said Goydos, who drove the green at 16 to set up the lone eagle at the hole over two rounds. If you had strokes gained with lucky bounces, I would be leading that right now by a large margin.Daly, who turned 50 in April, is making his seventh Champions Tour start. Its his first appearance at En-Joie s

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 Swell Bottle . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Swell Marble Bottle Uk .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. http://www.swellbottleuk.com/ . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Cheap Swell .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Swell Traveler Uk . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No.ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- John Riegger wasnt sure hed be able to play the second round of the Dicks Sporting Goods Open because of a lingering case of shingles. The pain subsided long enough for him to show his first round wasnt a fluke.Riegger followed his opening 66 with a 5-under 67 Saturday and is tied with Paul Goydos (66) for the lead at 11-under 133.Its kind of gone away, but the pain is still there and its just an after-effect of the attacks of the nerves, Riegger said after his second straight bogey-free round. I think its just the fact that Ive gotten used to it and dealing with it a little bit better. I know that nothings going to happen to me.First-round leader Scott Dunlap (70) was third at 10 under. Wes Short Jr. and Monday qualifier Neal Lancaster also shot 66 and shared fourth, another shot back at En-Joie Golf Club.John Daly and Stephen Ames shot 68 and were tied for sixth at 8 under with Bart Bryant (70), who is trying to become the first repeat winner of this Champions Tour event since its inception in 2007.Riegger thrived on the four par-5s on the narrow, tree-lined course. On Saturday, he birdied two of the three on the front side and eagled No. 12, the final par 5.This will be the first time Riegger has had the lead, or a share of it, entering the final round of a Champions Tour event.Im just trying to hope that I wake up tomorrow and I feel all right and I can play, he said.Goydos had four birdies and two bogeys on the front nine. But after another bogey on the back side he finished with a flourish -- birdie at the tough par-4 15th hole thats guarded by an imposing water hazarrd, eagle at the par-4 16th hole, and birdie at No.dddddddddddd 17.You go from 7 under to 11 under, Im still stunned a little bit myself, said Goydos, who drove the green at 16 to set up the lone eagle at the hole over two rounds. If you had strokes gained with lucky bounces, I would be leading that right now by a large margin.Daly, who turned 50 in April, is making his seventh Champions Tour start. Its his first appearance at En-Joie since the 1995 B.C. Open on the PGA Tour. He won there in 1992 and the gallery hasnt forgotten.It helps, and it always helps when youre playing good, you feed off of it, Daly said. A lot of times when things arent going good, the fans kind of pump me up to keep hanging in there.Daly had five birdies and a bogey on the front nine and two birdies and two bogeys on the back.I just remember that when I did win here, I felt comfortable off the tees, although its not showing this week, he said. I feel like I can hit the fairways, but Im just not executing a lot of them.Short started strong, notching four birdies and an eagle over the first 11 holes before a three-putt par at No. 12. The 52-year-old Texan finished with seven straight pars.Anytime you can be close going into the last nine holes, thats what you really want -- to have a chance to win it, he said.Jeff Maggert won this tournament last year, beating Goydos by two shots. Nobody will have to worry about Maggert this time. The defending champion was at 1 under and out of contention. ' ' '