forearm tightness) was in the original starting lineup but Brock Holt

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Mississippi State coach Ben Howland knew what was coming. Yet, it still left him shaking his head.Can you believe he ran a triangle and two on November 20? smiled Howland at his longtime friend and one-time LA rival, UTEP coach Tim Floyd.Howland, UCLAs coach from 2003-2013, squared off against Floyds USC teams from 2006 through 2009 with the Bruins winning seven of the 10 matchups. This time, Howland left a winner, too, as Aric Holman scored 18 points and Lamar Peters had 13 points, including a critical four-point play that snapped the Bulldogs from a shooting funk, in a 61-54 victory over the Miners. Mississippi State left with two straight wins and fifth place at the Charleston Classic.Im just excited about our team never quits, never gives up, Howland said.The Bulldogs (3-1) trailed 15-4 early and 43-35 in the second half as they started 1 of 10 from the field. Thats when Peters struck for a 3-pointer and got fouled, which seemingly woke up Mississippi State.Coach always tells me to look for my opportunities, Peters said. I just wanted to do whatever it took to help the team.The 6-foot-10 Holman did, too. His last basket was a thunderous jam with 5:22 to go that broke a 49-all tie. Mississippi State did not trail again.At the end of the day, the main thing was just to keep my team going, Holman said. Get defensive stops because our defense leads to our offense.Dominic Artis scored 15 points and Matt Willms had 12 points and 11 rebounds for UTEP. But the Miners lost their shooting touch in the second half, going just 7 of 26 from the field and missing their final four shots to lose two of their three tournament games.Floyd, critical of his club after their 10-3-81 loss to Wake Forest here Thursday, left much more pleased about what the Miners could become. The defense, he said, improved over the weeks three games and Artis and Willms took control of the attack.That was a real, real positive for us, Floyd said.Howland said he and Floyd were friendly during his time in Westwood when fans of the rivalry wanted only hate for the Trojans.He and Floyd hadnt faced each other since USCs 65-55 win over UCLA in the semifinals of the Pac-10 tournament in 2009. Howland doesnt enjoy facing coaches he considers friends. I hope we dont have to do it again, he said. I really do.Floyd enjoyed seeing Howland this weekend, too.Great respect for him, Floyd said. Mississippi States got the right guy.BIG PICTUREUTEP: The Miners have a dynamic guard in Dominic Artis and a solid post player in 7-foot-1 Matt Willms. But if those two struggle, UTEP is often left forcing shots. Starter Jake Flaggert, a three-point specialist, was just 1 of 7 from behind the arc while Paul Thomas, also a starter, struggled from the field at 3 of 8 and was hurt by foul trouble. The Miners will have to discover a reliable third option quickly.Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are led by sophomore Quinndary Weatherspoon. But when Weatherspoon is off his game, as he was against UTEP, Mississippi State is stuck for reliable shooters. Aric Holman was dominant inside before fouling out with 86 seconds left. Take away Holmans 8 of 10 shooting and the Bulldogs were 13 of 42 from the field.INJURED QBen Howland said leading scorer Quinndary Weatherspoon would have an MRI on his left wrist, injured Friday in Southern Mississippis win over Boise State. We dont know how bad it might be, Howland said. Thats what concerns me.UP NEXTUTEP returns home for a two-game stretch, starting against Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night.Mississippi State begins a five-game run at home when it faces Lehigh on Friday night---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org Wholesale Custom Jerseys . 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He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Cheap Jerseys 2020 . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles enjoy playing at home, and theyre hoping for more success at Camden Yards when they take on the Boston Red Sox in the finale of their two-game series on Wednesday.Both teams come into the game deadlocked at 66-52, tied for second in the American League East, one game behind Toronto (68-52).The Orioles will play 24 of their final 44 games at home -- where they have a 39-18 record after Tuesdays 5-3 loss to Boston. Third baseman Manny Machado said the Orioles -- who just came off of a 10-game road trip to Chicago, Oakland and San Francisco -- are glad to be back home.Were just trying to take it day-by-day, Machado said. We have the greatest fans in the world. We feed off of that. That takes us to another level.Chris Tillman was supposed to start for Baltimore, but after Tuesdays game, manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles are going to push him back to at least Saturday due to some shoulder issues.A lot of things most starting pitchers go through, especially in August, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. But thats why I had pushed everybody back a day, (to) give everybody some time.Instead, rookie right-hander Dylan Bundy (6-3, 2.93) will make his seventh start. Hes been spectacular in five of his six starts, and the hard-hitting Red Sox could give him a test.David Price (10-8, 4.29) is set to start for the Red Sox. Price gave up three runs on 10 hits in a 9-4 victory over Arizona last Friday. That ended a stretch of five starts without a victory for the veteran left-hander.The Red Sox have just started a long 11-gamee road trip, but even manager John Farrell said Oriole Park is a good place to play.ddddddddddddThis is a great ballpark, Farrell said of Camden Yards. When the weather is warm, its a very good hitters ballpark.The Red Sox are hoping for some better luck with injuries Wednesday as two members of Tuesdays starting lineup were hurt.Third baseman Aaron Hill (right forearm tightness) was in the original starting lineup but Brock Holt replaced him before the game. Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez left after four no-hit innings -- plus two pitches in the fifth -- due to left hamstring tightness.Farrell said they think they caught Rodriguezs problems early, and if everything works out all right, the left-hander might not have to miss a start. But the skipper said theyll have a better idea about things on Wednesday.Boston also was again missing Hanley Ramirez, whos been on the bereavement list since Monday. Farrell said he will re-join the Red Sox on Thursday in Detroit.The Red Sox need to get used to the road games since theyll be playing 28 of their final 44 games on the road. Farrell said his team knows what the situation is in the tight three-team race in the American League East.We all are well aware of what is at stake, where we are in the standings and who is around us, Farrell said. We had guys step up in key moments (on Tuesday).Theyll be hoping for more of the same Wednesday versus one of the best home teams in baseball. ' ' '