The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current, December 16, 2018, Image 8

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The times., December 16, 2018, Image 8

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Newspaper Page Text2B Sunday, December 16, 2018 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com SPORTS MEN’S COLLEGE BASKCTBALL I Top25 No. 1 Kansas holds off Villanova, 74-71 Associated Press Dedric Lawson had 28 points and 12 rebounds, Lag- erald Vick scored 29, and top-ranked Kansas made enough free throws down the stretch to beat No. 17 Villanova 74-71 Saturday in a rematch of last season’s Final Four showdown won by the Wildcats. Devon Dotson added 11 points for the Jayhawks (9-0), including four free throws in the final 1:10 to help Kansas end a three- game losing streak to Vil lanova — the last two in the NCAA Tournament. Collin Gillespie’s three- point play drew the Wildcats (8-4) within 69-65 with 31 seconds left, and Vick gave them an opening when he threw the ball away on the ensuing inbounds play. But Vick atoned for the mistake by pulling down a defensive rebound, and then calmly made a pair of free throws. Phil Booth finished with 29 points for the Wildcats. Eric Paschall scored 17 but was rendered ineffective down the stretch because of foul trouble. NO. 3 TENNESSEE 102, MEMPHIS 92:Admiral Schofield scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half and added 11 rebounds as Tennessee snapped a three- game skid to its in-state rival. The Volunteers (8-1) avoided any letdown after a weeklong layoff for finals since upsetting then-No. 1 ranked Gonzaga last week end in Phoenix. Grant Wil liams added 19 points for Tennessee. Kyvon Davenport scored 26 of his career-high 31 points after halftime and had 11 boards. Tyler Harris added 10 points for Mem phis (5-5). NO. 5 MICHIGAN 70, WESTERN MICHIGAN 62: Charles Matthews made a layup just before halftime to give No. 5 Michigan its first lead, and the smooth-shoot ing guard matched a season high with 25 points to help the undefeated Wolverines beat Western Michigan. Michigan (11-0) is off to its best start since it was 16-0 six seasons ago. The Broncos (5-5) were in control for much of the first half and led by eight points with 2:58 remaining after Michael Flowers scored 11 of his career-high 31 points in just over two minutes. NO. 14 BUFFALO 73, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 65: Nick Perkins had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 14 Buffalo beat Southern Illinois. CJ Massinburg scored 14 points, Davonta Jordan had 11 and the Bulls (10-0) con tinued their best start since 1930-31, when they finished 15-0. They have won 17 con secutive home games dating to last season. Sean Lloyd Jr. had 14 points for Southern Illinois (7-5) in its second straight loss. NO. 15 OHIO STATE 73, BUCKNELL 71: Kaleb Wesson had a career-high 20 points and Ohio State held off a comeback bid by Bucknell. Ohio State went on an 11-2 run to take an 11-point lead with under 10 minutes remaining, but Bucknell stormed back to within three with a 10-2 run and a late 3-pointer by Avi Toomer. The Bison got the ball with 14 seconds left, but a 3-point try by Bruce Moore hit the front of the rim. Keyshawn Woods had 13 points on 5-of-9 3-point shoot ing for Ohio State (9-1). Wes son had 10 rebounds. Toomer and Kimbal McK enzie led Bucknell (4-4) with 13 points each. NO. 19 KENTUCKY 88, UTAH 61: Freshman Keldon Johnson scored 24 points, including five 3-pointers in the first half, and Kentucky beat Utah. Johnson made a career- high six shots from long range on seven attempts as Kentucky (8-2) made a sea- son-high 12 3-pointers. Both Gach led the Utes (4-5) with 22 points, followed by Jayce Johnson with 11. NO. 23 FURMAN 93, UNC WILMINGTON 50: Clay Mounce tied his career high with 26 points and had 10 rebounds as No. 23 Fur man ran past UNC Wilming ton, moving to 12-0. The Paladins long ago sur passed their best previous start to a season (5-0) and have won 19 of their past 20 games. Devontae Cacok had 11 points to lead UNC Wilming ton (4-7). OLD DOMINION 68, NO. 25 SYRACUSE 62: B.J. Stith scored all of his 18 points in the second half, and Old Dominion overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to stun Syracuse. Xavier Green had 15 points and Marquis Godwin added 11 for the Monarchs (8-3), who trailed by 13 points late in the first half and by 11 early in the sec ond before rallying for their sixth straight victory. After Elijah Hughes made a 3-pointer to put the Orange (7-3) ahead 39-28, Old Dominion went on a 13-2 run. Tyus Battle led Syracuse with 23 points on just 5-of-14 shooting. NO. 25 INDIANA 71, BUTLER 68: Rob Phinisee hit a deep, buzzer-beating 3-pointer, and Juwan Mor gan scored a career-high 35 points to give the Indiana a victory over Butler in the Crossroads Classic. Football/NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pet PF PA New England 9 4 0 .692 364 293 Miami 7 6 0 .538 278 333 Buffalo 4 9 0 .308 201 320 N.Y Jets 4 10 0 .286 292 359 South W L T Pet PF PA Houston 10 4 0 .714 352 281 Indianapolis 7 6 0 .538 349 300 Tennessee 7 6 0 .538 251 254 Jacksonville 4 9 0 .308 212 273 North W L T Pet PF PA Pittsburgh 7 5 1 .577 367 306 Baltimore 7 6 0 .538 321 241 Cleveland 5 7 1 .423 292 332 Cincinnati 5 8 0 .385 307 397 West W L T Pet PF PA x-Kansas City 11 3 0 .786 499 380 x-L.A. Chargers 11 3 0 .786 395 298 Denver 6 7 0 .462 290 282 Oakland 3 10 0 .231 244 388 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pet PF PA Dallas 8 5 0 .615 276 246 Philadelphia 6 7 0 .462 281 295 Washington 6 7 0 .462 249 297 N.Y Giants 5 8 0 .385 307 331 South W L T Pet PF PA y-New Orleans 11 2 0 .846 447 283 Carolina 6 7 0 .462 324 332 Tampa Bay 5 8 0 .385 332 383 Atlanta 4 9 0 .308 316 367 North W L T Pet PF PA Chicago 9 4 0 .692 359 247 Minnesota 6 6 1 .500 282 291 Green Bay 5 7 1 .423 315 307 Detroit 5 8 0 .385 271 319 West W L T Pet PF PA y-L.A. Rams 11 2 0 .846 425 313 Seattle 8 5 0 .615 340 266 Arizona 3 10 0 .231 178 327 San Francisco 3 10 0 .231 275 350 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Saturday’s Games Houston 29, N.Y. Jets 22 Cleveland at Denver, late Sunday’s Games Tennessee at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. Green Bay at Chicago, 1 p.m. Detroit at Buffalo, 1 p.m. Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Arizona at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Oakland at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. Dallas at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Miami at Minnesota, 1 p.m. Washington at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. Seattle at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m. New England at Pittsburgh, 4:25 p.m. Philadelphia at L.A. Rams, 8:20 p.m. Monday’s Games New Orleans at Carolina, 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 Washington at Tennessee, 4:30 p.m. Baltimore at L.A. Chargers, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23 Atlanta at Carolina, 1 p.m. Houston at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Green Bay at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. Minnesota at Detroit, 1 p.m. Buffalo at New England, 1 p.m. Cincinnati at Cleveland, 1 p.m. Jacksonville at Miami, 1 p.m. Tampa Bay at Dallas, 1 p.m. L.A. Rams at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. Basketball/NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pet GB Toronto 23 8 .742 — Boston 18 10 .643 3Vz Philadelphia 19 11 .633 3 1 /z Brooklyn 12 18 .400 10 1 /2 New York 9 21 .300 13 1 / 2 Southeast Division W L Pet GB Charlotte 14 15 .483 — Orlando 14 15 .483 — Miami 12 16 .429 1 1 / 2 Washington 11 18 .379 3 Atlanta 6 22 .214 7 1 /2 Central Division W L Pet GB Milwaukee 19 9 .679 — Indiana 19 10 .655 1 /2 Detroit 13 13 .500 5 Cleveland 7 22 .241 12 1 / 2 Chicago 6 23 .207 13’/2 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pet GB Memphis 16 12 .571 — Dallas 15 12 .556 V2 San Antonio 15 14 .517 V/2 New Orleans 15 15 .500 2 Houston 13 14 .481 2 1 /2 Northwest Division W L Pet GB Denver 19 9 .679 — Okla. City 17 10 .630 1 1 / 2 Portland 16 13 .552 3 1 / 2 Utah 14 16 .467 6 Minnesota 13 15 .464 6 Pacific Division W L Pet GB Golden State 20 10 .667 — L.A. Lakers 18 11 .621 1 1 / 2 L.A. Clippers 17 11 .607 2 Sacramento 15 13 .536 4 Phoenix 5 24 .172 14 1 / 2 Friday’s Games Boston 129, Atlanta 108 New York 126, Charlotte 124, OT Brooklyn 125, Washington 118 Indiana 113, Philadelphia 101 Milwaukee 114, Cleveland 102 Miami 100, Memphis 97 Denver 109, Oklahoma City 98 Golden State 130, Sacramento 125 Portland 128, Toronto 122 Saturday’s Games Orlando 96, Utah 89 Boston at Detroit, 7 p.m. L.A. Lakers 128, Charlotte 100 Houston at Memphis, late Chicago at San Antonio, late L.A. Clippers at Oklahoma City, late Minnesota at Phoenix,late Today’s Games Atlanta at Brooklyn, 3 p.m. Philadelphia at Cleveland, 3:30 p.m. New York at Indiana, 5 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Washington, 6 p.m. Miami at New Orleans, 7 p.m. Sacramento at Dallas, 7 p.m. Toronto at Denver, 8 p.m. Monday’s Games Milwaukee at Detroit, 7 p.m. Phoenix at New York, 7:30 p.m. Chicago at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. Sacramento at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Utah at Houston, 8 p.m. Philadelphia at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. Memphis at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. Portland at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. Tuesday's Games Cleveland at Indiana, 7 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Washington at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. Dallas at Denver, 9 p.m. Transactions BASEBALL American League CLEVELAND INDIANS — Traded 1B Yonder Alonso to the Chicago White Sox for OF Alex Call. LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Agreed to terms with 1B Justin Bour on a one-year contract. BASKETBALL National Basketball Association NBA — Fined Indiana C/F Myles Turner $15,000 for making an inappropriate gesture toward the spectator stands. HOCKEY National Hockey League BUFFALO SABRES — Suspended F Patrick Berglund indefinitely for failing to report. NEW YORK RANGERS — Recalled F Boo Nieves from Hartford (AHL). ST. LOUIS BLUES — Signed D Robert Bortuzzo to a three-year contract extension. WASHINGTON CAPITALS — Recalld D Tyler Lewington from Hershey (AHL). Basketball/college Saturday’s scores Men’s Top 25 1. Kansas (9-0) beat No. 17 Villanova 74-71. Next: vs. South Dakota, Tuesday. 2. Duke (9-1) did not play. Next: vs. Princeton, Tuesday. 3. Tennessee (8-1) beat Memphis 102-92. Next: vs. Samford, Wednesday. 4. Gonzaga (9-1) at No. 12 North Carolina. Next: vs. UT Arlington, Tuesday. 5. Michigan (11-0) beat Western Michigan 70-62. Next: vs. Air Force, Saturday. 6. Virginia (9-0) did not play. Next: at South Carolina, Wednesday. 7. Nevada (10-0) vs. South Dakota State. Next: vs. Akron, Saturday. 8. Auburn (8-1) vs. UAB. Next: at N.C. State, Wednesday. 9. Michigan State (8-2) did not play. Next: vs. Green Bay, Sunday. 10. Florida State (8-1) did not play. Next: vs. Southeast Missouri State, Monday. 11. Texas Tech (9-0) vs. Abilene Christian. Next: vs. No. 2 Duke, Thursday. 12. North Carolina (7-2) vs. No. 4 Gonzaga. Next: at No. 19 Kentucky, Saturday. 13. Virginia Tech (8-1) vs. Washington. Next: vs. N.C. A&T, Wednesday. 14. Buffalo (10-0) beat Southern Illinois 73-65. Next: at No. 25 Syracuse, Tuesday. 15. Ohio State (9-1) beat Bucknell 73-71. Next: vs. Youngstown State, Tuesday. 16. Wisconsin (9-2) did not play. Next: vs. Grambling State, Saturday. 17. Villanova (8-4) lost to No. 1 Kansas 74-71. Next: vs. UConn, Saturday. 18. Mississippi State (8-1) vs. Cincinnati. Next: vs. Wofford, Wednesday. 19. Kentucky (8-2) beat Utah 88-61. Next: vs. No. 12 North Carolina, Saturday. 20. Arizona State (7-1) at Georgia. Next: at Vanderbilt, Monday. 21. Marquette (8-2) did not play. Next: vs. North Dakota, Tuesday. 