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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. Nike Air Max Femme Solde . -- Oakland had a chance to upset No. 5 Michigan State on Saturday. It just couldnt keep up with the Spartans on the glass. Duke Mondy scored 24 points, but the Golden Grizzlies were outrebounded by nine during a 67-63 loss to Branden Dawson and Michigan State. "There are no moral victories here at Oakland," coach Greg Kampe said, thanking Tom Izzo for scheduling his team. "We passed that point of being close long ago. We were close again and just couldnt beat them." Mondy, the nations leader in steals, had seven swipes for the Golden Grizzlies (2-9). Travis Bader, who grew up in the shadows of Michigan State, had 18 points and Corey Petros added 11 for Oakland, winless in 12 games in the series. I had seven steals?" Mondy said. "I didnt even know that. I have great anticipation. Im not a gambler, but I like to gamble sometimes." Bader went 4 for 14 from long range to move within 56 3-pointers of J.J. Redicks NCAA record, drawing rave reviews from Izzo. "I love that kid," Izzo said of Bader, the son of his former director of basketball operations. "I grew up with that kid, and he grew up with me. If ever a kid deserves success, its him. I hope he breaks the record." Izzo had no idea how Dawson would play after he challenged the enigmatic forward following a disappointing effort against North Carolina. He got the answer he was looking for in a home game for Oakland at The Palace. Dawson had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the short-handed Spartans (8-1), who were rusty and turnover-prone after a 10-day break. "I thought Dawson really responded today," Izzo said. "I got after him pretty good." Dawson took only two shots and had two turnovers in 17 minutes during Michigan States 79-65 home loss to the Tar Heels on Dec. 4. It was a much different story against the Golden Grizzlies, with Dawson going 7 for 13 from the field and blocking three shots in 36 minutes. "There was a different mindset and definitely a different approach," Dawson said. "Id just had one of the worst games since Ive been here against North Carolina. So the guys all pushed me, and Coach talked to me." Keith Appling scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half for the Spartans, and Adreian Payne had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Michigan State played without leading scorer Gary Harris, who is nursing an ankle injury. The Spartans also were without big men Matt Costello (mononucleosis) and Kenny Kaminski (academic suspension). The Golden Grizzlies jumped to a 20-12 lead, taking advantage of the Spartans sloppiness. Oakland had four assists on its first five baskets, while Michigan State was recording one assist and committing seven turnovers. "The start they had kept them in the game," Izzo said. "If wed gotten them down early, maybe some of those losses theyve had wouldve mounted." Michigan State managed to rally for a 35-31 lead early in the second half on two jumpers by Appling. But Oakland wouldnt go away. Baders third 3 tied it at 50 with 7:44 to play. He was 4 for 14 from long range. An Appling 3 and a Bader turnover helped Michigan State take a five-point advantage, its largest of the day to that point. Another Bader turnover and a layup and free throw by Appling built the cushion to 58-50 and seemed to create some daylight. "They were just so physical," Kampe said. "A couple of our bigger backups are out for the season, and we just dont have the size to match them. We werent physical enough, and Dawson had his way down in there." The Golden Grizzlies closed to 60-56 with 2:42 left. But Travis Trice hit a 3 at the end of the shot clock to give the Spartans a seven-point edge. Nike Air Max 90 Pas Cher . Not to be outdone, Atletico Madrid bettered its title rivals by demolishing 10-man Getafe 7-0 with Diego Costa returning from injury to score with a brilliant bicycle kick. "It was an almost perfect night," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. Nike Air Max 90 Femme Pas Cher . Cross-country skier Brian McKeever won the mens visually impaired 20-kilometre race on Monday.DENVER -- Justin Morneau made this perfectly clear: Hes stepping in for Todd Helton, not replacing the longtime Colorado Rockies first baseman. Because filling Heltons cleats, he said, simply cant be done. "(Helton) is irreplaceable, the impact he had in the clubhouse," Morneau said Friday after finalizing a two-year, $12.5 million deal. Morneau realizes the comparisons are inevitable as he inherits the position from Helton, who retired after a 17-year career in the Mile High City. He understands, but "were different people, were different players," he quickly added. They do have one glaring thing in common, though: Their fielding prowess at first base. Since 2003, Morneaus fielding percentage (.996) is second to only Helton (.997). "I dont think anybody will ever fill those shoes in that organization," Morneau said of Helton. "You see how rare it is for someone to play their entire career with one organization and put up the numbers he did throughout his career. His career is Hall of Fame worthy, for sure. "Im going to try and do the things I do well and not really try to replace anyone or be anyone else. Just help this team win ballgames." Over his 11-year career, Morneau is a .277 hitter and a four-time All-Star. He was the 2006 American League MVP while a member of the Minnesota Twins, batting .321 that season with 34 homers and 130 RBIs. Last season, he was traded from the Twins -- the only organization he had ever known -- to the Pittsburgh Pirates for their playoff run. That was an interesting experience. "Just kind of not being settled was completely different. At the same time, it was exciting -- to play in a new league and all the new opponents and all that stuff was fun," Morneau said. And this is another new start for him, with some familiar faces in the clubhouse. Hes reuniting with outfielder Michael Cuddyer, his former teammate in Minnesota. Cuddyer actually played a big role in Morneaus arrival at Coors Field, delivering a pretty effective sales pitch. The two talked and texted quite a bit before Morneau decided to siggn, which meant Cuddyer could stay in right field and not have to move to first base. Nike Roshe Run Homme. Morneau is scheduled to make $5 million in 2014 and $6.75 million in 2015. Theres a $9 million mutual option for the 16 season and a $750,000 buyout if the club declines. He also has some incentive escalators for 2015 should he have 550 or more plate appearances in 2014 ($500,000), finish in the top three in MVP voting ($1.5 million) or become an All-Star ($375,000). While Morneau has yet to discuss with manager Walt Weiss where he will hit in the batting order, this much he does know: The lineup is stacked with sluggers such as Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Cuddyer, the reigning NL batting champion. "(Cuddyer) told me great things about the organization, from their desire to win and the desire to take care of players, take care of the guys," Morneau said. "Someone I respect as much as him and plays the game the way he does, you want to (join) guys like that." Cuddyer wasnt the only one Morneau consulted for a little information on the Rockies. He also went to his fellow Canadian and boyhood idol, Larry Walker, asking Walkers opinion of the franchise the outfielder helped put on the baseball map. Walker touted the Rockies so much that they vaulted to the top of Morneaus free-agent list. Now, Morneau is hoping Walker gives him approval to wear No. 33. "To go there and possibly wear his number is something special for me," said Morneau, who grew up in New Westminster, B.C. As for the concussion issues that have plagued him at times in his career, Morneau believes thats a thing of the past. "There was a time there that Id do certain things and wonder if I was going to bring on symptoms," Morneau said. "But now it seems like Im able to get through pretty much any activity without even having a second thought or any hesitation on what Im doing. For the most part, its behind me. "Being that its baseball and not hockey or football, the chances of something like that happening again are very rare. Im hoping thats the case." wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
