Johnson, Edwards gear up for one final race. Page 6C

3CC FRIDAY SPORTS November 14, 2008 SCOREBOARD 4C • COLLEGE FOOTBALL 8C • NBA 8C www.fayobserver.com/sports NFL Jets topple Patriots in OT ! Feely’s gives INSIDE between the teams and gave the Jets (7-3) % Jones says Cowboys will make the sole possession of first place for the first New York the win and the top time since Nov. 19, 2001, according to the playoffs, backs coach, Page 5C Elias Sports Bureau. The Patriots (6-4) spot in the AFC East. have won the AFC East the last five sea- the first series of overtime after New Eng- sons and six of the last seven. By Howard Ulman land tied the game on Matt Cassel’s pass to The Jets, who led 24-6 in the first half, The Associated Press Randy Moss with one second left in regula- extended their winning streak to four with FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New York tion and the Jets survived a Tom Brady-like their sixth victory in seven games and are AP photo Jets stand alone atop the tight AFC East comeback with a 34-31 victory Thursday 1½ games ahead of Buffalo and Miami in New York quarterback Brett Favre throws a pass during the standings, barely. night. the division. second half of the Jets’ 34-31 OT win over the Patriots. Jay Feely kicked a 34-yard field goal on The win broke a tie for the division lead See JETS, Page 5C

J. BRITT 61, T. SANFORD 59 N.C. STATE Nichols bails out Bucs ! The Jack Britt senior scores a game-high 20 points, including the winning 3-pointer. By Brad Crawford Correspondent The game-winning shot was specifically designed for Jack Britt’s Brandon Nichols and the 6-foot-1 senior calmly delivered. Nichols’ fifth 3-pointer of the game with 51 seconds remain- ing lifted the ON THE Buccaneers to WEB a slim 61-59 % For a victory Thurs- slideshow from day night over the Jack Britt- Terry Sanford Terry Sanford in boys’ bas- basketball game, ketball action. please visit Pressure fayobserver.com shots are nothing new Staff file photo by David Smith to Nichols as N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe says of last season, ‘I really don’t know what I could have done. Because initially, we were fine.’ the shooting guard also drained a shot from long range to beat Middle Creek in the boys’ 4-A Eastern Regional semifinal last season. Nichols scored a game-high 20 points after he was held scoreless in a season-opening win over E.E. Smith on Wednes- A new Lowe? day. “Everyone under-estimated N.C. State’s coach says it’s his way or the highway, but only time will me tonight,” Nichols said, after connecting on 5 of 8 3-pointers. “I didn’t score any points yes- tell if he can resuscitate the Pack after last season’s disaster terday and I just wanted to give a little extra effort for my team RALEIGH — Attention N.C. another. And Lowe’s ability to seen as a program on the rise tonight.” State bookstores, RBC Center walk that tightrope this winter with Lowe’s unique combination With the game tied at 58 souvenir stands and the Go Pack DAN may just determine the future of of swagger and desire rousing an with one minute left to play, Store at Crabtree Valley Mall. the program. always passionate and fervent Buccaneers’ Ike Wolfpack basketball coach WIEDERER “There’s only one voice and fan base. Walker Jr. called a