Vorstellung » threat, RB?Todd Gurley managed a mere 48 yards on 12 ca

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Two games in and Arizona freshman Lauri Markkanen is already drawing high praise from his coach.Lauris one of the best players in college basketball, Sean Miller said. He is. Hes a monster.The 18-year-old 7-footer from Finland scored 26 points and the 10th-ranked Wildcats held off a furious second-half rally by Cal State Bakersfield for a 78-66 victory on Tuesday night.Jaylin Airington scored 31 for the Roadrunners (1-1) and led a 17-0 run that cut Arizonas lead to four with 9:04 to play. But Markkanen sank a 3-pointer, converted a three-point play and made a short jumper to lead the Wildcats out of trouble.Markkanen is accustomed to such moments.I am used to it, he said. Pretty much my whole life, in big moments, I have the ball in my hands.The already short-handed Wildcats (2-0) were without starting senior guard Kadeem Allen, who sprained a knee in Arizonas 65-63 victory over Michigan State last Friday in Honolulu.Rawle Alkins was 4 for 6 on 3-pointers and scored 15 for the Wildcats and Kobi Simmons added 13. Both also are freshmen.Dedrick Basile added 14 for BakersfieldHaving the opportunity to play a top 10 team is going to give us an opportunity to have some confidence coming out of this game, Roadrunners coach Rod Barnes said.Airington was 10 for 25 from the field, and Miller said its hard to get 25 shots in a college game. It wasnt enough.It was a good individual effort, Airington said, but I wanted to win more than anything.Arizona was up 44-26 at the half and was cruising along when a tip-in by yet another freshman, Keanu Pinder, gave the Wildcats a 53-32 lead with 14:45 to play. Arizona didnt score for the next 6:46.The McKale Center crowd fell into an uncomfortable silence when Damine Durhams basket cut the lead to 53-49 with 9:04 to play.A ruckus under the Arizona basket finally woke the Wildcats up.Chance Comanche went up for a layup and was hit hard by a pair of Bakersfield defenders. Some shoving occurred with Comanche lying on the court and officials called time out to review the incident on video.Taze Moore was called for a flagrant foul one and Comanche ended the long drought by making one of two free throws with 7:59 left. Arizona got the ball out of bounds on the play and Markkanen sank his only 3 of the night to boost the lead to 57-49.Playing small forward on Arizonas big front line, he drove hard down the lane, was fouled and converted a three-point play with 5:51 left and made a short jumper with 5:17 to go, giving the Wildcats a 64-54 lead and they held on from there.Lauris strong, Miller said. Hes not skinny, hes not thin. Hes 18 years old buy physically he can take a pounding and I think that really shows. He doesnt appear to be 7 foot because hes not a rail-thin 7-footer.His pull-ups that he made tonight, watching him go to the free throw line under pressure, hes a special, special player.Hes also a great team player and a good student.I dont think hes got a B at Arizona, Miller said. And practice-wise hes consumed with becoming a great player. Hes one of our teams hardest workers. ... Im so glad we have him.BIG PICTURECal State Bakersfield: The Roadrunners were not cowed by the atmosphere and look like WAC contenders.Arizona: After the opener against a big name school, the young Wildcats fell into a lull with a big lead. That might not have happened if Allen had been available.PLAYER SHORTAGEThe absence of Allen left Arizona with only seven scholarship players with a particular shortage at guard. It got even worse when Jackson-Cartwright got into foul trouble.UP NEXTCal State Bakersfield: returns home to face UC Santa Barbara Saturday night.Arizona: Plays the second of three straight home nonconference game against teams from lesser conferences, facing Sacred Heart on Friday night. Fake Mariners Jerseys .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Mariners Jerseys 2019 . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. https://www.cheapmariners.com/ . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Seattle Mariners Pro Shop . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Seattle Mariners Gear .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. LOS ANGELES -- The booing began early, when three of?Case Keenums first five passes were tipped at the line of scrimmage, and the fans continued throughout, almost every time the Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback threw so much as an incompletion.Midway through an eventual 13-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers?on Sunday, the fourth consecutive loss for the fading Rams, the boos evolved into demands.We want Goff! We want Goff! We want Goff!In the days leading up to this Week 9 matchup, Keenum talked about tuning out all the outside noise with regards to being supplanted by No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. But on Sunday, in the Rams first game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in nearly a month, a crowd of 86,109 made that nearly impossible.Im glad the fans care, Keenum later said. I care, too. I put a lot into this. I put a lot of hours. I put a lot of work into it, and its something Ive worked for my whole life. Im glad they care because I care, as well, and when we arent scoring points, and we arent moving the football, its frustrating. I can tell theyre frustrated. Were frustrated, too.Keenum, 28, was coming off a four-interception game against the New York Giants in London, after which he had the NFLs lowest Total QBR. Then, on Sunday, he went 27-of-46 with a TD pass and an interception, and he nearly lost a fumble while absorbing one of four sacks. He led a methodical touchdown drive toward the end of the game, taking advantage of underneath routes while the Panthers were in prevent defense, but it came way too late.Afterward, Rams coach Jeff Fisher sounded like a man who is still not ready to make a change at quarterback.I would submit that Case was not the reason we lost this game today, Fisher said. We just didnt make plays in all three phases. Well circle the wagons with the coaches and look at the tape, but Im pleased with the way Case has fought. As I say consistently, repeatedly, week after week, Im pleased with Jareds progress.But still not enough to name him the starting quarterback, even though the Rams are now 3-5 and would benefit from providing the future face of their franchise with much-needed game reps.Keenum has thrown nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions, many of them cruucial.ddddddddddddThe complexion of the game couldve changed if not for a dropped pass from tight end Lance Kendricks:?Keenums pass bounced off Kendricks chest near the goal line just as he was coming off his route, forcing the Rams to settle for a field goal near the midway point of the fourth quarter.But there was also a play up the sideline when Keenum overthrew a wide-open Brian Quick.That was a touchdown, Quick said.Its just tough, man, Quick went on when asked about his quarterback being booed. Hes doing everything he can. You just have to be supportive, make sure that we help him make plays.The Rams entered the game ranked 30th in the NFL with 307.6 yards per game, and then managed 339. Their defensive line consistently brought pressure on reigning MVP Cam Newton, compiling five sacks, holding the Panthers to 244 yards, and giving the Rams a multitude of chances to pull ahead.But the offense went nine consecutive drives without a score. And with the passing attack not much of a threat, RB?Todd Gurley managed a mere 48 yards on 12 carries, the 15th time in the last 16 games that the star running back has failed to reach 100 yards on the ground.Asked about Keenum, Gurley said: Hes going to work hard. He prepares every week. A lot of people want to put the blame on him. Hes used to that. Thats what quarterbacks do. Obviously, the ball is in their hands all the time; obviously, theyre going to get the blame. But at the end of the day, were with him, we support him, and were going to keep riding with him.Fisher said he never heard the chants for Goff, which rang loudest from the Coliseums west end zone. Keenum heard them, and at one point had to quiet the crowd because his offense faced third down.Every week, it grows more difficult for Fisher to justify keeping Goff on the bench.Thats not something I think about, Keenum said. I get ready to play, and thats what I do. Im getting ready to play the Jets [on Sunday]. We have the 24-hour rule. For me, I have a shower rule. I take a shower. Good or bad, I rinse all the crap off. And Im looking forward to next week. ' ' '