Antonio Gates (2004) and Vernon Davis (2009). He later added No. 15.

Washington had one last chance to tie, but Santana Moss tipped a pass into the hands of linebacker Jerod Mayo to save the day for a New England defense that ranks last in the league in yards allowed.

Times wires
Sunday, December 11, 2011

Lions survive despite face mask

DETROIT — DeAndre Levy had a fist full of Joe Webb's face mask, got away with it and wasn't apologizing for Detroit's good fortune.

"We get a lot of calls called against us," the linebacker said. "So, they owed us one if I did."

Webb, out of Florida Atlantic, relieved former Florida State star Christian Ponder, who was benched after his fourth turnover.

Webb had the Vikings 1 yard from a potential winning TD on the final snap, but he fumbled just before Levy's right hand tugged his face mask, and a penalty wasn't called.

Webb ran for a 65-yard score to pull the Vikings within 10 late in the third and threw a 2-yard TD to Toby Gerhart in the fourth.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Ponder will start next week if healthy. "I gave them 17 points in the first half," said Ponder, who was 11-of-21 with three interceptions.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, December 11, 2011

JACKSONVILLE

On the field, they are awful. Through the season, the Tampa Bay Bucs have identified who they are. They are worse by the week, and they might have just passed on their last chance to win.

On the sideline, they are terrible. Over a seven-game losing streak, the Bucs have established that, too. A season has slipped away from them, game after unwinnable game, and the notion of how to regain control seems to befuddle those who are in charge of coaching this team.

On the television screen, they are unbearable. They cannot hold onto the ball, and they cannot throw it straight, and they cannot tackle whichever opponent is scampering through them. They make pedestrian quarterbacks look like stars and star quarterbacks look like immortals.

Ah, but up in the owners' box, in the place where the big bosses sit?

How must the Bucs look from there?

As a season continues to turn into pestilence, this is the last question that matters.

What do the Glazers think?

It no longer matters how coach Raheem Morris describes another defeat; only what Joel says to Bryan about it. It no longer matters why quarterback Josh Freeman has regressed so severely; only what Bryan says to Ed. It no longer matters why the end zone the Bucs are defending is busier than a public park; only what Ed says to Joel.

It is in their hands. All of the important questions — and all of the impending answers — belong to them.

Do you blow it up now? Do you change coaches tomorrow? Do you wait until January?

Do you hire a general manager to replace Mark Dominik? Do you insist on free agents before next year? Are you still convinced Freeman is a franchise quarterback? Do you offer to refund tickets for games in which the Bucs allowed 30 points or more? Just to be nice, do you offer to black out road games, too?

Frankly, if the goal is to ever sell another ticket, it is time to do something. By now, it is obvious it will not be the players doing it. Or the coaches. Or the front office. Once again, Tampa Bay waits on the owners to get as embarrassed by all of this as the rest of us.

This was the worst loss of the season, of Morris' tenure, of the past decade. Over the years, the Bucs have lost a great many games, and some of them left fans feeling angry or sick or disgusted or betrayed. Try as I might, however, I can't remember one that was uglier than this one.

You think you have seen the worst of it. You have seen this Bucs team lose, and you have seen them backslide, and you have seen them unravel. You have questioned their effort and their talent and their ability to be coached. And you assume you are shockproof. You assume there is no misery they can unleash that will surprise you, no torture that will shock your senses.

Then they open a fresh can of inepti­tude, and zowie, they amaze you once more.

Start with this: Jacksonville is a dreadful team. Most weeks, it is like winning the lottery when the Jags get a first down. Whenever their rookie quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, somehow completes a pass, you want to stop the game and give him the ball. Through the first 12 games of this season, the Jags had not scored as many as 21 points in a game even once.

Against the Bucs?

They got 41, and it could have been more if the offense didn't spend much of the second half diagramming the Gatorade bath they gave interim coach Mel Tucker.

For crying out loud, how do you lose to this Jacksonville team by 27 points? Especially when you jump ahead 14-0? After that, however, came the avalanche. There might have never been a team that unraveled so fast and so far. Over 7:36, the Jags scored 28 points on 25 plays.

This is who the Bucs are. You should be required to get a tetanus shot and wear a gas mask before watching them. They are the zombies from The Walking Dead on offense and the ghosts from American Horror Story on defense.

Ask yourself this: Who are the Bucs going to end their losing streak against? Dallas on Saturday night? The Panthers in Carolina? The Falcons in Atlanta? They will be underdogs in all three games. They are the Sons of Booker Reese, and they are staring 4-12 in the eye.

Look, it's hard to lose seven in a row in the NFL. In the Bucs' first 32 seasons, they managed seven-game losing streaks only eight times (twice in the first season).

Throughout the game, you figure the Glazers might have discussed one or two of these points, too. Hey, they can't be happy, either. The stands are emptying, and the fans are restless, and this team looks as if it would lose to the 3-13 team of 2009 by 14 points.

So what are they going to do? We'll see. But I have to be honest. When Morris took 23 minutes before showing up for his news conference, I half expected an interim head coach to walk in instead.

Keep this in mind, however. They fired Jon Gruden after he lost only seven games in the regular season. They fired Tony Dungy after he lost only seven games in the regular season.

Morris? He has lost seven in a row.

And counting.