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SPORTS SECTION E

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017

Bahamas in 0-2 hole after loss to US Virgin Islands By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Tiger, Page 2

BAHAMAS BOWL SET TO FEATURE HIGH-SCORING TEAMS By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE 2017 Bahamas Bowl features a matchup of high scoring teams as two of the hottest squads in their conferences get ready to set the stage for an intriguing game. The University of Ohio Bobcats and UAB Blazers will both enter the December 22 contest with 8-4 marks and record-setting offences. Bobcats head coach Frank Solich has led the Bobcats to nine bowls, including in each of the last three seasons. The Bobcats come into the Bahamas Bowl with four victories in the last six games. They average 38.9 points per game and set a school record with 467 points scored. Their high octane offence has 40 or more points in half of their games this season. Junior running back A.J. Ouellette and sophomore quarterback Nathan Rourke lead an offence that averages 244.2 rushing yards per game. A dual threat quarterback, Rourke has five 100-yard rushing games, while Ouellette has four 100-yard efforts. Rourke also holds the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 21 and his 37 total touchdowns is one away from tying the Ohio season record. He also has thrown for 2,018 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. Head coach Bill Clark has led the Blazers to a bowl game in just his second season. The team has won six of their last eight games and all six games at home. The Blazers average 29.6 points per game, and UAB has scored 30 or more points six times. UAB averaged 190.2 rushing yards per game, led by true freshman running back Spencer Brown, who broke the

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eam Bahamas finds itself in a 0-2 hole of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers after they dropped their second consecutive game of the first home-away series. The visiting US Virgin Islands got the better of the Bahamas in the rivalry once again with their 93-85 win at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Both teams went into last night’s game seeking a much-needed win after opening round losses on Friday night but a short-handed USVI got timely shooting in the fourth quarter to stifle a late Bahamas rally. Shaquille Cleare and Kino Burrows each finished with 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bahamas. David Nesbitt scored nine, LJ Rose finished with nine points and 10 assists and Michael Bain added nine points. Jamaal Samuel led USVI with a game high 26 points, Walter Hodge and Giorgio Milligan each finished with 18 and Xavier Richards added 12. Mike Carey began the comeback trail for the Bahamas when he opened the third quarter with a corner three, only for Hodge to answer with a three of his own on the ensuing possession. A six-point USVI lead was cut to three on a Cleare follow but the Bahamas had trouble getting defensive stops and containing Hodge and Samuels on the perimeter. USVI maintained a six-point lead but a trio of turnovers on consecutive possessions for the Bahamas allowed USVI to extend the lead to 10 on a Richards layup. Cleare’s dunk ignited a 6-0 run for the Bahamas and trimmed the deficit to 67-63 headed into the fourth. Rose dished an assist to Livingston Munnings to start the quarter, but USVI answered with scores from Mulligan and Richards. Joseph made a corner three but USVI would answer with points from Hodge or Samuels for every

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GOLF

ABOVE THE RIM: Shaquille Cleare shoots over US Virgin Islands players at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium last night.

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Neely’s career high highlights standout performances By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

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THE Thanksgiving holiday weekend featured standout performances from Bahamian players at the collegiate level, highlighted by a career high from Shalonda Neely. Led by head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, the Jacksonville University women’s basketball team finished the Fairfield Inn Thanksgiving Classic with a pair of wins and improved their winloss record to 4-2. Neely scored a career high 12 points and added six rebounds (6-10 from the field) in a 74-65 win over Monmouth. Neely, who also played a career high 24 minutes, pushed Jacksonville back up by 10 with a hook shot on the team’s first possession of the latter half. “We’re learning. We’re growing. This is a new

team,” said McPhee-McCuin. “If our team can really buy in to defending at a high level, we’ll have even more success. I was disappointed with our free throw effort tonight. We left 12 points on the board, but overall, I’m proud that we found a way to win.” After going scoreless in the first game of the season, Neely scored four points in each contest against Iona, Alabama and Nicholls State. After an appearance with the national team at the Centrobasket Championships this summer, Neely said it set the tone for an improved season this year. “It helped me to get back to my toughness, my fighting and being strong offensively and defensively, she said. Last season as a sophomore, Neely appeared in 27 games with

three starts. She earned a spot in the starting lineup during the ASUN Tournament and WNIT action vs. Georgia Tech. She posted a career high 10 points with seven rebounds vs. NJIT and finished the season with 52 points, 66 rebounds, 11 steals and nine blocks. They closed out the tournament with a 64-43 victory over Webber International. “We have depth, and it was very important to give the bench some opportunities to get some shots and playing time,” said McPheeMcCuin. “Now, we’ll prepare for a good team in Florida.” The Dolphins will take to the court again when they face the Florida Gators at 7pm tonight. “Like every year the end goal is to win a championship,”

