La Salle-Fordham men's basketball game story for the Philadelphia Daily News

La Salle holds off Fordham's charge, 83-78

By DENIS GORMAN

For the Daily News

NEW YORK - With every missed shot, the crowd in the small gym in the Bronx grew raucous. With every defensive stop, the noise level rose.

It had not been an enjoyable evening for La Salle's Darnell Harris, who repeatedly missed shots and turned the ball over.

And then, with one shot, the senior guard reminded everyone why the Explorers will go as far as he takes them. Harris' three from 25 feet away with 2:12 remaining pushed La Salle to an 83-78 win over Fordham last night at Rose Hill Gym.

Matched up most of the night against Fordham guards Marcus Stout and Kevin Anderson, Harris shot 2-of-8 and finished with six points. Yet La Salle head coach John Giannini wasn't concerned about Harris' off-night.

"We don't need Darnell to score for us to win," said Giannini with a straight face. "[Not many players] can make an NBA three. For him, it was a regular shot."

Prior to Harris' heroics, the Explorers were carried by the foursome of Ruben Guillandeaux, Kimmani Barrett, Rodney Green and Jerrell Williams. Green led La Salle with 19. Guillandeaux scored 15 in 20 minutes. Williams and Barrett added 14 and 10, respectively. They kept the Explorers in the game when it looked as if Fordham was on track to pull the upset.

Almost as importantly, the quartet was able to match Fordham senior forward Bryant Dunston bucket for bucket. The defensively challenged Explorers could not contain Fordham senior forward Bryant Dunston on the interior. Dunston finished with 25 points, courtesy of a variety of hooks, layups and dunks. He also grabbed 12 rebounds, his 15th double-double of the season. Yet in the last 5 minutes, facing a trap, he was nonexistent.

"You can't guard Dunston one-on-one without an elite post defender," Giannini said. "We had to trap him."

Green's three right before the half tied the game at 45. But the coach was not pleased.

"No. No. No. We're never pleased until the game is over," Giannini said.

La Salle jumped out to a 17-11 lead in the game's first 7 minutes, sparked by Williams' 10 points on layups and hooks. The Explorers increased their advantage to 12 (25-13) following Barrett's three-point play and a technical foul on Fordham coach Dereck Whittenburg.

Perhaps inspired by Whittenburg's outburst, the Rams reeled off a 19-5 run to take a 32-30 lead with 4:59 remaining in the first half. The run was triggered by Dunston, who scored scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds. The teams traded hoops for the remainder of the first half.

La Salle (14-13, 8-5) has won five in a row and improved to 6-1 in A-10 road games. It was the Explorers first win against the Rams (11-14, 5-8) in the last four meetings between the schools. *

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/20080228_La_Salle_holds_off_Fordhams_charge__83-78.html

Ducks-Devils game story for the LA Daily News and LA Newspaper Group

Jeer up: Ducks get victory

By Denis Gorman Special to the Daily News

Article Last Updated: 02/09/2008 02:51:30 AM PST

NEWARK, N.J. - The only two retired numbers hang to the right of the three Stanley Cup banners. The numbers, Ken Daneyko's 3 and Scott Stevens' 4, await others from the New Jersey Devils' dynasty of the 1990s.

In time, Scott Niedermayer's No. 27 will among those raised to The Prudential Center rafters, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello vowed. One wonders if the New Jersey fans who jeered him during the Ducks' 2-1 win Friday night will boo the defenseman that night.

"It was a good break for Prongs. I'm glad to chip in like that when I can," Niedermayer said with a grin in referring to Ducks captain Chris Pronger, who receives the brunt of the jeers on the road. "In some ways, you can take it as bit of a compliment. They didn't want you to leave.

"It was a little different from when we played them back in Anaheim. Here, there were people in the stands that I knew. I was excited. It was a special night, for sure."

Ryan Carter scored his first NHL goal with 9:42 remaining in the first, beating Martin Brodeur with a blast to the stick side to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.

Not coincidentally, Niedermayer was instrumental on the play, starting the rush from behind the Ducks' goal before dumping a quick pass to Francois Beauchemin, who threw a gorgeous cross-ice pass to Carter.

Seven minutes and thirty-five seconds later, Carter added his second goal in spectacular fashion. Chris Kunitz intercepted a Jay Pandolfo pass in the neutral zone and back-handed the puck off of Corey Perry's stick and into the Devils' end.

Carter picked it up just over the blue line, outraced Devils defenseman Johnny Oduya, made a slick inside-out move on Devils defenseman Paul Martin and then slipped the puck under Brodeur's pads for the winning goal.

"He's a good goalie, maybe one of the best ever. It's good to score the first against Marty Brodeur," Carter. "It's a little cliche , but when you get the first one, the floodgates open. Maybe that's the case here."

Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller stopped 34 shots to earn his fifth win of the season.

The Devils' only goal came off of Pandolfo's deflection of Vitaly Vishnevski's slap shot with 4:24 remaining in the second. After that, Hiller and the Ducks' defensive corps turned away New Jersey shots, including 15 in the final 20 minutes.

"I think the whole team can be happy with that game," Hiller said. "We played pretty well (and) kept the lead to the end."

Also ...

Sammy Pahlsson and Travis Moen did not play Friday night for the Ducks, but coach Randy Carlyle hopes that both are in the lineup Sunday in Detroit. Carlyle noted that Moen had lost 10pounds from the flu, but was "doing much better." ... Ducks enforcer George Parros, who attended Princeton University, said he believed there were "35 to 40" family members and friends at last night's game.

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_8213070

Ducks-Rangers game story for the LA Daily News and LA Newspaper Group

`Rusty' Selanne sparks Ducks to win

By Denis Gorman, Special to the Daily News

Article Last Updated: 02/07/2008 10:51:45 PM PST

NEW YORK- If the Ducks repeat as Stanley Cup Champions, they will point to Jan. 28 as the date they became whole once again.

On the day following the All-Star Game, the organization announced that Teemu Selanne had come out of hiatus and signed a one-year contract. In his first two games back, including Thursday's 4-1 victory against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, Selanne has two assists and hasn't seemed to have lost a step.

"I'm rusty," said a laughing Selanne while resting on a stationary bike following the game. "I feel pretty good, but still every game is important for me. I can't wait until I feel like normal again."

The obvious benefit of Selanne coming back into the fold was that the Ducks were able to add a future Hall-of-Fame scorer without having to make a trade.

The veiled advantage is that Ducks coach Randy Carlyle could tinker with his lines.

Prior to Tuesday's victory against the Islanders, Carlyle reunited the Perry-Kunitz-Getzlaf line. Offensively, the Ducks (29-22-7) will go as far as the trio will carry them. Getzlaf finished with an assist and a plus-two. Perry's 28th goal of the year, midway through the second period, was proved to be the winner. Kunitz increased the Ducks' lead to 3-1 with 13:32 remaining in the second. It was his 16th of the year. Selanne skated with Todd Bertuzzi and Doug Weight. Bertuzzi scored his 12th goal of the season in the third period.

New York City native Mathieu Schneider opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the year midway through the first. He also added an assist on Perry's goal. Ryan Callahan scored New York's lone goal early in the second period to tie the score at 1-1. It was Callahan's first goal since the first game of the season.

Smith awaits word from Maple Leafs

Neil Smith, the Ducks pro scout and former general manager of the Rangers, said that he has not heard from Cliff Fletcher about the vacant Toronto Maple Leafs' GM job. Smith believes that Fletcher will take his time before making a hire, suggesting that the Leafs' search will last until the summer. When asked if there are similarities between the rebuilding job in Toronto and what he encountered with the Rangers when he was named GM in 1989, Smith was very pointed.

"They were different eras and there were different ways to build a team. It's not the same because of the cap. We (the Rangers) had assets, but the assets we had were unknown," Smith said. "Ricky (Mike Richter), (Brian) Leetch, Tony Granato and Tomas Sandstrom were already here. I'm not sure Toronto has those assets but they have the resources to be really good."

Homecoming for Parros

George Parros, a New Jersey native, had 60 people at the game, including his former high school team.

He put on a show for them, assisting on Schneider's goal and fighting Rangers tough guy Colton Orr in the second.

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_8202316

Scott Niedermayer sidebar for the LA Daily News and LA Newspaper Group

Niedermayer's happy homecoming

By Denis Gorman, Special to the Daily News

Article Last Updated: 02/08/2008 01:57:55 AM PST

NEW YORK - The NHL schedules 2,460 games in a season. Most are run of the mill. On occasion, though, there are special games.

One of those is tonight.

For the first time since he signed with the Ducks, Scott Niedermayer will take the ice against his former team, the Devils, in New Jersey. Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said it would be a unique night for No. 27.

Standing inside the visiting dressing room in Madison Square Garden following the morning skate in the hours prior to the Ducks' 4-1 win over the Rangers Thursday night, the defenseman couldn't contain his anticipation for tonight's homecoming.

"It's exciting," Niedermayer said. "It'll be interesting to see the new rink (The Prudential Center), so it'll be a lot different in that sense. But it's still (being) back in Jersey, a lot of familiar faces. I'm looking forward to it."

