Dein erstes Forum » season and for `fork in the road type weeks. W

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- After shuffling players on and off the court all night, Maryland coach Mark Turgeon noticed that he had four freshmen in the game with the outcome hanging in the balance.I was like, `Dang, I must really believe in this group, Turgeon said. But the guys who finished the game I thought were playing the best.Melo Trimble scored 22 points, freshman Anthony Cowan added 12 and No. 25 Maryland used a late salvo to slip past American 62-56 on Friday night.After losing four starters from a squad that reached the Sweet 16, the Terrapins opened a new season with a decidedly new look. Turgeon has a 16-man roster containing nine freshmen, and he spent much of the game looking for the right combination.He expects the procedure to continue for quite a while.Were a definite work in progress, Turgeon said. But its exciting. I just think were going to be a heck of a team before its all said and done. Were just trying to figure it out.American led 47-43 with 7:34 remaining before Maryland finally played to form. Trimble -- the lone returning starter -- made two baskets in the lane to spark a 7-0 run.After Charlie Jones scored for the Eagles, L.G. Gill made two free throws and freshman Kevin Huerter buried a 3-pointer from the left side for a 55-49 lead.AU closed to 57-54 before Trimble made a driving layup with just over a minute left.Day to day, I dont know who my best players are, Turgeon said. I know Melos my best player but (beyond that), from day to day I dont know. The good thing is I have choices. In the end, we figured it out.Mark Gasperini scored 14 points for the Eagles, who finished 12-19 last season and are picked to finish in the middle of the Patriot League. On this night, however, AU gave Maryland all it could handle in a duel between Washington area teams.The Eagles were outrebounded 44-22 and outscored at the free throw line 18-4.Theyre a terrific team, and for us to be able to hang in there is an accomplishment, coach Mike Brennan said.Turgeon started two freshmen, Cowan and Huerter. The lone senior in the starting lineup was 6-foot-11 center Damonte Dodd, who had two fouls in his 2 minutes of playing time in the first half.Trimble had 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting to stake the Terrapins to a 31-25 halftime lead.Maryland led 16-11 before the Eagles got eight points from Leon Tolksdorf in a 12-2 run.After Turgeon called a timeout, the Terps rattled off 10 straight points. Cowan started the surge with a 3-pointer, two free throws and a three-point play.BIG PICTUREAmerican: Playing this well against a Big Ten contender should serve as confidence boost for the Eagles when they go up against Patriot League foes.Maryland: The youthful Terrapins got their season off to a rocky start. Turgeon got 10 players involved in the first half, putting a priority on spreading the minutes. Games like this should ultimately help him determine a rotation for the tougher matchups that loom ahead.POLL IMPLICATIONSMaryland should stay in the Top 25 through the weekend, but at this juncture Turgeon isnt too concerned.Just because people have got us ranked, we dont know who we are, he said. Its OK to have a tough game. And in the end were going to learn a lot more from it. Were going to be a better team because it was a close game.UP NEXTAmerican: Another road trip against strong opposition looms for the Eagles, who face Texas A&M on Monday night.Maryland: The Terrapins get an early season test Tuesday night against Georgetown at Verizon Center in Washington. Maryland squeezed past Hoyas 75-71 last season.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Ted Hendricks Womens Jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. George Blanda Youth Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.shoptheraidersonline.com/Elite-Dave-Casper-Raiders-Jersey/ . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. Kenny Stabler Youth Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Josh Jacobs Jersey . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. CLEVELAND -- Surrounded by his teammates in the locker room, James Harrison accepted the game ball as his eyes flooded with tears.On a special day for Pittsburghs pulverizing linebacker, there was something was missing and Harrison struggled to harness his emotions.I was thinking about my father, and how hes not here for it, Harrison said.The 38-year-old Harrison became the Steelers career sacks leader on Sunday as Pittsburgh recorded eight sacks and pounded the Cleveland Browns 24-9 to end a four-game losing streak.For Harrison, the milestone was somewhat bittersweet since it came in the same year that he lost his father, James Sr., who died in May at the age of 76.Harrison has kept his fathers passing mostly private, but honored him by posting photos on Instagram of him and his dad fishing together.Following the game, the Steelers paid tribute to the five-time Pro Bowler, who has helped them win two Super Bowls.Except for one season, Harrison has been with the Steelers since 2002, and his presence has kept Pittsburghs defense among the NFLs hardest-hitting, most-feared units.With Cleveland driving toward a possible touchdown, Harrison sacked Browns rookie quarterback Cody Kessler for a 5-yard loss.Starting on the right side, Harrison looped around the edge and then overpowered rookie guard Spencer Drango, who had no chance and was driven backward before Kessler was brought down.It was vintage Harrison -- brutal and effective.The sack gave him 77+ sacks, moving Harrison past Jason Gildon (77) for the most in Pittsburghs storied history.It feels good, Harrison said of the record. It feels a lot better to get a win to stop this losing skid that we were on.Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has been around nearly as long as Harrison has, was excited to see his teammate set the mark.I wish he would have gotten it at home, but thats about the only regret I have for him is that he couldnt be recognized at home because he deserves that as one of the best Ive ever seen, Roethlisberger said.dddddddddddd Im glad hes on my side. We all respect him a lot and were all happy for him.Harrison came in with just two sacks this season, both coming in a loss to Baltimore two weeks ago. Last week, Harrison found himself on the sideline during Dallas final two drives, both ending with touchdown runs by rookie Ezekiel Elliott.Coach Mike Tomlin moved him ahead of Jarvis Jones on the depth chart, and Harrison came through the way he always has.James has been that type of guy for us, Tomlin said. Usually we make decisions with him with a global perspective. Wanting him to be a part of this thing not only today, but for the remainder of the season and for `fork in the road type weeks. What are we preserving him for? Thats why we played him today in the manner in which we did.I see him every day so Im less amazed by him. Maybe I should be amazed by it, but we know that his production is not haphazard. Its not something mystical. He works extremely hard and does so on a daily basis.Harrison helped set the tone for Pittsburghs defense, which held the Browns to 33 yards rushing and 209 overall -- 126 coming in the fourth quarter when the Steelers were not rushing as much.Everybody took responsibility to do their job and what I call play selfish, Harrison said. Do your job and let your teammate do his job. And Im not saying selfish in the way of me, me, me. Im talking about selfish in the fact that if you do your job and everyone else does their job, then everything will roll out the way you need it to.Harrison, who grew up in Akron and played at Kent State, said setting the sacks record in Ohio didnt make it any more significant.It could have been anywhere, he said. But it wouldnt have been more special than it already is.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '