compared to 19-14-8 on the road

SAN ANTONIO -- Doug McDermott scored in bunches and Ethan Wragge delivered the critical 3-pointers. Together they kept Creighton marching on, right back where theyd promised theyd be. McDermott scored 30 points and Wragge made three huge momentum-changing shots in the second half, sending No. 3 seed Creighton to a tough 76-66 win over No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday in the West Regional. And with the win, the Bluejays advance to the third round the NCAA tournament, the very spot theyve been forced out the last two years. "It feels great to be back," McDermott said. "This is what I came back for." It certainly didnt come easy. McDermott had a double-double by halftime but went scoreless for nearly 14 minutes of the second half, leaving it to Wragges long shots to bail out the Bluejays from a potential upset by Ragin Cajuns, who attacked Creighton (27-7) with fearless defence and rebounding. Sun Belt tournament champion Louisiana-Lafayette (23-12) led 50-48 before Wragge struck from long range to spark Creightons push that finally put it away. "We got away with one today," McDermott said. "We have a veteran team and showed that down the stretch." The win also means the Creighton family stays together on the court for a few more days at least. McDermott opted against going to the NBA after last season to play one more year with his father, Creighton coach Greg McDermott. Everything is paying off so far. Dougs senior season has been nothing short of individually spectacular as the nations leading scorer is a favourite for just about every national player of the year award. Hes also now scored at least 30 points in four of Creightons last five games. The question is, just how far can he carry the Bluejays through the next few weeks before his college career is finally over? Louisiana-Lafayette hadnt been to the NCAA tournament since 2000 and certainly werent intimidated by McDermott. Junior guard Elfrid Payton scored 24 points and took the lead in defending him, a tenacious effort that stifled Creightons star for much of the second half. "Coming into the game we felt like it was in reach. From the opening tip we got on a good run, took the lead," Payton said. "I think I did a good job keeping of him uncomfortable." McDermott finally put the dagger in the game with a long 3-pointer with 2:03 to play that put Creighton ahead 71-64. As soon as the final buzzer sounded, he clapped his hands, exhaled and high-fived Wragge under the basket. "A lot of crazy things have happened in this tournament," Greg McDermott said. "You have to survive and advance." Ottawa guard Jahenns Manigat added six points and three assists for Creighton. Creighton looked tight, perhaps because of the pressure to push (or ride) McDermott as far as they can go. The Bluejays, one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country, missed their first six attempts from long range and struggled to get the ball to McDermott on some of his quick cuts to the basket. McDermott did whatever he could, slipping into seams for layups and gathering 10 first half rebounds, to keep the Bluejays going. He scored nine in a row in one burst but just as often was left wanting the ball when teammates couldnt find him with the quick pass when he was open. Louisiana-Lafayettes Shawn Long blocked a McDermott shot, but sent the ball so fall it fell right to Creighton guard Austin Chatman for a 3-pointer. The Ragin Cajuns answered with Paytons 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut Creightons lead to 39-33 at halftime. The block was the statement that Louisiana-Lafayette had no plans to step aside. The Ragin Cajuns stayed aggressive and took their first lead of the second half at 48-46 when 6-foot-6, 325-pound Center J.J. Davenport posted up before hitting a soft fall away jumper with just under 13 minutes to play. Wragge struggled to find his stroke until popping three in a row. His last one put Creighton up by six before Chatman converted a 3-point play and McDermott closed it out. "We lost Wragge," Louisiana-Lafayette coach Bob Marlin said. "Thats the guy we were concerned about." Brandon Moss Jersey . - Free agent defensive end Will Smith has signed with the New England Patriots. Custom Kansas City Royals Jerseys . Duhamel, from Lively, Ont., and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., were second with 77.01 points, just behind Olympic bronze medallists Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany. The four-time world champs lead at 79. http://www.royalsteamproshop.com/. Toronto ended an 0-4-0 skid with Sundays shootout win over visiting New Jersey, but the club could have a difficult time making it two victories in a row tonight. The Maple Leafs have dropped three straight and 11 of the last 12 regular- season meetings against Boston overall and the Bruins have claimed six straight in Beantown. Joakim Soria Jersey . -- Dane Fox