No. 2 Tar Heels roll past Dayton 81-51
December 31, 2006
North Carolina coach Roy Williams has always had a never-satisfied attitude when it comes to defense. These days, however, he sounds oddly pleased. The second-ranked Tar Heels held Dayton to 31 percent shooting while blocking eight shots and tallying 10 steals in their 81-51 win on Sunday. It was their ninth straight victory and sixth in a row by a lopsided margin.
No. 1 UCLA tops No. 14 Washington 96-74
December 31, 2006
UCLA took it to No. 14 Washington from the tip and when the Huskies dared hint at a comeback, the top-ranked Bruins thrashed them. Arron Afflalo equaled his career high with 27 points and tied a season high with five 3-pointers in the 96-74 victory Sunday. “I’d love to do this again, maybe in the (NCAA) tournament,” he said.
Mason fired as Minnesota coach
December 31, 2006
The Minnesota Gophers have blown some big leads in Glen Mason’s 10 years as coach. The latest, and perhaps greatest collapse, was too much for athletics director Joel Maturi. Maturi fired Mason on Sunday, two days after Texas Tech rallied from 31 points down in the third quarter to beat the Gophers in the Insight Bowl.
Nash, Stoudemire lift Suns by Pistons
December 31, 2006
Steve Nash isn’t going to complain about getting a win at the Palace of Auburn Hills. But he feels the victory deserves an asterisk because of the injury to Pistons All-Star guard Chauncey Billups. “It’s not like we are going home feeling like we beat the Pistons,” Nash said after the Phoenix Suns’ 108-101 victory Sunday.
Ailing Duncan helps Spurs defeat Hawks
December 31, 2006
Tim Duncan beat the stomach flu — and the Atlanta Hawks. Duncan had 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, and Tony Parker scored 27 points to help the San Antonio Spurs beat the Hawks 95-81 on Sunday. “(Duncan) did a great job, especially with the way he was feeling yesterday,” said Manu Ginobili, who missed a game Tuesday night because of the bug.
Brand scores 32, Clippers beat Knicks
December 31, 2006
When he wasn’t scoring, Elton Brand was making it difficult for the New York Knicks to put points on the board. Brand had 32 points and tied his career high with eight blocked shots, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 90-80 victory over the Knicks on Sunday. “Our defense is what we prided ourselves in last year, and that’s what kept us in ballgames,” Brand said.
No. 7 Ohio State 73, Iowa 67
December 31, 2006
Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport had another big game at Iowa to stave off the Hawkeyes’ upset bid. The senior center scored 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting and collected 11 rebounds to lead seventh-ranked Ohio State to a 73-67 victory Sunday, one year after torching Iowa for 34 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists in the same arena.
Giants get enough help to reach playoffs
December 31, 2006
AP - The New York Giants completed a rollercoaster ride to the playoffs on Sunday, earning the final NFC wild card berth and a third game with the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Giants’ win puts them in playoffs
December 31, 2006
The New York Giants completed a rollercoaster ride to the playoffs on Sunday, earning the final NFC wild card berth and a third game with the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants beat Washington Saturday night to finish 8-8 and virtually assure themselves a playoff spot. They officially got their postseason ticket punched when St.
Cowboys blow last chance to win division
December 31, 2006
No, losing to the Detroit Lions does not revoke the playoff spot the Dallas Cowboys had already clinched. It just means they’re in a mess of trouble heading into what Bill Parcells likes to call “the tournament.” Done in by repeated mistakes from Tony Romo and a few more by Terence Newman, the Cowboys blew their chance to stay alive in the NFC East race and build some much-needed momentum for the…
