NEWS » .m.- WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Jeff Gordon and T

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Just a few games into the season, its clear 11th-ranked Xavier has some work to do closing out games.The Musketeers nearly let a 16-point second-half lead disappear, but Trevon Bluiett hit some clutch free throws late to help them pull away from Northern Iowa for a 67-59 victory in the Tire Pros Invitational championship game Sunday night.The Panthers came within five points with 1:35 left while Xaviers offense struggled, but then the Musketeers (5-0) hit 9 of 10 free throws in the final 57 seconds. That stalled the rally by Northern Iowa, which seemed poised to overcome a double-digit deficit for the second time in as many games.Id like to have those last four or five minutes back, but its so early, Xavier coach Chris Mack said. Were a little bit better in terms of finishing the game, but we still have a ways to go in that department.Bluiett converted 5 of 6 free throws after missing some critical shots earlier that helped open the door for the comeback attempt.We kind of base everything on a next-play mentality, so you cant really worry over the past plays, said Bluiett, who finished with a game-high 21 points. My teammates do a good job of kind of helping me forget about that.After going into halftime with the game tied 30-30, the Musketeers started the second strong with Bluiett and Edmond Sumner leading the way. Sumner scored 11 of his 17 points in the final 20 minutes.But once the Panthers (3-1) found their rhythm against Xaviers 1-1-3 zone and man-to-man defense, the game began to turn late. Jordan Ashton and Klint Carlson hit some big shots to bring Northern Iowa back, but the Musketeers showed poise just in time to pull away.Sometimes you get into the game and teams are maybe not what they seem like on film, but Xavier is every bit as good and in some ways even better, UNI coach Ben Jacobson said. We had a tremendous amount of respect for them even before this game and Ive got more now because they have so many ways they can beat you, offensively everybody can make plays.Now the two teams get to do it all over again when they meet Saturday at Xavier.Honestly, Im pretty excited, Bluiett said. They are good team and I think they are going to bring their A-game when they come back. They kind of have some motivation now and I think we will be ready for it, as well.BIG PICTUREN. Iowa: The Panthers are great 3-point shooters, but their shots were not falling consistently against Xavier. Morgan was the only shooter to show up on Sunday.Xavier: The Musketeers showed a variety of defenses to keep the Panthers off balance, switching from a 1-1-3 zone to man-to-man. Xavier has plenty of fire power on offense with J.P Macura and Quentin Goodin hitting big shots throughout the game.POLL IMPLICATIONSXavier: A win over previously unbeaten Northern Iowa could help the Musketeers standing.DOUBLING DOWNXavier consistently sent double teams at Northern Iowas Bennett Koch in the post in order to limit him, and it worked.Koch was just 4 of 8 from the field for 11 points and turned the ball over six times in the paint.ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMUNIs Jeremy Morgan joined Bluiett and Macura on the all-tournament team along with Oklahomas Jordan Woodard and Davidsons Jack Gibbs. Bluiett was the tournament MVP after scoring 56 points, grabbing 16 rebounds and getting seven assists over the three games. Morgan led UNI with 20 points in this one.UP NEXTN. Iowa: The Panthers travel to Cincinnati to face Xavier again on Saturday.Xavier: The Musketeers host Northern Iowa on Saturday.Cheap Shoes NZ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Shoes NZ Outlet . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. https://www.shoesnzonline.com/ . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Wholesale Shoes NZ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Shoes NZ Online . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July.Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Saturday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. A separate Olympic Digest has been sent. All times EDT:- RIO DE JANEIRO -- The polluted waters of Rio host their first event of the Olympics as the rowing competition gets underway. The day has included a team of Serbian rowers capsizing into a lagoon that was among the most contaminated Olympic venues according to an AP study. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. DEVELOPING from competitions, with photos.- RIO DE JANEIRO -- Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Klay Thompson and the rest of the U.S. mens basketball team open the Olympics against China, the Asian champion the Americans beat twice by an average of nearly 50 points in exhibition play. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Starts 7 p.m.- CANTON, Ohio -- Brett Favre, Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison highlight an eight-member class of 2016 that will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Inductions begin 7 p.m. With The Latest.- CANTON, Ohio -- Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck, two of the NFLS top quarterbacks, will on hand for the first preseason game of the 2016 season. The QB most everyone will be paying attention to, Brett Favre, wont be taking any snaps. UPCOMING: 550 words, photos, by 6 p.m.- FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Brandon Bostick received death threats after he botched an onside kick for Green Bay in the NFC championship against Seattle in 2015. Now with the Jets, the tight end hopes to move past his playoff gaffe and move forward with his NFL career.dddddddddddd SENT: 800 words, photos.- RIO DE JANEIRO -- The opening day of swimming at the Rio Games features Australia going for another gold in the womens 4x100-meter freestyle relay, while the mens 400 individual medley will be missing two of its biggest names, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Finals begin 10 p.m.- CHICAGO -- Chris Tillman goes for his 15th win as the AL East-leading Orioles take on the White Sox and Carlos Rodon. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Starts 7:10 p.m.- WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, NASCARs all-time leaders in road course wins, move a step closer to the final road race of their careers as the Cup series gets set to qualify on a new racing surface. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 6 p.m.- This could be a Heisman race for the ages. Four, count `em, four of the top six finishers from last years Heisman Trophy voting are back for another season. Clemsons prolific quarterback Deshaun Watson is among them, along with a trio of stars that includes Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and LSU running back Leonard Fournette. SENT: 850 words, photos.- CROMWELL, Conn. -- Fifteen golfers are within two strokes of the lead heading into the third round of the Travelers Championship. UPCOMING: 600 words. ' ' '