McPhee-McCuin said after the Dolphins’ first practice of the season. Described as one of the toughest schedules in programme history, depth can be the deciding factor on how far the team goes. “This is the most depth we’ve had from top to bottom - which I’m extremely excited about,” she said. “We have a lot of new pieces, we only have one freshman so we’re very mature. We brought in some junior college players. Our senior leadership has been phenomenal, this is year five for us as a programme and you can tell because there is a way we do things and for the most part the girls have bought into that so I’m excited about where we are going.

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PAGE 2, Tuesday, November 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Tiger Woods getting strong reviews in return to golf By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — All eyes are on Tiger Woods and his return to golf, even the players he has to beat. Especially the players. Woods was on the back end of the practice range yesterday at Albany Golf Club, hitting balls with Patrick Reed, when he looked up at a drone buzzing some 50 feet over him in the cloudy sky. He had no idea that Daniel Berger was at the controls. Berger was on the front of the range, blocked by a row of bushes in the sand dunes. As the drone’s camera zoomed in, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner and their caddies crowded around Berger to look. They cared more about his reaction to the drone than his swing. But they are curious about his game. And those who have played with Woods in recent weeks believe there is reason for the hype. “People are going to be shocked at how good his game looks,” PGA champion Justin Thomas said. Thomas will have the best seat in the house Thursday when Woods, who had fusion surgery on his lower back in April, plays for the first time in 10 months at the Hero World Challenge. Thomas, named the PGA Tour player of the year after winning five times and the FedEx Cup, is paired with him in the first round. Thomas spends a fair bit of time with Woods at their Florida homes, and they played a few weeks ago. The attention on Woods increased in recent days as more players joined him for casual rounds. Brad Faxon

TIGER WOODS, in this December 4, 2016, file photo, watches his tee shot on the third hole during the final round at the Hero World Challenge golf tournament in Nassau, Bahamas. Woods returns this week to the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. It’s the 10th time he has returned after a layoff of 10 weeks or longer. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) caused a stir when he played with Woods, Johnson and President Donald Trump on Friday. “Tiger looked great to me,” Faxon wrote in a story for Golfweek. “I was impressed with how far he hit the ball. Probably on the 10 holes that they were both hitting driver, Tiger hit it past Dustin half the time and Dustin hit it past Tiger half the time. He looked great. I think more than anything, he looked at ease. He was not concerned about swinging hard and going at it with driver. The ball flight, the sound off the club, all of it was right there.”

Johnson is among the elite power players in the game. True story? Johnson smiled. “He hit it by me a couple of times,” Johnson said. “Did I bomb one and he hit it past me? No. But he did it past me a few times. He was moving it, though.” All this hype in the chill environment of the Bahamas should sound familiar. It was only last year when Woods returned after 15 months away from the game. He had gone through three back surgeries at that point, the first one right before the 2014

Masters, and Woods looked relatively normal, with freedom in his swing. He made 24 birdies, along with enough mistakes that he finished 14 shots out of the lead, in 15th place among an 18-man field. Woods missed the cut at Torrey Pines two months later, flew to Dubai and managed one round — a 77 in calm conditions — before withdrawing with back spasms. What appears to be different this time, at least from those who have played with him, is the absence of pain. Patrick Reed played nine holes of practice with him Monday

morning. He saw Woods do whatever he wanted with his swing and saw an assortment of shots — a stinger off the tee, a low draw, a high cut. “He seemed to have command of not only the golf club, but his body,” Reed said. It was the first time Reed had played with Woods since the opening round of the Hero World Challenge last year. The difference Reed noticed was that Woods looked more free and fluid in going after any shot. “It looked like there was a little hesitation the last time I played with him,” Reed said. “This time, he was fully committed and fully trusted in his body. There was no pain. That’s the biggest thing for me. If he stays healthy, then he’ll be back playing golf, hopefully like he used to. I want to see it and I want to compete against it.” Johnson said Friday’s round with Woods and the president was a big change from when the two played the opening two rounds at Torrey Pines together in January, when both missed the cut. “His speed was back. He played a lot better than he did in San Diego, for sure,” Johnson said. “He’s healthy. To me, he looks strong. He’s swinging with speed instead of in San Diego. When I played with him there, he wasn’t swinging at it. You could tell he was hurt.” The question is whether there is rust from having been gone from competition for so long. Woods has played only three tournaments since August 2015. Three of the four times that he returned to competition dating to that first back surgery before the 2014 Masters, Woods lasted no more than three starts before taking more time off.

IN this October 27, 2017, file photo, golfer Tiger Woods arrives at the Palm Beach County courthouse in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Woods returns this week to the Hero World Challenge. (AP)

Woods returns, Take 10 By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Tiger Woods is playing the Hero World Challenge this week, making it the 10th time he has returned from layoffs of 10 weeks or longer. The most recent layoff was caused by fusion surgery on his lower back, his fourth back surgery since March 2014. Woods only started taking full swings two months ago, though he has reported no pain in his back. The Hero World Challenge has an 18-man field with no cut. A year ago, Woods returned after missing 15 months because of two back surgeries. He made 24 birdies but still finished in 15th place. A look at his comebacks: 2003 BUICK INVITATIONAL Length of absence: Ten weeks. Cause: Arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of 2002 season. Previous start: Runner-up at the Target World Challenge. World ranking when he left: 1. World ranking when he returned: 1. Result: Won by four shots, the first of five PGA Tour victories. Length of return: Played a full schedule for the next five years. 2006 US OPEN Length of absence: Ten weeks. Cause: Father’s death.

Previous start: Tied for third at the Masters, three shots out of the lead. World ranking when he left: 1. World ranking when he returned: 1. Result: Missed the cut for the first time in a major. He would win the final two majors of the year. Length of return: Played a full schedule the next two years. 2009 WGC-ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY Length of absence: Nine months. Cause: Reconstructive surgery on his left knee. Previous start: Won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines for his 14th major. World ranking when he left: 1. World ranking when he returned: 1. Result: Beat Brendan Jones in opening round, lost in the second round to Tim Clark. He won two starts later at Bay Hill. Length of return: Played a full schedule of 20 events. 2010 MASTERS Age: 34. Length of absence: Five months. Cause: Personal issues involving multiple extramarital affairs. Previous start: Won the Australian Masters.

World ranking when he left: 1. World ranking when he returned: 1. Result: Tied for fourth , five shots out of the lead. He was tied for the lead going to the back nine. Length of return: Played 16 events in 2010. 2011 WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL Age: 35. Length of absence: Three months. Cause: Leg injuries. Previous start: Withdrew from The Players Championship after a 42 on the front nine. World ranking when he left: 8. World ranking when he returned: 28. Result: Tied for 37th, 18 shots out of the lead. It was his second straight year finishing 18 shots behind or worse at Firestone Country Club. Length of return: Six events the remainder of 2011, full schedule in 2012 and 2013. 2014 QUICKEN LOANS NATIONAL Age: 38. Length of absence: Four months. Cause: Back surgery. Previous start: Tie for 25th at the WGC-Cadillac Championship , nine shots out of the lead.

World ranking when he left: 1. World ranking when he returned: 5. Result: Missed the cut with rounds of 74-75. Length of return: Three starts. 2014 HERO WORLD CHALLENGE Age: 38. Length of absence: Four months. Cause: Recovery from back surgery. Previous start: Missed the cut in the PGA Championship with rounds of 74-74 at Valhalla. World ranking when he left: 10. World ranking when he returned: 24. Result: Struggled with his chipping . Tied for 17th in an 18-man field, 26 shots out of the lead. Length of return: Two starts. 2015 MASTERS Age: 39. Length of absence: Two months. Cause: Chipping issues. Previous start: Withdrew from Farmers Insurance Open after 11 holes, saying his glutes wouldn’t activate . He was 2-over par and tied for 130th. World ranking when he left: 56. World ranking when he returned: 111. Result: Tie for 17th, 13 shots out of the lead. Jordan Spieth tied

his 72-hole scoring record that he had set 18 years ago. Length of return: Nine starts. 2016 HERO WORLD CHALLENGE Age: 40 Length of absence: 15 months. Cause: Two back surgeries: Previous start: Tie for 10th in the 2015 Wyndham Championship. World ranking when he left: 257. World ranking when he returned: 898. Result: Finished 15th against an 18-man field, 14 shots out of the lead. Made 24 birdies. Length of return: Three starts. 2017 HERO WORLD CHALLENGE Age: 41. Length of absence: Ten months. Cause: Fourth back surgery. Previous start: Withdrew after a 77 in the first round of Dubai Desert Classic because of back spasms. World ranking when he left: 674. World ranking when he returned: 1,199. Result: Tournament starts Thursday. Length of return: To be determined.


THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, November 28, 2017, PAGE 3

Why is Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson popping up in trade rumours? LA Lakers 6th Man Jordan Clarkson is having a tremendous season thus far. Clarkson is averaging 15 points per game in just 22 minutes, shooting nearly 49 per cent from the field, and over 35 per cent from the three-point line. The Lakers have him inked through the 201920 season, so one has to wonder why his name continues to pop up in so many trade rumours? • Here are two scenarios that factor into Clarkson’s name instantaneously being linked to any Lakers trade rumour. THE SCENARIOS 1. The Lakers are still hard at work, creating maximum cap space to sign multiple free agents in the off-season. 2. There is also speculation about packaging him with Luol Deng (as they did D’Angelo Russell with Timofey Mozgov) to get rid of the last two-plus years of Deng’s contract. (However, would jettisoning one of their best players really improve the team?) If they trade Clarkson now they have no proven replacement to fill his role. Neither rookie Josh Hart nor Tyler Ennis can provide the offensive firepower

THE

PRESS BOX ZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICA

that Clarkson does. For the Lakers, 10 of the 15 players include four rookies. Do they really need to add more young players to the team next year by trading Clarkson for a draft pick? Not happening, Clarkson remains in LA. The more likely candidate to be thrown in - in a deal for Luol Deng and his ridiculous contract - is PF Julius Randle. LEAVING REGARDLESS After starting last year at power forward, he has been used primarily as a backup small-ball centre this season. Somewhat surprisingly, he has thrived in his new role, averaging 12 points and seven rebounds per game in just 22 minutes, while providing great energy for the second unit. However, his rookie contract expires after the season when he will be a restricted free agent. Rumours abound about the

Lakers trading him, either with or without Deng, due to his attitude souring while adjusting to his new bench role. Randle possesses an unusual skill set. He is an excellent rebounder, ballhandler and a first-rate passer. Despite not having great hops or long arms, he has been an adequate rim protector. So look for Randle to be leaving LA, garnering a whole bunch of draft picks in the process - a win-win for all involved. Speaking of wins, my #Cowboys need to win one ......anyway until next week, go hard or go home. • Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net

LAKERS guard Jordan Clarkson, right, celebrates his 3-pointer against the Chicago Bulls. (AP)

LAKERS guard Jordan Clarkson drunks during a game against the Denver Nuggets. (AP)

Bahamas in 0-2 hole after loss to US Virgin Islands FROM PAGE 1 Bahamas score to keep them at bay and maintain the advantage. Able Joseph’s second three from the corner made it 83-30 with 3:53 left to play but another Hodge three pointer quickly pushed the lead back to six. Nesbitt made one from the line but the teams traded baskets late and The Bahamas couldn’t cut into the deficit. Trailing by five with just over 1:30 left to play, USVI forced the Bahamas into a shot clock violation and

Hodge would convert two free throws at the opposite end to put the game away. Both teams shot nearly 58 per cent from the field but the Bahamas again struggled from three-point range at 12.5 per cent, while the USVI shot 40 per cent. USVI also outscored the Bahamas 52-36 in the paint. Carey made the opening jumper and Cleare scored the three field goals for the Bahamas. His dunk off a powerful drop step energised the crowd, but Hodge came right back with the score. The Bahamas surrendered

several easy scores as a result of miscommunication on defence. Nesbitt scored six off the bench and his jump hook to cut the lead to two (18-16). USVI took a 21-16 lead after one. Bain scored a fastbreak layup and Cleare added a jump hook to start the quarter on a positive note for team Bahamas. Cleare made a pair of free throws to give the Bahamas their first lead since the opening possession and Rose made a layup to cap the 8-0 run. Mulligan converted a threepoint play for USVI to respond.

USVI regained the lead when Samuels made a three and Nesbitt answered with a three pointer and follow on a fastbreak for a 34-30 lead. USVI took a 40-39 lead on Richards’ free throws and they took a 46-41 lead into the half. The next window takes place on February 22 when the Bahamas hosts the Dominican Republic, followed by a February 25 matchup at home against Canada. Their final two games will be on the road on June 29 in the USVI and in the Dominican Republic on July 2.

NEELY’S CAREER HIGH

FROM PAGE 1

TEAM BAHAMAS takes on the US Virgin Islands at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium last night.

They work hard and this is a group where the culture is starting to show.” Last season, the Dolphins came up just short in making consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament but earned a berth in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). They received an atlarge bid and ultimately lost in the first round to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. She led the Dolphins to 23 wins, which tied the school mark for most wins in a season, and they also had the best RPI in the conference.

Bahamas Bowl all set to feature high-scoring teams FROM PAGE 1 school record for freshman rushing yards with 1,292. Redshirt junior quarterback A.J. Erdely tied a school record with 13 rushing touchdowns, which is also the most by a Blazer quarterback, and he has accounted for 29 touchdowns (13 rushing, 16 passing). Defensively, the Bobcats have held opponents to 25.8 points per game. Redshirt senior linebacker Quentin Poling leads the team with 102 tackles, including 47 solo stops, 12.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. He also leads the team with 5.5 sacks,

part of the Bobcats’ 28 overall. Redshirt senior linebacker Chad Moore paces the Bobcats with three interceptions. Redshirt senior cornerback Bradd Ellis has 18 pass breakups, which ties the school record and ranks in the top three in FBS in the category. UAB has been strong on defence, especially in stopping runners behind the line of scrimmage. The Blazers have 81 tackles for loss and have posted four or more in each game this season. UAB has 14 interceptions, including 10 in the last seven games, and have posted five multi-interception games. Redshirt senior

cornerback Darious Williams has five interceptions and is second in FBS in passes defenced with 20 (1.7 per game). Redshirt senior linebacker Tevin Crews led the team with 95 tackles, and redshirt junior defensive lineman Stacy Keely led the Blazers with four sacks. Ticket sales for the 2017 Bahamas Bowl went on sale at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium box office and online at NSA-Bahamas.com on November 1. Prices start at $10 for general admission and range from $10-$30.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium Box Office or via the National Stadium Authority-Bahamas website at NSA-Bahamas.com. For more information, call the National Stadium Box Office at 325-0376. The 2017 gameday entertainment includes a pregame performance by the Bahamas All-Star Band, a halftime performance by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and Junkanoo groups will perform during the break between the first and second quarters as well as the

break between the third and fourth quarters. For the second straight year, the game date falls at the start of a long holiday weekend in the Bahamas, allowing for an early Friday afternoon game. Crowds of over 13,000 each year in Nassau have watched the only current bowl game played outside of the United States. The inaugural game in 2014 saw WKU beat Central Michigan 49-48 in a memorable offensive shootout. In 2015, Western Michigan beat Middle Tennessee 45-31 and last year, Old Dominion held off Eastern Michigan 24-20.


PAGE 4, Tuesday, November 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Street hockey ‘pucks up’ at Sand Trap By Melissa Gaudette STREET hockey picked up last Wednesday at the Sand Trap where the Sharks took on the Pirates and the Hurricanes faced off against the Reefs. There was some fierce competition as each team was looking for a win. With the hype from the previous week still lingering, the games were a battle. On November 15, the Nassau Maple Reefs took their first win of the season with a 3-2 score against the Potter’s Cay Pirates. The Reefs started to dominate towards the end of the second period when Levar Boyd (Reefs) scored his first goal of the season and brought the points to a two-goal difference.