timeout to Sidney Lowe is overflowing with it’s my voice.” He had a setup final instructions. sense of OPENER potential mottos for the 2008-09 “I’m the ring leader. It’s time % “I wanted to run a play that basketball season. for me to take total control.” history. He Who: N.C. State put the ball in our best player’s at New Orleans T-shirt sales should spike with “It’s my way.” had style. hands,” Walker Jr. said. “We promising to become a more % any one of these new-and- Before long, we’ll know Best of all, When: Saturday, had something designed for improved Lowe slogans. commanding and assertive he had the 8 p.m. Brandon and he made the shot. leader. whether those commanding “There’s only one voice and quotes can take off as gall to stare Terry Sanford (0-1) had a it’s my voice.” But whether his firm words down chance in the waning seconds, catchphrases of a basketball “I’m the ring leader. It’s time are received with loyal neighborhood bullies North but dribbled the ball out of resurgence in Raleigh or whether for me to take total control.” acceptance or dismissed as they’ll become the eventual Carolina and Duke without See BUCS, Page 5C “It’smyway.” unproven bravado remains to be epitaph on Lowe’s college cowering. By beating both the Tar Heels N.C. State’s season opener seen. coaching headstone. and Blue Devils in his first comes Saturday at New Orleans In the world of college Crash season on the bench, Lowe X’d and it’s clear that — at the basketball, being authoritative off one of the biggest boxes on starting line anyway — Lowe and convincing is one thing. It’s hard to imagine that a already has his chest puffed, Dictatorial and stubborn is quite year ago at this time, State was See WIEDERER, Page 8C

COLLEGE BASKETBALL McCarthy thinks he has ECU ‘on the right track’ ! The Pirates will look to rates haven’t had a winning season SEASON PREVIEW ginia Commonwealth and last season build on the improvements since 1996-97. % A look at the East Carolina men’s with the Pirates computes to a .620 ca- The program has only made two ap- basketball team, Page 7C reer winning percentage, which is sec- pearances in the NCAA Tournament — ond only to Memphis coach John Cali- they made last season. pari in Conference USA. in 1972 and 1993 — and didn’t survive year ago and some new faces give Mc- the first round either time. The list of His teams at Chattanooga made the Staff photo by Ashley Cross By Al Myatt Carthy hope for continued improve- Correspondent current ECU players in the NBA is a ment. The Pirates went from 6-24 in NCAA Tournament five times in 12 sea- Jack Britt’s Brandon Nichols null set. 2006-07 to 11-19 last season. sons. In 1997, the Mocs stunned third- dunks for two of his 20 When it comes to basketball tradi- Pirate football and baseball have McCarthy has a track record for de- seeded Georgia 73-70 in the first round points during the Bucs’ tion, coach Mack McCarthy has very lit- had more consistent success but the mo- fying the odds. His 320-196 record in 17 of the big dance and followed that with 61-59 win over Terry Sanford. tle to build on at East Carolina. The Pi- mentum of some historical hoops wins a seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga, Vir- See ECU, Page 7C 8C FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2008 SPORTS THE FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NBA