scored his 61st and 62nd goals of the season and Brendan Gaunce had a goal and three assists as the Erie Otters downed the Kitchener Rangers 7-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Jason Hammel Jersey . Goergl, the 2011 world champion, started 28th after the other top contenders had already gone down but had the fastest time at each interval. Goergl finished the demanding 3-kilometre Kaelberloch course in 1 minute, 47.OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators hope to make the most of home-ice advantage this season after giving up too many valuable points at Canadian Tire Centre in 2013-14.After a successful season-opening road trip (2-1-0), the Senators play their home opener Thursday night as they host the Colorado Avalanche in the first of a four-game homestand.Players and coaches talked Wednesday of the normal excitement to play the home opener, but more important is setting the right tone for the season.Its a brand new season and we have to start things differently, said head coach Paul MacLean. I think this year coming home weve gained some momentum from our games on the road and we need to bring that to the rink (Thursday) night and start with one game. Weve got to make sure were ready to play and play hard.The Senators finished with an 18-17-6 record on home ice last season, compared to 19-14-8 on the road.It marked just the second time since 1997-98, minus the shortened lockout season, that they failed to win 20 games on home ice.The Senators finished last season five points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and players cant help but wonder how a few more wins at home might have altered their season.Weve got a good crowd behind us here and we need to find a way to use that energy and find ways to win games, said forward Clarke MacArthur. We had some issues in the second period last year that kind of hurt us and this year its more about keeping our foot on the gas pedal I think. You want to play with the puck and have possession of the puck all game. Its a better way to go through any hockey game.Its the first of four home games we want to start on the right foot.Part of the Senators problems at home last year came from their defensive play as they gave up 133 goals at Canadian Tire Centre. Only Edmonton (134) gave up more goals at home.The Senators have allowed just five goals on the road through three games this season and players believe they are making progress.We know what we need to address, said captain Erik Karlsson. Obviously last year our defensive play wasnt the best, but I think its much improved this year, even though were only three games in. We made a few mistakes and ttheres a few things we need to clean up.ddddddddddddIts a long season and were going to have to change things as they go, but its just one of those things that everybody has to communicate about and make sure everybody agrees about what were doing out there.Better defensive play has been the theme for the Senators since the first day of camp, and MacLean has shown little patience for those who have made mistakes.Jared Cowen, who started the first two games as part of the top defensive pairing, was a healthy scratch in Ottawas 1-0 victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday night. He also found himself on the bench for much of the third period of a 3-2 shootout win at Tampa Bay on Saturday after he was on the ice when the Lightning scored the tying goal.The 23-year-old felt he played a decent first game against Nashville (a 3-2 loss), but said he could have been better against Tampa Bay. He was still caught off guard when he found out he wouldnt be playing Monday night.Yeah it surprised me, Cowen said. Only two games, so yeah it did surprise me. It sucks, only the third game of the year. I just need to be better though.With seven healthy defencemen, MacLean wont hesitate to make changes to his blue-line. Patrick Wiercioch, who sat out the first two games, took Cowens place on Monday.If Wednesdays practice is any indication, Cowen will likely find himself the odd-man out for Thursdays opener.Right now Jared needs to come to the rink every day and continue to work at his game, said MacLean. Hes still a young player in this game — just over 100 games — so theres still a lot to learn. There are still lots of good games left in Jared Cowen. Theres like 900 games left in him.Sometimes its hard to be that age and we dont want him to accept that youre being scratched from games. But we expect youre going to come in and work with us to become a better player because thats what its all about.Notes: MacLean did not name his starting goaltender for Thursdays game. ... Defenceman Marc Methot remains sidelined with a back injury and there is no timetable for his return. ... MacLean didnt confirm that Curtis Lazar would play Thursday, but the rookie centre is expected to dress for the home opener. 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