Frankie Fingers then scored the sealer with his second goal of the game. Owen Taylor and Mike Quemby scored for the Pirates. The second game was a tough competition that came down to accuracy of shots and a few lucky goals. In the end, the Sharks took the win at 7-6 with the final goal being scored by Luke Ward with only 1:30 left in the game. The two teams were evenly matched and throughout the game the point spread was only a two-point difference. The Sharks saw their captain, Jeff Pease, score a hat trick and those three goals helped the Sharks win 7-6. Brian Simms, of the Hurricanes, also scored his first hat trick of the season.

STREET hockey enthusiasts in action at the Sand Trap. Wednesday’s games are expected to have some fierce competition. Photos: Erik Kruthoff

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THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, November 28, 2017, PAGE 5

SUGGS, RAVENS GET DEFENSIVE IN 23-16 WIN OVER TEXANS By DAVID GINSBURG Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — Terrell Suggs led an aggressive Baltimore defense that kept Houston out of the end zone for the final 51 minutes, and the Ravens went deep in the playbook on offense to squeeze out a 23-16 victory on Monday night. The Ravens forced three turnovers, two in the final five minutes. After Suggs stripped the ball from quarterback Tom Savage and Baltimore recovered, Justin Tucker kicked his third field goal with 2:53 remaining for a seven-point cushion. Anthony Levine then intercepted a Savage pass to clinch it. Suggs had two sacks, Alex Collins ran for 60 yards and a touchdown and punter Sam Koch threw perhaps Baltimore’s most significant pass of the game. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh called for a fake punt, converted a fourth down with a rarely used pitchout and had

quarterback Joe Flacco line up at wide receiver on a play in which Collins took a direct snap. All of this added spice to a stagnant offense that protected the ball and did just enough to win. Flacco went 20 for 32 for 141 yards. The Ravens (6-5) have won consecutive games for the first time since they opened the season 2-0. They are now above .500 for the first time since Oct. 8 and tied with Buffalo for the final AFC wild-card spot. Houston (4-7) has lost four of five. Savage has started the last four games in place of injured DeShaun Watson. Savage completed 22 of 37 passes for 252 yards. But he was picked off twice by the Ravens, who increased their NFL-leading total to 18. Aided by three penalties against Baltimore, the Texans traveled the length of the field and went up 7-0 on a 4-yard touchdown run by Lamar Miller. Early in the second quarter, after a third-down

NBA CAPSULES PISTONS 118, CELTICS 108 BOSTON (AP) — Andre Drummond scored 26 points with 22 rebounds — both season highs — and Tobias Harris scored 31 to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 118-108 victory on Monday night and send the Celtics to their first loss in Boston since their home opener. Drummond had 10 rebounds in the first quarter and 11 points in the last 5:36 to help Detroit win the matchup of old-school rivals who are once again the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Reggie Jackson scored 20 points with seven assists for the Pistons, who have won three of their last four. Marcus Smart scored 23 points, making 6 of 9 from 3-point range, and Kyrie Irving had 18 with nine assists for the Celtics. Boston has lost two of four since a 16-game winning streak. Detroit led by 11 points in the first quarter, but

interception by Tony Jefferson was followed by a fourth-and-1 gamble in which Collins took a quick pitch and ran for 29 yards to the Houston 8. Collins covered the final 8 yards on the following play for a 14-7 lead. The teams traded field goals in the final two minutes before halftime. PRIMED TO WIN Baltimore has won 10 straight games in prime time and is 12-1 under the lights since coach John Harbaugh took over in 2008.

HOUSTON Texans quarterback Tom Savage (3) passes the ball in the first half last night against the Baltimore Ravens. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) incompletion, the Ravens appeared poised to punt for the fourth time in four series. But Koch lofted a

it was tied 100-all with 5:36 left before the Pistons pulled away thanks to eight straight points from Drummond. With just over three minutes left, the Pistons center stole a lazy inbound pass at midcourt and drove for the dunk, drawing a foul from Irving. TRAIL BLAZERS 103, KNICKS 91 NEW YORK (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 32 points and Portland wrapped up a strong five-game road trip with its third straight victory. Pat Connaughton added 17 for the Trail Blazers, who also won at Memphis, Brooklyn and Washington while losing only in Philadelphia. They needed to come from 17 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Wizards last time out but were in charge of this one most of the way. Kristaps Porzingis returned from a one-game absence and scored 22 points, but the Knicks were without starting center Enes Kanter for a third straight game because of back spasms. They lost

pass to Chris Moore, a play that went for 22 yards to the Houston 19. That set up a 10-yard touchdown

all three, falling back to .500 at 10-10. ROCKETS 117, NETS 103 HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden scored 20 of his 37 points in the first quarter to lead Houston over Brooklyn. Harden added 10 rebounds and eight assists to guide the Rockets to their fifth straight win. When he took a break with 1:28 remaining in the first quarter, he was outscoring the Nets 20-17 by himself, not to mention four assists at that point. He was 5-for-5 from 3-point range in the first quarter and finished 8-for-13. Clint Capela added 20 points for Houston, and Chris Paul had a season-high 14 assists on his bobblehead night. PACERS 121, MAGIC 109 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Oladipo scored 26 points and Bojan Bogdanovic added 22 to help Indiana hand Orlando its ninth straight loss.

run by Javorius Allen, who reached the end zone with a healthy push from several of his teammates. An

Orlando cut the Pacers lead to 95-91 five minutes into the fourth quarter, but Indiana put together a 13-0 run that lasted nearly three minutes. The Pacers’ fourth quarter surge ultimately proved the difference in a game where the Magic fought desperately to snap their losing streak. The Pacers had five players in double figures as Domantas Sabonis scored 19 points while Myles Turner and Lance Stephenson each added 18. CAVALIERS 113, 76ERS 91 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — LeBron James had 30 points, 13 rebounds and six assists to lead Cleveland over Philadelphia. The three-time defending Eastern Conference champions won their eighth straight game. Dwyane Wade scored 15 points, and Jeff Green had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Joel Embiid had 30 points and 11 rebounds to pace the up-andcoming 76ers, who had won three straight and five of six. James

INJURIES Texans: LB Brennan Scarlett (foot) and OT Chris Clark (ankle) left in the second quarter. LB Ben Heeney (hamstring) left in the third quarter. Ravens: LB C.J. Mosley was placed in the concussion protocol in the third quarter and quickly cleared. UP NEXT Texans: At Tennessee on Sunday. Ravens: Host Detroit on Sunday.

scored the first nine points on his way to 22 in the first half, helping Cleveland to a 53-45 lead by draining a 3 in front of Cleveland’s bench at the first-half buzzer. SPURS 115, MAVERICKS 108 SAN ANTONIO (AP) — LaMarcus Aldridge had a season-high 33 points and 10 rebounds and San Antonio celebrated Tony Parker’s first game of the season by beating Dallas. Parker had six points and four assists in 14 minutes in his first appearance since tearing his right quadriceps tendon May 3 against Houston in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals. The injury required surgery and led some to speculate Parker could miss significant time, if he came back at all. Instead, the 35-year-old returned quicker than expected to what he calls the “game I love.” Dennis Smith Jr. and Wesley Matthews each had 19 points to lead the Mavericks, who had won two straight.


THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, November 28, 2017, PAGE 7

Oklahoma RB Anderson a priority for TCU defence By CLIFF BRUNT Associated Press NORMAN, Oklahoma (AP) — Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson’s rise from two season-ending injuries to become one of the nation’s most productive backs has surprised even those closest to him. The redshirt sophomore suffered a knee injury early in the 2015 season and a neck injury in fall camp in 2016, and he didn’t even start the first half of this season. Since October 21 against Kansas State, his first game in a featured role, he leads Power Five players and is second nationally with 1,041 yards from scrimmage. Oklahoma left tackle Orlando Brown knew Anderson was talented but he didn’t foresee this explosion. “Straight up. I didn’t expect it,” Brown, an Outland Trophy finalist, said. “I told him, ‘Man, I didn’t think you were completely capable of this.’ Obviously, he was able to get over his

injury, and he’s came a long way and he’s only going to get better. Have a ton of respect for him. I was wrong.” In the game that pushed him into the spotlight, Anderson gained 290 yards from scrimmage and scored four touchdowns during a 38-20 win over TCU. He will be a priority for TCU’s defence in the rematch when his secondranked Sooners (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) face the 10thranked Horned Frogs (10-2, 7-2) in the Big 12 Championship game at AT&T Stadium on Saturday. “We’ve got to tackle the running backs,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “We did a poor job (the first time), and one of the reasons is a good player, is Rodney Anderson. You don’t tackle very well, then you’re going to have a hard time playing good defence. So you defend that, you defend the deep ball, you’ve got a chance.” The 6-foot-2, 218-pound Anderson has kept it going since the TCU game. He