Miami wide receiver Travis LeBron, Cavs beat Benjamin (80) cannot catch a pass as Virginia Tech Anthony, Nuggets cornerback Stephen Virgil (22) applies The Associated Press shot that put the Cavs ahead by 26 points — 18 in the first half 12 and sent James racing onto — Anthony had 18 and Kenyon pressure CLEVELAND — LeBron the floor in celebration. Martin 12 with 10 rebounds for during the first James just missed his first James had lost his last five Denver. quarter of triple-double this season, but got % Thursday something even more rare: A games against Anthony, whom Bulls 98, Mavericks 91 — win over his friend, Carmelo An- he has known since high school, In Chicago, Ben Gordon scored night’s game. and is now just 3-8 against his 35 points and Chicago roared The Hurricanes thony. James scored 22 points, most U.S. Olympic teammate since back from an early 19-point defeated the of them coming with Anthony they broke into the league to- deficit to send Dallas to its Hokies, 16-14. guarding him, but Cleveland’s gether in 2003. James added 11 fourth straight loss. AP photo megastar was on the bench assists and eight rebounds as the Luol Deng added 20 points when Mo Williams and the Cav- Cavs beat the Nuggets for the and rookie Derrick Rose had 14 aliers finally put away the Den- first time since Dec. 15, 2005. of his 16 in the third quarter for ver Nuggets and won their sixth The Nuggets lost for the first the Bulls, who were booed early straight, 110-99 on Thursday time in four games since acquir- in the game by the crowd. night. ing Chauncey Billups in the Josh Howard, returning after Canes take Coastal lead Williams scored a season- blockbuster trade that sent missing two games with sore high 24 points and hit a crucial Allen Iverson to Detroit. wrist, led Dallas with 21 points in ACC, booting Va. Tech 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, a Billups scored a season-high and added 11 rebounds. Standings,BoxScores ! Miami leads North Taylor ran for two touch- Tech — which never advanced downs, including a 6-yarder the ball farther than its own 18 Standings Today’s games Chicago 3-9 (Gordon 2-3, Hughes 1-1, Rose 0-1, No- Carolina by a half- Utah at Charlotte, 7 p.m. cioni 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Dallas 65 with 3:28 remaining for the in that period, adding to the Eastern Conference Philadelphia at Indiana, 7 p.m. (Dampier 18), Chicago 55 (Deng, Rose 9). Assists—Dal- Hokies (6-4, 3-3), who had won Hurricanes’ run of defensive Atlantic Division Atlanta at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. las 15 (Nowitzki 5), Chicago 13 (Rose 6). Total W L Pct. GB Washington at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Fouls—Dallas 22, Chicago 23. A—21,751. game. Boston 8 1 .889 — Oklahoma City at New York, 7:30 p.m. four of the last five meetings dominance coming out of half- 1 New York 5 3 .625 2 /2 Milwaukee at Memphis, 8 p.m. Late Wednesday 1 Toronto 4 4 .500 3 /2 against the Hurricanes, but now time. 1 Denver at Boston, 8 p.m. By Tim Reynolds Philadelphia 3 5 .375 4 /2 Portland at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Kings 103, Clippers 98 essentially need a miracle to Over the last five games, the New Jersey 2 5 .286 5 Houston at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. SACRAMENTO (103) The Associated Press Southeast Division Orlando at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Thompson 6-10 4-6 16, Moore 2-3 4-4 8, Miller 7-10 stay in the ACC title picture. W L Pct. GB Phoenix at Sacramento, 10 p.m. 1-2 16, Udrih 13-20 4-4 30, Salmons 5-19 0-0 13, Hawes Hurricanes’ defense has been on Atlanta 6 1 .857 — Detroit at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. 1 3-6 1-2 7, Jackson 3-6 0-0 6, Greene 2-2 0-0 5, Brown 1- So for now, Miami (7-3, 4-2) Orlando 5 3 .625 1 /2 MIAMI — Javarris James the field for 76 plays in third 1 3 0-0 2, Williams 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 42-80 14-18 103. Miami 4 4 .500 2 /2 holds the outright lead in the Charlotte 2 5 .286 4 Cavaliers 110, Nuggets 99 L.A. CLIPPERS (98) ran for a touchdown, Matt quarters and given up a mere 1 Thornton 6-16 6-7 20, Camby 4-8 5-6 13, Kaman 3- Washington 1 5 .167 4 /2 DENVER (99) Bosher kicked three field goals, ACC Coastal, a half-game 139 yards, a paltry 1.8 yard-per- Central Division Anthony 5-12 7-8 18, Martin 5-11 2-2 12, Nene 3-7 6- 6 2-3 8, B.Davis 4-15 4-5 12, Mobley 4-8 1-2 10, P.Davis W L Pct. GB 6 12, Billups 9-13 4-4 26, Jones 3-5 0-1 6, Smith 7-11 2- 2-4 0-2 4, Gordon 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor 1-3 0-0 3, T.Thomas and Miami got a huge defensive ahead of North Carolina, which play average. And with defense Cleveland 7 2 .778 — 3 18, Balkman 0-3 0-0 0, Kleiza 2-6 0-0 5, Carter 1-5 0- 4-7 2-2 12, R.Davis 6-9 0-0 16. Totals 34-77 20-27 98. Detroit 5 2 .714 1 0 2. Totals 35-73 21-24 99. Sacramento 27 23 31 22—103 stand in the final minutes to will need to win Saturday at like that, Miami didn’t neces- Indiana 4 3 .571 2 CLEVELAND (110) L.A. Clippers 20 25 24 29— 98 Maryland to keep pace in the Chicago 4 5 .444 3 James 10-20 2-4 22, Wallace 4-4 3-3 11, Ilgauskas 5- 3-Point Goals—Sacramento 5-14 (Salmons 3-6, beat Virginia Tech 16-14 on sarily mind settling for field Milwaukee 4 5 .444 3 8 0-0 10, M.Williams 10-21 1-1 24, West 3-7 0-0 8, Gibson Greene 1-1, Miller 1-1, Jackson 0-1, Brown 0-1, Hawes race for a trip to the league ti- 7-11 0-0 15, Szczerbiak 4-6 2-2 10, Varejao 2-2 2-2 6, 0-1, Udrih 0-3), L.A. Clippers 10-20 (R.Davis 4-5, Thorn- Thursday night and move into goals to stretch the lead. Western Conference Hickson 2-3 0-0 4, Pavlovic 0-0 0-0 0, Kinsey 0-0 0-0 0. ton 2-2, T.Thomas 2-4, Taylor 1-1, Mobley 1-3, Gordon tle game in Tampa. Southwest Division Totals 47-82 10-12 110. 0-1, B.Davis 0-4). Fouled Out—Moore. Re- first place in the Atlantic Coast W L Pct. GB Denver 36 25 20 18—99 bounds—Sacramento 53 (Miller, Thompson 11), L.A. Bosher connected from 21 Houston 5 3 .625 — Clippers 39 (Kaman 6). Assists—Sacramento 25 1 Cleveland 33 25 30 22—110 Conference’s Coastal Division. New Orleans 4 3 .571 /2 3-Point Goals—Denver 8-19 (Billups 4-6, Smith 2-4, (Miller 8), L.A. Clippers 23 (B.Davis 11). Total Marve gains 165 yards and 31 yards in the third quar- 1 Memphis 3 6 .333 2 /2 Anthony 1-3, Kleiza 1-4, Carter 0-2), Cleveland 6-16 Fouls—Sacramento 26, L.A. Clippers 23. A—13,266. Marcus Robinson had three 1 ter and then added a 23-yarder San Antonio 2 5 .286 2 /2 (M.Williams 3-9, West 2-4, Gibson 1-2, Szczerbiak 0-1). sacks and a big third-down Robert Marve threw for 121 Dallas 2 6 .250 3 Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Denver 39 (Martin 10), Rockets 94, Suns 82 early in the fourth for a 16-7 Northwest Division Cleveland 39 (James, Varejao 8). Assists—Denver 16 HOUSTON (94) yards and rushed for 44 more W L Pct. GB (Billups 6), Cleveland 30 (James 11). Total Fouls—Den- tackle for a loss with 2:27 left Utah 6 2 .750 — Artest 1-12 2-2 4, Scola 1-6 0-0 2, Yao 7-14 3-4 17, Miami advantage. ver 18, Cleveland 20. Technical—Martin. Flagrant McGrady 11-18 1-4 27, Alston 7-11 0-0 15, Hayes 1-2 0- to help the Hurricanes win their for the Hurricanes, who won Portland 5 3 .625 1 Foul—Martin. Ejected—Martin. A—20,562. Denver 4 4 .500 2 0 2, Brooks 8-13 2-3 19, Landry 2-4 2-2 6, Barry 1-6 0- Not only was it senior night 1 0 2. Totals 39-86 10-15 94. fifth straight. just five games total last season Minnesota 1 6 .143 4 /2 Bulls 98, Mavericks 91 Oklahoma City 1 7 .125 5 PHOENIX (82) for 23 Hurricanes, but Miami Barnes 5-13 0-0 11, Stoudemire 5-13 1-2 11, O’Neal Robinson’s stop on Dustin and started 0-2 in the ACC this Pacific Division DALLAS (91) added five players — Jim Kelly, W L Pct. GB Howard 7-23 6-7 21, Nowitzki 5-17 2-3 12, Dampier 7-12 4-4 18, Bell 0-6 0-0 0, Nash 4-10 1-1 10, Lopez 0-1 Pickle forced the Hokies, who year — yet have been the L.A. Lakers 7 0 1.000 — 6-11 4-6 16, Kidd 3-6 2-2 9, Terry 5-14 4-4 16, Green 1- 0-0 0, Barbosa 5-15 7-8 18, Dragic 3-4 0-0 6, Hill 0-4 0- Cortez Kennedy, Jim Otto, Gino Phoenix 6 3 .667 2 3 0-0 2, Wright 1-1 0-0 2, Stackhouse 1-5 2-2 4, Bass 2- 0 0, Diaw 1-4 0-0 2, Amundson 2-3 2-2 6. Totals 32-85 were out of timeouts, into a league’s hottest team since. Sacramento 4 5 .444 4 4 0-0 4, Diop 1-3 1-4 3, Singleton 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 32- 15-17 82. 1 87 23-30 91. Houston 23 21 30 20—94 Torretta and Edgerrin James Golden State 3 5 .375 4 /2 1 CHICAGO (98) Phoenix 22 15 18 27—82 fourth-and-3 — and Allen Bai- And it was the defense that L.A. Clippers 1 7 .125 6 /2 — to its ring of honor in a half- Wednesday’s late results Deng 8-19 4-5 20, Gooden 3-10 2-2 8, Noah 0-1 0-0 0, 3-Point Goals—Houston 6-17 (McGrady 4-5, Brooks ley sacked Tyrod Taylor to seal carried the Canes once again. Rose 7-17 2-4 16, Gordon 12-21 9-10 35, Thomas 2-5 4- 1-1, Alston 1-4, Barry 0-3, Artest 0-4), Phoenix 3-14 time ceremony. Houston 94, Phoenix 82 4 8, Gray 1-2 0-2 2, Nocioni 0-5 4-6 4, Hughes 2-5 0-0 (Nash 1-4, Barbosa 1-4, Barnes 1-4, Bell 0-2). Fouled the win for the Hurricanes, who Miami ran 20 plays from Sacramento 103, L.A. Clippers 98 5. Totals 35-85 25-33 98. Out—None. Rebounds—Houston 50 (Yao 15), Phoenix Thursday’s results Dallas 32 18 20 21—91 57 (O’Neal 13). Assists—Houston 13 (Alston 4), Phoenix knelt down three times to run scrimmage in the third quarter, Four of those five were pre- Cleveland 110, Denver 99 Chicago 22 29 27 20—98 11 (Nash, O’Neal 3). Total Fouls—Houston 15, Phoenix Chicago 98, Dallas 91 3-Point Goals—Dallas 4-15 (Terry 2-5, Kidd 1-2, 13. Technicals—Alston, McGrady, Barnes, Nash, out the clock. compared with six by Virginia sent for the party. Detroit at Golden State (n) Howard 1-3, Stackhouse 0-1, Bass 0-1, Nowitzki 0-3), O’Neal. Ejected—Alston, Barnes. A—18,422.

Hickson, the team’s leading control when things get tense. Wiederer scorer (14.8 ppg) and In Lowe’s first season, rebounder (8.5 rpg). By now, point guard Engin Atsur was From Page 3C it’s been well-documented that the on-court general. Atsur Hickson’s arrival and Lowe’s was the guy who calmed the program’s checklist, insistence on making him the everybody down, set up the accomplishing a feat that had focal point of everything State offense and barked orders to been achieved only twice in did disrupted team chemistry. keep everyone focused — just the previous 17 seasons. By giving Hickson the like Lowe had done during his But just when it looked like leading role with no questions playing days. the Wolfpack was in the asked, Lowe inadvertently But last season, Atsur’s express lane toward the top of handcuffed the playmaking successor never materialized. the ACC, Lowe’s joyride hit a skills of guys like Costner, “I thought maybe we had pothole, spinning out of Ben McCauley and Courtney somebody else and it didn’t control and plowing through Fells, all of whom saw their work out that way,” Lowe says. the guard rail. Last season’s statistical averages plunge and “So now it has to be me.” startling 15-16 wreck left their enthusiasm dissipate. And so here comes another players and fans and even the “It’s not that people T-shirt slogan. athletic administration sitting expected too much out of us,” “It’s the old Sid without the on the side of the road, their McCauley says. “It’s just that jersey now,” Lowe says. “I’ll eyes wide and their fingernails we thoroughly underachieved. do exactly what I did when I digging into their skulls. Sometimes when you add new played. When I played, I’d State’s 12 losses in ACC pieces, certain things just don’t chew guys out. I’d tell Coach play were its most in 11 mix well. The best part about V to take them out. Simple as seasons. Its nine-game losing last year is that it’s over. It’s that. It’s just the way it was. streak to end the season set a been draining to revisit.” If you weren’t going to do new program record. Still, Lowe refuses to admit what we needed you to go, I’d All that hope and he made any mistakes with tell Coach, ‘Take them out.’ enthusiasm? Not only has it how he used Hickson, even For me, it’s about playing the completely evaporated but after State finished dead last game the right way and there’s a growing buzz that if in the ACC in scoring (67.3 winning. And it’s better to the Wolfpack doesn’t show ppg) and 10th in turnovers per have five guys out there marked progress this winter, game (15.5). playing the way you want Lowe’s job could be in “It’s very difficult to find a them to play than have five jeopardy. After just three negative when you’re going guys out there playing their seasons. through your best player,” way and lose.” Lowe says. “I mean, you’ve In the preseason, such ‘You don’t see it coming’ got to call it the way it is. soliloquies can seem Ask the State coach where J.J. was the best player. You energizing and motivational. he erred last season and he have to play around that and But to be successful, Lowe can’t quite put a finger on it. guys have to play their roles. will ultimately have to offer a “I really don’t know what I If you have Karl Malone, you bit of give-and-take. Winning could have done,” Lowe says. go through Karl Malone. programs always need players “Because initially, we were Michael Jordan, you go who respond to the coach’s fine. We won a very good through Michael Jordan. You directives. But those players tournament (the Old Spice go through your best player.” also need a coach who’s in Classic) down in Orlando (in Follow the leader tune with their needs, November). So I don’t know. cognizant of their skills and Again, I’m not sure what I Perhaps the best news — willing to play masseuse with could have done. It’s hard for ironic as it might be — is that their college-aged egos. me to explain. You don’t see by making good on his After two roller coaster it coming.” promise to deliver Hickson to seasons, Lowe believes he has He shakes his head and the NBA as quickly as things under control. tries again to put his finger possible, Lowe has put the “There’s only one voice and on it. Wolfpack in a better position it’s my voice.” “I only know one way and to regain its winning edge this “I’m the ring leader. It’s that’s to play the game the season. time for me to take total right way and to play the With Hickson gone, much control.” game to win,” he says. of the turbulence that ruined “It’s my way.” “Anything else is foreign to last year — the rotation Certainly sounds powerful. me. Anything else I just have issues, the sharing of the ball, But it’s time to see whether a problem with. And I don’t the personality conflicts — Lowe’s voice can motivate and know if we were all playing it won’t be a problem. inspire, whether his way is the to win the game last year.” Bothered by last season’s right way. And for a coach But if there’s a Cliff’s difficulties, Lowe spent the who has a 9-23 ACC record as Notes version to what went spring and summer the head coach at N.C. State wrong, it is this. orchestrating “an attitude after a 79-228 overall mark as “We were just way too one- adjustment” in the State a head coach in the NBA, it’s dimensional,” says forward locker room. And he’s logical to question whether Brandon Costner. repeatedly vowed that he Lowe’s way works. And that one dimension won’t stand around waiting for Staff writer Dan Wiederer can be reached at was freshman center J.J. one of his players to take [email protected] or 486-3536.