And why shouldn't he? The Edmonton native was the Devils' first-round selection (No. 3 overall) in 1991. In 14 seasons in New Jersey, he became the franchise leader in goals (112) and points (476) by a defenseman. Niedermayer won the only Norris Trophy in the franchise's history in 2004. He appeared in three All-Star games (1998, 2001 and 2004) and was a NHL All-Star first-team selection in 2004 and 2006 and a second-team selection in 1998.

And Niedermayer was integral part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams with the Devils. It is safe to say he has fond recollections of his time with the Devils.

"I'm proud of what we accomplished as a team there. Good memories, for sure," a smiling Niedermayer said. "I was there for a long time. Everyone's here to win a Cup, and we did it three times."

According to a Devils spokesperson, the organization is not expected to honor their former defenseman before tonight's game. It is a curious decision, but the Ducks do not think it is meant to be a slight.

"I don't think it is (an insult)," Ducks general manager Brian Burke said. "Different teams do things in different ways. We always honor former players. Some teams don't. I'm sure they don't want to do anything to give us life and that's their prerogative."

"Whatever it is, it is," Niedermayer said. "It's not going to change my memories of playing there, good or bad. It'll be fun."

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_8202321

2/5/08 L.A. Clippers-New York Knicks game story for the Los Angeles Daily News and Los Angeles Newspaper Group

Clippers show grit in winning over Knicks

By Denis Gorman, Special to the Daily News

Article Last Updated: 02/04/2008 10:30:27 PM PST

NEW YORK - During the morning shootaround, Sam Cassell talked about the Knicks. But if you looked beyond the surface, he was pontificating on the state of the Clippers.

"I think it comes down to the individual. The coach can't play the game," Cassell said. "Eighty percent of the game is playing hard; playing harder than your opponent and 20 percent is skill."

Hours later, Al Thornton made his teammate look prescient. Mere moments after an adoring Madison Square Garden crowd feted three members of the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants - Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters and Kevin Dockery - the rookie forward from Florida State grabbed a rebound of a blocked shot and laid it in.

The score sheet will say that it was only two of the 11 points he scored in the Clippers' 103-94 win over the moribund Knicks on Monday night, but it was the type of grit that teams need to consistently win in the NBA, the type of grit that characterized the Pacific Division's cellar dweller's first road win since Dec. 14.

Facing a team that had just come off a 0-5 West Coast trip, assistant coach Kim Hughes - who ran the bench because head coach Mike Dunleavy was back at the team hotel sick with the flu - was concerned that the Clippers would take the Knicks lightly.

"They're not the same team we played earlier in the season. They are playing much harder now," Hughes said. "(During the Knicks' 0-5 West Coast trip) in three of the five games, they were ahead in the fourth quarter; they just had trouble
making shots."

The Clippers (15-30) heeded Hughes' warning as they outrebounded New York 39-35 - including holding a 10-7 edge on the offensive glass - and they scored 25 points off of Knicks turnovers, a stat that grated on Isiah Thomas.

"I cautioned our team at halftime; I told them one thing we cannot do is have an excessive amount of turnovers that lead to transition baskets," the embattled Knicks coach said. "We had 20 turnovers which led to 25 points. That is tough to deal with."

At the half, the Knicks (14-34) led 60-51, mostly due to a 16-3 second-quarter run. Knicks center Eddy Curry was the focal point, as he scored 10 of his 16 first-half points.

Matched up against Josh Powell and Chris Kaman, Curry repeatedly bulled his way into the paint and flipped in baby hooks.

"I thought we were in big trouble," Hughes said. "It's a long game. You can't quit on guys. I thought our philosophy of how we should defend them was good. We just weren't
doing what we should."

In the second half, the defense held the Knicks center to three points. Curry and the Clippers' Corey Maggette tied for the game high with 19 points each.

"Much better (defense). Josh had seven rebounds which was really good. Josh has a tendency to be a little bit foul prone, but I thought he guarded (Zach) Randolph and caused two turnovers when he was physical with Randolph which were huge," said Hughes. "(As a team) we came quicker instead of waiting and being fairly inefficient on the double team. In terms of attacking (we) more aggressive. (Curry) had a tendency not to throw the ball quick enough (out of the double team)."

Prior to the game, Hughes said that he was going to monitor the minutes Kaman and Maggette played, since were playing for the first time in four games. Both had just finished bouts with the flu. Kaman scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 35:20 while Maggette played 26:14.

"They're huge because Tim Thomas couldn't play much tonight," said Hughes. "He didn't play the second half. He didn't want to start the game.

He gave us some valuable minutes but we missed his minutes (in the second half)."

Thomas said his back was tight after he woke up from his pre-game nap.

Knicks swingman and former Clipper Quentin Richardson scored 14 points in 15:35, before leaving the game in the second quarter with a sprained ankle.

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_8170238