but some of them could be brought back.
Posté: Lun Déc 26, 2016 8:10 amAMES, Iowa -- With about 9 minutes left in Iowa States game with TCU, Georges Niang of the Cyclones caught teammate Melvin Ejim looking up at the giant scoreboard that hangs over the centre of the court. "Im like, whats he looking at?" Niang said. "I looked up and he had 35 (points) and I was like, holy smoke, this could be a crazy night." That it was. Ejim scored a Big 12-record 48 points, making 20 of 24 shots, and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to lead No. 16 Iowa State past TCU 84-69 on Saturday, keeping the Horned Frogs winless in the conference. Ejim had two 3-pointers and six dunks during his big game, one on a spectacular fast-break lob from DeAndre Kane that gave the Cyclones (18-4, 6-4 Big 12) a 67-52 lead and effectively put the game out of reach. "It was teamwork," Ejim said. "These guys just did a great job finding me in transition and getting me the ball in places where I could score. They made really selfless plays. We were just giving up the ball and luckily, I was on the receiving end." A 6-foot-6 senior, Ejim scored 20 straight Iowa State points during one stretch in the second half and easily notched his 30th career double-double. He padded his lead in the Big 12 scoring race with a performance that topped the previous conference record of 44 points by Kansas States Denis Clemente in 2009 and the Wildcats Michael Beasley in 2008. His previous high had been 23 points against Oklahoma last season. Iowa States school record is 54 by Lafester Rhodes in an overtime victory over Iowa in 1987. Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg, who once scored 41 in a game for the Cyclones, said Ejims record is all the more impressive considering it came in a league that has produced the likes of Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin. "All the great players that have gone through this league and Melvin Ejims name is at the top," he said. "Thats unbelievable for a guy that maybe doesnt get as much credit as he deserves. The Cyclones needed those points because TCU (9-13, 0-10) kept matching them basket for basket down the stretch. Ejim stayed in the game until 19.9 seconds were left, when he left to a lengthy standing ovation. "We were just playing," he said. "I wasnt really looking up to see how much I had. These guys just kept telling me to be aggressive, keep playing. I think I figured it out when they started chanting my name." Niang added 11 points and Kane finished with 10 assists for the Cyclones, who avoided a letdown after their thrilling three-overtime victory at Oklahoma State on Monday, their first win in Stillwater since 1988. Kyan Anderson led the Horned Frogs with 27 points and eight assists. Amric Fields scored 18 points and Karviar Shepherd had 11 for TCU, which was coming off single-digit losses to Texas Tech and No. 15 Texas, but could not keep up with the Cyclones and the high-flying Ejim. "I got back to Melvin back on (Big 12) media day," TCU coach Trent Johnson said. "He is one of my favourite college basketball players in the country this year. I think he is really underrated. He is a hell of a kid, at least from the interaction Ive had with him. He plays extremely hard and he is very efficient." The game was expected to offer a break for the Cyclones after they played four straight against Top 25 teams and eight in a row against teams that were ranked at one time or another. But the Horned Frogs proved to be a little more stubborn than anticipated despite a horrible start. TCU gave up the ball on a shot clock violation on the games first possession, Dustin Hogue followed with a 3-pointer and Iowa State led from then on as the Horned Frogs missed nine of their first 10 shots. Despite some sloppy play at times, the Cyclones built a 16-point lead late in the first half, then had the lead whittled to seven before Ejim went on his tear to wrap it up. TCU shot 29.6 per cent in the first half and did not have more baskets than turnovers until Anderson hit the second of two straight 3-pointers with 45 seconds left in the first half, cutting the lead to 32-22. "We battled," Johnson said. "For us to be within striking distance with about four minutes to go, I cant fault what our kids did." Mike Piazza Mets Jersey .C. -- After turning Tobacco Road into "Raleigh Top," Tennessee is headed to the round of 16. Keith Hernandez Mets Jersey . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. http://www.metsbaseballauthentic.com/cu ... ts-jersey/. Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds. Dwight Gooden Mets Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. Lenny Dykstra Jersey . What they did need, the Devils got from Patrik Elias. Elias scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars.MINNEAPOLIS - He was the third base coach who gave Kirby Puckett a high-five to punctuate his winning homer in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.He was the trusting candidate who took Minnesotas managing job when many thought the Twins were about to be contracted in 2002.He was the affable everyman who presided over the teams turn-of-the-century renaissance and turned the AL doormat into a six-time division champion.Ron Gardenhire was just about everything in the 27 years he spent in the Twins organization. But even he couldnt survive the worst four-year stretch in franchise history.The Twins fired Gardenhire on Monday, saying it was time for a new voice after his 13-year tenure concluded with 383 losses over the last four seasons.The reason for this change, I think its safe to say, the last couple years we have not won enough games, Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. Thats what it comes down to. Its nothing more, nothing less than that.The move was made with one season left on Gardenhires contract, ending the second-longest active tenure in the major leagues behind Mike Scioscia of the Angels.Gardenhire played an integral role in the franchises turnaround, guiding the Twins to the playoffs six times in nine seasons from 2002-10. But Gardenhires teams only got out of the first round once, and his post-season record was 6-21 with the last win coming in 2004.The Twins have long been the model of stability in not only baseball but major professional sports, with only two managers over the last 28 years and two general managers over the last 20 seasons.But all the losing of late became too much to overcome. Over the last four years, the Twins went 78-148 from Aug. 1 on for an abysmal .345 winning percentage.Im gone, Im outta here because we didnt win, Gardenhire said. Thats what it gets down to in baseball. Thats what it should get down to. You have to win on the field and these last four years have been tough for all of us.The Twins finished this season at 70-92, making Gardenhire just the fourth manager in the games history to preside over at least four straight 90-loss seasons with the same team, joining Connie Mack of the Philadelphia Athletics (nine), Zach Taylor of the St. Louis Browns (four) and his predecessor with the Twins, Tom Kelly (four). Kelly returned for one more season after his streak, and he retired after an 85-77 finish in 2001.One of the things we hope to get back to here is a winning culture across our organization, and not just with the major leagues, Twins President Dave St. Peter said, later adding, Thats clearly one of the goals with this move is to jumpstart that. Not to say that Ron wasnt capable of that ... but I think we believe very strongly that weve gotten away from that in recent years.In an era when job security for manageers is seemingly measured in months, Gardenhires longevity has been truly unique.dddddddddddd The outspoken and fiery Gardenhire quickly became one of the faces of the franchise, as synonymous with the Twins as the interlocking T and C on their caps. He took over for the revered Kelly, who won two World Series championships, just as the organization was starting to regain its footing after years of bad baseball.I feel like hes my brother, not my manager, said a glassy-eyed Ryan, who has known Gardenhire dating to their days together in the New York Mets system in the 1980s.Ryan spent some time away from the organization this year to get treatment for cancer. He said Monday that a recent physical came back favourable and that he will return to the Twins next season.Ryan offered Gardenhire a chance to remain in the organization, but Gardenhire doesnt believe hes done managing just yet.I would have loved to have won a World Series, but that didnt happen, Gardenhire said. Maybe its still to come.Gardenhire clashed with some players over the years, but there was an expectation and hope among the players that he would return.We as players had a responsibility to the organization, fans, and coaches to win this season, starting pitcher Phil Hughes tweeted. We failed.Gardenhire joined the organization in 1987 and was added to Kellys staff in 1991. His record as Twins manager was 1,068-1,039. He won the American League Manager of the Year award in 2010, the last time the Twins not only made the playoffs but had a winning record.As good as it gets in my opinion. Comes to the park ready to win each and every day. Kind of a players manager, second baseman Brian Dozier said last week. Always in good spirits. He knows the game better than anybody Ive been around. I 100 per cent want him back.The contracts of Gardenhires coaches were expiring, but some of them could be brought back. Bench coach Paul Molitor is sure to be considered for Gardenhires replacement, but Ryans search will spread outside the organization, too.Sometimes people need to hear a different voice, Gardenhire said. They need a new face. I just want this organization to win; Ill be rooting just like everybody else.The run of futility has disillusioned a once-passionate fan base, with attendance in Target Fields fifth year the lowest for the Twins since 2004.Owner Jim Pohlad said dwindling attendance had virtually zero impact on the decision and they would have brought Gardenhire back next season if Ryan recommended it.He connected with me and our family way more than any single person in our entire career as owners of the team, Pohlad said. Hes just a special guy. Hes loved. Hes loved by us. Ill always remember him as a winner.___AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell contributed to this report. China Jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '