SPORTS SECTION E
NCAA
Higgs, Page 4
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017
‘The Promise’ prevails By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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matchup between two of the top big men in all of NCAA Division I basketball - Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton and UNLV’s Brand McCoy - produced in an overtime thriller. In the end, Ayton and the Wildcats scored a 91-88 win over the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday night. Ayton finished with a season-high 28 points, 10 rebounds and tied a season high with three blocked shots while McCoy also had a season-high with 33 points and 10 rebounds. Arizona improved to 5-3 following its three-game losing streak at the Battle 4 Atlantis and UNLV fell to 6-2. Ayton came into the game as one of just seven players in the nation averaging at least 15 points and 10 rebounds per game, while shooting 60 per cent or better from the field. He is also one of just two freshmen in college basketball with the feat, along with McCoy. Both players average just over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game. Ayton said the team was able to overcome a slow start but lauded the environment on the road in Las Vegas. “The first half we were in a little slump with our shooting, but in the second half we really broke out, driving, getting fouls, shooting at the line, and getting rhythm shots,” Ayton said. “But that environment is the craziest environment I’ve ever played in. I couldn’t even hear myself, I lost my voice. This is a great environment to play in.” “You don’t often see two freshman big guys go at it like DeAndre and Brandon McCoy,” Wildcats head coach Sean Miller said. UNLV opened the game making 6-11 shots from the
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TIGER WOODS HEADLINES HERO WORLD CHALLENGE
DeAndre Ayton dominates with season high 28
By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TIGER Woods’ path on the comeback prowl was once again the main storyline to emerge out of the Bahamas this week at Hero World Challenge. Members of the field, including some the world’s top golfers competing at the Albany Golf Course, were not only quizzed on their performances over the event but on the performance and impact of Woods’ return to competitive play. Woods, the 41-year-old 14 major champion and host of the event, made his much anticipated return from a 10-month absence and finished tied for No.9 in the field. Subsequently, his world ranking rose from 1,199th to 668th. Reigning champion Rickie Fowler, who set a course record on day four to take the 2017 title, said his personal relationship with Woods playing courses in Jupiter, Florida, gave Fowler an advantage this year on tour. “It’s been cool to see Tiger able to be back playing at home or even here just out having fun and healthy. You could definitely say that because I got two rounds before each tournament. I think he sharpened me up a little bit. “I’ve gotten a little scared of how good he was playing at home, thought I needed to start playing a little bit better or something,” he said. “But living in Jupiter, being able to play with Tiger now that he’s back playing and the other guys at home, when we’re home we get to practice and play with guys that we compete with. That’s I think a big advantage versus playing with guys that aren’t at the same level. You can get some good matches and challenge yourself when
ARIZONA’s Deandre Ayton shoots during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA college basketball game against UNLV in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
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Star Sailors League Finals officially starts with courtesy call THE 2017 Star Sailors League Finals officially started last night with the opening ceremony at Government House. A delegation
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of 20 SSL representatives met with Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling in a courtesy call at 5.30pm.They then joined the 50 Star Sailors League finalists and all of the other guests on the veranda at Government House, where each of the 25 teams competing in the Star Sailors League finals were introduced. Racing at the fifth edition of the Star Sailors League Finals is all set to begin at 1pm today, just a few miles out from their base at Nassau Yacht Club in Montagu Bay. For the fifth year in a row, some of the world’s best sailors will line up to compete for the 2017 Star Sailors League title, the 4,000 Star Sailors League Ranking points and the biggest share of the US$ 200,000 prize pot, on the crystal blue waters of the Bahamas.
THE Star Sailors League Finals officially started last night with the opening ceremony at Government House.
The entry list comprises 25 outstanding teams from 15 nations. Among them are nine of the top 10 skippers of the Star Sailors League Ranking and 16 VIPs picked from across the many different avenues of sailing. Twenty three Olympic medals have hung from the necks of the 2017 Star Sailors League finalists, of which seven are gold medals. In the line-up are a huge number of world champions in both Olympic and big boat classes, Volvo Ocean Race, Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup winners, and for the first time some solo around-the-world skippers. It is an honour for the Star Sailors League to be joined for the first time by two French legends Loick Peyron and Franck
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