Plauderwelten » completion with under four minutes in the second

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Montrezl Harrells sudden meltdown appeared costly for fourth-ranked Louisville until Terry Rozier stepped up to provide composure for the Cardinals. Not to mention some timely baskets and a career-high 32 points. Rozier took charge after the first-half ejection of Montrezl Harrell to score 26 points in the second half and lead the Cardinals past Western Kentucky 76-67 on Saturday. We knew it was going to be tough playing without Trez, Rozier said after making 9 of 16 from the field and 11 of 13 from the foul line. It was big losing him, so we all had to step up. I wasnt the only one making shots. We all did something. Rozier closed Louisvilles scoring with five free throws down the stretch that followed three 3-pointers to quash the Hilltoppers hopes of seizing momentum following Harrells exit with 38.7 seconds remaining in the first half. The preseason first-team All-American was assessed a flagrant-2 foul for throwing an elbow following a shoving match after a loose ball scramble. After the officials reviewed video, Harrell was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected. Western Kentuckys D.J. Clayton received a technical foul, along with technicals issued to both benches. Harrell departed with 14 points and six rebounds and apologized to his teammates at halftime. He was remorseful after the game and said his outburst was spur of the moment. It was a heated situation in a dog pile and it took a turn for the worst, honestly. It was just a bad day. ... I know I shouldnt have reacted in that way and Im truly sorry and apologize for the way I reacted. Louisvilles top player then asked Cardinal teammates to pick things up in his absence. Chris Jones added 10 points for Louisville (10-0), which made 5 of 10 from long range in the second half to keep a safe cushion against WKU (5-5). Freshman 7-footer Anas Mahmoud added six points and five rebounds as the Cardinals outrebounded their in-state rival 37-35 and made 26 of 30 free throws. We always talk about keeping a level head no matter what the environment may be, Louisville assistant Kenny Johnson said afterward in place of head coach Rick Pitino. Montrezl owned up to his part in the mistake and thats what happens in everyday life as well as in basketball, people make mistakes. Basketball is a game of adverse situations and that was an adverse situation that we had to overcome. T.J. Price scored 24 points and D.J. Clayton 14 for the Hilltoppers, who got within 73-67 with 39 seconds left before Rozier added three free throws to seal the victory in a game was at times ragged and chippy. I dont think it had anything to do with (Louisville missing) Montrezl, WKU coach Ray Harper said. It had to do with us missing free throws on the front end with one-and-ones. You cant beat good teams and shoot 60 per cent from the free-throw line. ------ TIP-INS Louisville: Rozier also had five rebounds and three steals. ... The Cardinals evened the series at 39 wins each. Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers trailed 29-24 at halftime, their lowest first-half total this season. WKU scored 26 points against Bowling Green on Dec. 3. TEED UP Besides Harrell earning his first career ejection, WKUs Clayton received a technical foul for his part in the first-half tussle. T.J. Price and Louisvilles Mangok Mathiang received second-half technicals. Rumour MILL Jones called crazy a social media buzz this week that the Memphis native would transfer to play for the hometown Tigers. My high school coach called me to ask was I transferring and I was like, What are you talking about? the senior guard said. I havent done anything to get kicked off the team. ... It is what it is, trying to get us off focus. UP NEXT: Louisville: Hosts Cal State Northridge on Tuesday. Western Kentucky: Hosts Brescia (Kentucky) on Saturday. Will Harris Jersey . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday. Will Harris Lions Jersey . However, Jim Popp isnt sure how long hell be able to admire wide receiver Duron Carter. http://www.lionsfanspro.com/Black-TJ-Hockenson-Lions-Jersey.html?cat=970 .Y. -- In a span of three days, Shabazz Napier and Connecticut knocked out both Philadelphia schools in the NCAA tournament. Kenny Golladay Youth Jersey . -- Terry Francona likened the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to a playoff game in October. Jarrad Davis Jersey . Grimes signed a $32 million, four-year contract to remain with Miami. The deal, which includes $16 million guaranteed, rewards Grimes for his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury that forced him to miss almost all of the 2012 season.Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Wilson was overcome with emotion while leading the postgame prayer following an improbable Seattle Seahawks comeback in the NFC Championship Game. Wilson had just played one of the worst games of his brief NFL career. That game started kind of ugly, huh, Wilson joked in his postgame press conference. Yes it did Russell. Good thing there was enough time to rectify those mistakes. Wilson tossed a game-winning 35-yard TD pass to Jermaine Kearse 3:19 into overtime and the Seahawks rallied past the Green Bay Packers 28-22 on Sunday to become the first defending champion to reach the Super Bowl in 10 years. The Seahawks miraculously overcame five turnovers, four of them Wilson interceptions, and a 12-point hole in the waning minutes of regulation. The stunning turn of events kept their dream of becoming the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the 2004 New England Patriots alive. That last three minutes plus the overtime was probably as good of a game as you can get, Wilson said. Seattle will play the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. New England routed the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in the AFC title game. Such a classic challenge and our guys found a way to get it done, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. That took tremendous faith by everybody, not just Russell. Wilson kept it himself and scored from a yard out on a zone-read keeper to pull the Seahawks within 19-14 with 2:09 left in the fourth quarter and Seattle recovered the ensuing onside kick. Steven Hauschkas attempt went through the hands and off the helmet of Green Bays Brandon Bostick before Chris Matthews pounced on the football at midfield. Marshawn Lynch then dashed through the left side of the line and ran for a go- ahead 24-yard touchdown with 1:25 on the clock. Luke Willson hauled in the two-point conversion after an incredible scramble from Wilson. Wilson threw up a prayer across his body from the right side of the field at around the 20 and Willson was able to come down with the catch in the front left part of the end zone. Aaron Rodgers, though, responded and got the Packers into field goal range. He fired consecutive 15-yard completions to Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb to move Green Bay across midfield before limping for 12 yards on a scramble. Mason Crosby then split the uprights from 48 yards out to tie the game with 14 ticks on the clock. Rodgers never got the ball again. Seattle won the overtime coin toss and Wilson hit Doug Baldwin along the right sideline on a 3rd-and-7 for 35 yards to get it to the Green Bay 35. Wilson then lofted a perfectly thrown pass over the middle and past the outstretched arms of cornerback Tramon Williams before landing into the waiting hands of Kearse for the game-winner, his only catch and the target for all four of Wilsons interceptions. Wilson, who was 8-of-8 for 199 yards and three touchdowns on third down last week against the Carolina Panthers, threw three third-down interceptions on Sunday. He finished 14-of-29 after going just 2-of-9 in the first half and totaled 209 yards for the Seahawks, who have won nine consecutive postseason home games. Jon Ryan tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Garry Gilliam on a fake field goal, Lynch carried the ball 25 times for 157 yards, and Baldwin caught six passes for 106 yards in the triumph. Rodgers was 19-of-34 for 178 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for Green Bay, which scored the first 16 points of the game. Eddie Lacy gained 73 yards rushing on 21 totes, Cobb had seven receptions for 62 yards and a score and Nelson hauled in five balls for 71 yards.dddddddddddd This is a hard one to swallow, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. We had opportunities, particularly at critical times to make plays and Seattle made some of those big plays to keep the game alive. Ha Ha Clinton Dix intercepted two passes and Morgan Burnett picked off a pass and posted two of Green Bays five sacks. The Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 26-21 in the NFC Divisional playoff to reach the NFC title game. Richard Sherman, who wasnt thrown at in the first meeting between the teams in Week 1, showed why Rodgers stayed away from him in that initial encounter with an early interception. Faced with a 3rd-and-10 at the 29, Rodgers lofted a pass in the back right corner of the end zone intended for Davante Adams. Sherman, though, positioned himself in front of Adams and hauled in the pick for a touchback, halting a promising 9-play opening drive. It didnt take Packers long to get back into Seattle territory. A slant toss intended for Kearse on a 3rd-and-7 was tipped into the air and Clinton-Dix brought in the easy interception at the 30 and returned it to the four. John Kuhn appeared to plunge in from a yard out on 2nd-and-goal, but the call was overturned following a review. Lacy was stuffed for no gain on third down and Green Bay settled for an 18-yard Crosby field goal for the games first points at the 8:07 mark of the first quarter. The Packers settled for another short Crosby field goal, this one from 19 yards out, after Baldwin fumbled the ensuing kickoff. I just felt like you had to take points, McCarthy said. I didnt think a lot of points would win this game. Green Bay then forced a Seattle three-and-out and Rodgers finished off a brisk 7-play sequence when he stepped up in the pocket and found Cobb in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard score on the final play of the opening frame. After the Seahawks were unable to move the chains, Micah Hyde returned a punt 29 yards and Crosby booted a 40-yard field goal to make it 16-0 with 9:37 to go in the second. Seattle didnt pick up its initial first down until there was less than seven minutes to go in the first half when Lynch rumbled for 14 yards on a 3rd- and-2. Wilson, who began 0-of-6, tossed his first completion with under four minutes in the second when he hit Ricardo Lockette for 14 yards on a 3rd- and-7. But the march was fruitless because Sam Shields intercepted Wilson on a 3rd- and-8 from the Green Bay 18. The Seahawks finally got on the board at the 4:44 mark of the third. They had a 2nd-and-30 after Clay Matthews sacked Wilson for a loss of 15 on first down, but Lynch broke off an 11-yard run and Wilson hit a wide open Baldwin along the right sideline for a gain of 29 to the Green Bay 19 on 3rd-and-19. Seattle lined up for a field goal on fourth down, but Ryan kept the ball and rolled left before hitting an open Gilliam for a 19-yard score. Crosby nailed a 48-yard field goal in the early stages of the fourth for the Packers 19-7 cushion. Game Notes Wilson became the second quarterback to throw four interceptions and win a conference championship game. George Blanda tossed five interceptions in the Houston Oilers 10-3 win in the 1961 AFL title game over the San Diego Chargers ... The Seahawks improved to 26-2, including the playoffs, at CenturyLink Field since 2012 ... Kearse has caught touchdown passes in four consecutive postseason games. ' ' '