Oklahoma State for most of the night. Rogers State controlled the acti

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings put up 30 points on the Arizona Cardinals to finally snap a four-game losing streak that had soured their season.On paper, that should be reason to celebrate for an offense that has struggled this season to sustain drives, open holes in the running game and put the ball in the end zone. But one of those touchdowns came on a 100-yard interception return by Xavier Rhodes, and another came on a 104-yard kickoff return by Cordarrelle Patterson.The Vikings followed a similar path to victory on Sunday as they did during their 5-0 start to the season, during which they got two TDs and a safety from their defense and two more TDs from special teams to inflate their scoring numbers. They know that they cant expect to sustain that kind of production over the final six games of the season, starting in Detroit on Thursday.Any time we get help from our defense or special teams, obviously, its a huge help, quarterback Sam Bradford said. And its great to have that, but as an offense, we cant rely on that. Weve got to go out there expecting for us to go out and play well and put up enough points to win.The Vikings offense did score twice in the first half against the Cardinals, but managed just three points in the second half and put up 217 yards in the game. New offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur pulled out several different trick plays to try to loosen up the defense, using some wildcat formations to get a little production out of the leagues worst running game and even going to a flea-flicker that drew a penalty and set up another touchdown.I still think theres a lot of room for improvement, Bradford said. Weve got to be better in the second half. But there were some positives, and obviously, just to get a win. I think that just does a lot for this team and does a lot for this group. Hopefully thats something we can build on going forward.Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata combined to rush for 64 yards on 21 carries. Thats not a number that jumps out, but considering they entered the game on pace to become the first team to average under 3.0 yards per carry since the Patriots in 1994, it was viewed as a step in the right direction.Coach Mike Zimmer was encouraged by the ability to convert a third-and-1 and for Asiata to pound into the end zone from two yards out after watching his team fail over and over in short yardage situations during that four-game skid.Were not going to be Eric Dickerson yet, Zimmer said. Were working on the little things.There remains a possibility that injured star Adrian Peterson could return to the field sometime in December, though he still has a long way to go in the rehab process following surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee. Peterson has been out since Week 2 against Green Bay, but he was only averaging 1.6 yards per carry before he went down.In Petersons absence, Patterson has emerged as a playmaker that the Vikings offense sorely needs. The 2013 first-round draft choice went through a 20-game stretch from 2015 into this season where he had just four catches for 24 yards. But in the last seven games, Patterson has caught 32 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Those arent numbers that will make Julio Jones jealous, but its a start.Nothing is good as it seems and nothing is as bad as it seems, Zimmer said. Somewhere in the middle is where reality falls.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Angels Jerseys . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Los Angeles Angels Gear . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. https://www.cheapangels.com/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Angels Jerseys China . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Angels Jerseys 2020 . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. STILLWATER, Okla. -- Jawun Evans scored 25 points, along with five steals, four assists and four rebounds to lead Oklahoma State to a 101-85 victory over Rogers State Wednesday night.Averaging 98.5 points per game entering the contest, ranking second in the nation, Oklahoma State (6-1) surpassed the 100-point mark for the fourth time this season and went over 95 for the sixth.In a game that was much closer than the final score might indicate, a total of seven Oklahoma State players scored at least 10 points, including Jeffrey Carroll, who had 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Freshman Brandon Averette added a career-high 15 points.Jeylyn Sharpe scored 18 points and added eight rebounds to lead Rogers State (4-3), a Division II school that did not look outmatched and remained within striking distance most of the night.When Travis Hester swished a 3-pointer with 7:43 remaining, the Hillcats pulled to within 77-73, but Oklahoma State went on a 17-3 run over the next 4:13 to put the game away.BIG PICTURERogers State: The Hillcats, the defending Division II Heartland Conference champions, played well, hanging with Oklahoma State for most of the night. Rogers State controlled the action for much of the games first 12-15 minutes, goingg up 6-2 and 11-7 were tied 25-25 with 7:34 to go in the first half before Oklahoma State reeled off a 12-1 run to build up a big lead.ddddddddddddAfter that, despite falling behind by as much as 11 on multiple occasions in both the first half and early in the second, Rogers State continued to battle back.Oklahoma State: After a strong showing against Power 5 Conference teams, defeating Connecticut and Georgetown to finish third at the Maui Invitational last week, the Cowboys looked a bit sluggish in this one. They didnt take their first lead until 7:24 had elapsed in the game, going up 14-13 on Carrolls free throw, and even after finally opening up a big lead, allowed Rogers State to remain within striking distance much of the night.UP NEXTRogers State: After traveling the short trip home, 95 miles east to Claremore, Oklahoma, the Hillcats are right back in action Thursday night against Dallas Christian.Oklahoma State: The Cowboys will have a much tougher test on Saturday when they go on the road to face Maryland. The 7-1 Terrapins will be coming off their first loss of the season, on Tuesday to Pittsburgh. ' ' '