OKLAHOMA running back Rodney Anderson (24) runs for a touchdown against a West Virginia defender on Saturday. (AP) gained 116 yards from scrimmage and caught a touchdown pass in limited action against Kansas, and then ran for 118 yards and four touchdowns in a 59-31 win over West Virginia. As electric as his game is, Anderson shies away from attention. He doesn’t

have a Twitter account and rides a skateboard to class. He lives with offensive linemen Dru Samia and Bobby Evans and feels most at home with the big fellas up front. “The offensive line — they’re my favourite people, to be honest with

you,” Anderson said. “I hang out with them. We go eat sometimes. I’m always with the offensive line. They’re amazing. It’s always good when they block for me.” The linemen claim Anderson as one of their own, though Brown joked

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 64° F/18° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Variable cloudiness with showers

Mostly cloudy with showers

Clouds and sun with a few showers

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Partly sunny with a shower in spots

Mostly sunny and pleasant

High: 84°

Low: 73°

High: 83° Low: 70°

High: 85° Low: 71°

High: 85° Low: 71°

High: 84° Low: 70°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

88° F

75° F

91°-72° F

91°-73° F

91°-72° F

90°-71° F

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

10-20 knots

S

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

10-20 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 68° F/20° C

MIAMI

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

8-16 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 72° F/22° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 69° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 70° F/21° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 35.02” Normal year to date ................................... 38.16”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 73° F/23° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

8-16 knots

S

8-16 knots

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

2:38 a.m. 2:52 p.m.

2.5 2.6

8:49 a.m. 9:16 p.m.

0.7 0.2

Wednesday 3:33 a.m. 3:47 p.m.

2.7 2.6

9:49 a.m. 0.4 10:06 p.m. -0.1

Thursday

4:26 a.m. 4:41 p.m.

3.0 2.7

10:46 a.m. 0.1 10:56 p.m. -0.3

Friday

5:17 a.m. 5:33 p.m.

3.2 2.8

11:41 a.m. -0.1 11:45 p.m. -0.6

Saturday

6:08 a.m. 6:26 p.m.

3.5 2.8

12:34 p.m. -0.4 ---------

Sunday

6:58 a.m. 7:18 p.m.

3.6 2.9

12:35 a.m. -0.8 1:26 p.m. -0.6

Monday

7:49 a.m. 8:10 p.m.

3.7 2.9

1:26 a.m. -0.9 2:18 p.m. -0.7

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:36 a.m. 5:20 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

1:54 p.m. 1:14 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Dec. 3

Dec. 10

Dec. 18

Dec. 26

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map H

uV inDex toDay

CAT ISLAND

E

W

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

that unlike them, everything Anderson eats “turns into muscle.” “Rodney’s a funny guy, man,” Brown said. “I don’t really know how to describe it, but he’s a big guy. He fits in right with us. Whether that just be his swag, the way he carries himself, he fits right in with us. He likes to play games, likes to eat.” He’s different than the average running back on the field, too. The past six games, he has 785 yards and nine touchdowns rushing and 256 yards and five touchdowns receiving. He had 151 yards rushing and 139 yards receiving against TCU in the regular-season showdown. “His versatility has been impressive,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. “How well he’s caught the ball, he’s passed protected well, he’s ran physical. He’s popped some long plays running. Him being able to do all that and then having the other guys right there with him that have been very productive as well have really helped us.”

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 78° F/26° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 82° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

7-14 knots

7-14 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots E at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots E at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots

WAVES 4-7 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 5 Miles 1 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 78° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 84° F 84° F 80° F 80° F 77° F 77° F 81° F 81° F 85° F 85° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 80° F 80° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F


PAGE 8, Tuesday, November 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE


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