22. Iowa (7-2) vs. Northern Iowa. Next: vs. Western Carolina, Tuesday. 23. Furman (12-0) beat UNC Wilmington 93-50. Next: at LSU, Friday. 24. Houston (9-0) did not play. Next: vs. Saint Louis, Sunday. 25. Indiana (9-2) beat Butler 71-68. Next: vs. Central Arkansas, Wednesday. 25. Kansas State (6-2) vs. Georgia State. Next: vs. Southern Mississippi, Wednesday. 25. Syracuse (7-3) lost to Old Dominion 68-62. Next: vs. No. 14 Buffalo, Tuesday. TODAY ON TV FOOTBALL BASKETBALL ■ NFL: Cardinals at Falcons, 1 p.m., FOX ■ NFL: Patriots at Steelers, 4:25 p.m., CBS ■ Eagles at Rams, 8:20 p.m., NBC ■ Central Connecticut State at Providence, 2 p.m., FS1 ■ Women’s: South Carolina at Purdue, 3 p.m., ESPN2 ■ St. Louis at Houston, 3 p.m., ESPNU ■ NBA: Hawks at Nets, 3 p.m., FSSE ■ Wagner at St. John’s, 4:30 p.m., FS1 ■ Indiana State at TCU, 5 p.m., ESPNU GOLF ■ European Tour: Alfred Dunhill Championship, 4:30 a.m., GOLF ■ Father/son Challenge, 3 p.m., NBC FALCONS VS. CARDINALS 11 p.m. Fox Playing out the string MIKE ROEMER I The Associated Press Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan congratulates Julio Jones after his touchdown catch during the first half against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 9 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Atlanta hopes to halt 5-game losing skid Associated Press The Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals seem to be pretty much on equal footing into what appears to be a dud of a game this week. Injuries have essentially ruined each team’s sea son. The Falcons (4-9) have dropped five straight and have the NFL’s worst rush ing offense. The Cardinals (3-10) have lost four of five with the league’s second- worst rushing attack. They rank last in scoring and passing. The Falcons entered Week 1 as a Super Bowl contender after winning the NFC title in 2016 and advancing to the divisional round last year, but they lost three starters on defense and three on offense. Atlanta hasn’t been the same since. That’s nothing compared to Arizona’s injured list. The Cardinals lost defen sive tackle Robert Nkem- diche, a first-round pick in 2016, to knee surgery this week and have placed 16 players on season-ending injured reserve. Six of them were offen sive linemen. “Injuries and all this stuff happen all the time,” Ari zona rookie quarterback Josh Rosen said. “It’s just that the degree happens to be a little bit more here this particu lar year. Throughout your football life, you’re always faced with adversity in dif ferent forms and fashions. It just happens to be a little bit more. I’ve got to buck up and get ready just a little bit more.” A few things to know about Sunday’s game: JULIO JONES vs. PAT RICK PETERSON: Two of the best are expected to face off when Falcons receiver Julio Jones, the only player in league history with at least 1,400 yards receiving in five consecutive seasons, faces Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson. “You’re talking about two of the best at their position,” Cardinals coach Steve Wilks said. “Who knows? Two guys that could be future Hall of Famers. It’s going to be a great contest. I know Pat rick is excited about the — I don’t want to call it a challenge — but the opportunity to be able to cover Julio.” Arizona’s defense, Peter son included, has enjoyed some good days with 11 inter ceptions in its past four games against Falcons quarter back Matt Ryan. Only Caro lina, Tampa Bay and New Orleans have more, and they are in the same division as Atlanta. Jones missed some time this week after getting sent home with flu-like symp toms, but is likely to play. LOPSIDED MATCHUP?: The difference Rosen and Ryan is substantial. Ryan, the 2016 NFL MVP, is an 11-year veteran with a 99-72 record. He has the NFL’s lead ing wideout in Jones, and if he’s covered tightly, Ryan has the option of looking to first-round pick Calvin Ridley, seven-year veteran Mohamed Sanu or tight end Austin Hooper. Rosen, the 10th overall draft pick, has a 62.8 rating to rank 32nd among eligible passers. He has yet to top 2,000 yards and has three victories. Rosen’s star receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, is one of only two players in history with at least 16,000 yards receiving, but had just one catch entering the fourth quarter of last week’s slug gish home loss to Detroit. That’s mostly because the Cardinals had recently lost Christian Kirk, their second- leading receiver, to a bro ken foot, and Fitzgerald was easier to contain. Atlanta ranks fourth in passing, but Ryan has been under duress all season and is on pace to finish with a career-high 46 sacks. BALL SECURITY: Fal cons coach Dan Quinn bemoans his team’s minus-4 turnover margin. Atlanta has nine inter ceptions, five by second-year safety Damontae Kazee. Arizona is worse with a turnover margin that ranks 29th, but Quinn isn’t concerned with opponents. It’s been an ongo ing, unpleasant topic all season for a defense that has recovered just two fumbles. “Defensively there will be 10 to 12 plays (per game),” Quinn said. “Did you take the shot? Did you make the interception? Did you cause the fumble on the sack? “Offensively there will be the same. Did you take care of it in traffic? Did you go get the contested catch? It’s during those moments that I want to make sure that’s the strongest indicator of where our focus is. Make sure we’re thinking about the football in all cases.” KEEP IT CLEAN: Noth ing irritates Ryan more than penalties. The Falcons aren’t among the league’s worst offenders, but they’ve made a habit of untimely gaffes. That was the case last week at Green Bay. “What’s important is how you respond to it, and we didn’t do a good enough job of responding in those situa tions,” Ryan said. “They’re tough to overcome. Pen alties, particularly when you’re on the road, it’s more difficult to overcome those things and keep drives going. So percentage-wise when we get our chances and cre ate those plays, we’ve got to keep them. We have to keep the ball where it is.” Quinn HOUSTON ■ Continued from 1B Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) makes a touchdown catch during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. made it 29-22 with 54 sec onds left. Darnold and the Jets (4-10) had one more oppor tunity to try to tie —or win— but Houston held on. The loss ruined what was a terrific night for Darnold, who made plays with his arm and legs all game. The No. 3 overall pick was 24 of 38 for 253 yards and touchdown passes to Robby Anderson and Andre Roberts. He set up an impressive 15-play, 73-yard go-ahead drive late during which he converted three third-down plays and a fourth-down opportunity. On third-and-10 from the 19, Darnold took off for 14 yards — and a holding call on Aaron Colvin put the ball on the 2. After Darnold was stopped for no gain on a quarterback draw, he handed the ball to McGuire who pushed up the middle — surrounded by a surging mass of blockers who helped shove him all the way into the end zone for the score. It set off a wild celebra tion by the Jets. But Watson and the Texans — whose nine-game winning streak was snapped by Indianapolis last Sunday — weren’t going to go down for the second straight game. Watson finished 22 of 28 for 294 yards and the two scores to Hopkins. Fairbairn gave the Tex ans a 3-0 lead with a 41-yard field goal with 9:23 left in the opening quarter — after the Jets appeared to catch a bit of a break. On third-and-7 from the 9, Henry Ander son grabbed hold of Wat son, who somehow slipped out of the defensive end’s grasp and had some room to run. But the officials called ADAM HUNGER I Associated Press the play over because they ruled Watson’s forward progress had been stopped, and Anderson was credited with a 13-yard sack and forc ing Houston to settle for the field goal. Jason Myers tied it at 3 for the Jets with a 26-yard field goal with 2:01 remaining in the first quarter. Houston regained the lead on Fair- bairn’s 32-yarder early in the second quarter.