Plauderecke » who spent his first five seasons with the Bills

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Coach K said he hoped this game would live up to its billing. It did, and then some. Jerami Grant scored eight points in overtime to finish with a career-high 24 and Jim Boeheims No. 2 Syracuse stayed unbeaten, topping Mike Krzyzewskis No. 17 Duke 91-89 on Saturday in a matchup of the two winningest coaches in Division I history. The Orange withstood a tying 3-pointer in regulation and won before a Carrier Dome record crowd of 35,446. "It was just a great game," Boeheim said after career victory No. 941. "I dont think Ive ever been involved in a better game in here where both teams played at such a high level. Both teams just went after it. Weve had a lot of games that have been here that are great. Theres never been one as good as this one." C.J. Fair scored a career-best 28 points as Syracuse (21-0, 8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) set a school record for consecutive wins to start a season. The Orange remained one of three undefeated teams in the nation, along with No. 1 Arizona and No. 4 Wichita State. "I knew for us to win I would have to contribute offensively," said Fair, who shot 12 of 20. "I was able to not force things once I got going. I felt I was the hot hand and my teammates kept giving me the ball." Grant took over in the extra period, slamming home three dunks as Duke was forced to downsize after Jabari Parker and Amile Jefferson fouled out in the final two minutes of regulation. "They were playing small. We knew we had a lot of mismatches around the court," Grant said. "After I got the first dunk, they just kept feeding me." Dukes Rasheed Sulaimon beat the buzzer in regulation with an off-balance 3-pointer that tied it at 78. The Blue Devils led 87-84 with 80 seconds left in overtime before Syracuse rallied. "Both teams played with so much heart," Krzyzewski said. "We were scrambling a lot because of our foul trouble and our kids scrambled well. They scrambled well enough to put us in a position to win ... Just a tough loss." Syracuse students camped out in the bitter cold for nearly two weeks and were part of a crowd that was charged up from the start for the first ACC meeting between these longtime powers. It was Dukes first game against the Orange in the Carrier Dome. Parker had 15 points and nine rebounds for Duke (17-5, 6-3). The Blue Devils, who had won five in a row, get their chance to avenge the loss in three weeks when the teams meet again at Cameron Indoor Stadium. "We just needed one more play, whether it was a rebound or a shot going in," said Andre Dawkins, who scored five points in overtime before fouling out in the final minute. "We just needed one play." From the moment Boeheim and Krzyzewski walked onto Jim Boeheim Court to a deafening roar and hugged at midcourt surrounded by a sea of orange, the atmosphere was electric. Singing and acting star Vanessa Williams, a Syracuse alum and former Miss America, performed the national anthem. The game was chock full of story lines, well before the tipoff. Two Hall of Fame coaches and good friends with a combined 1,914 wins who had only met twice before on opposing benches, each winning once. Boeheims signature 2-3 zone defence vs. Krzyzewskis intense man-to-man. Fair, Syracuses leading scorer, vs. Dawkins, a fifth-year senior who leads the ACC in 3-point shooting. Parker vs. Syracuse point guard Tyler Ennis of Brampton, Ont., two of the most accomplished freshmen in the country. The game was tied at 78 after regulation, and there were two more ties in the extra session. Grant had three straight slams for the Orange, while Dawkins hit a follow and a 3 from the top of the key as Duke took a three-point lead with 1:20 left. Two free throws by Ennis got Syracuse within one and two more by Grant put the Orange up 88-87 with 39 seconds left. Dukes Rodney Hood missed a dunk attempt against Rakeem Christmas with 12.2 seconds remaining -- Hood wanted a foul but nothing was called. Two more free throws by Ennis as Jefferson fouled out made it 90-87. Sulaimon sank a pair of free throws for Duke to make it a one-point game with 9.4 seconds left. Fair made one of two from the foul line with 5.5 seconds to go. Duke scrambled to get off a last shot and Quinn Cook missed a rushed fling from the right wing at the buzzer as Syracuse escaped. Grant had 12 rebounds. Trevor Cooney and Ennis each scored 14 points for the Orange. Ennis had nine assists with two turnovers in a game in which both teams committed just eight and Christmas had seven points, 10 rebounds and six of Syracuses nine blocks. Sulaimon finished with 16 points. Jefferson, Dawkins, and Hood finished with 14 points for Duke, which made 15 of 36 on 3s. Syracuse led 38-35 at the break and Fair continued the play that made him the preseason pick for ACC player of the year. Parkers three-point play at 11:05 gave Duke a 56-54 lead, its first since just past the midpoint of the opening half. But just when he seemed set to spark the Blue Devils, Parker picked up two quick fouls to give him four and Dawkins was whistled for his fourth just over a minute later. Fair responded by scoring eight points as the Orange went up 66-59 with 6:37 left. Undaunted, Tyler Thornton rescued Duke with three 3-pointers in less than two minutes and Parkers basket underneath tied it at 70-all with 3:53 to play. Sulaimon hit two 3-pointers in the final minute of regulation. He got a chance at a four-point play, but missed the foul shot with 47.6 seconds left. Torry Holt Jersey . Not because it was right, but because referees werent allowed to determine it was wrong. Nolan Cromwell Rams Jersey .Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-Kurt-Warner-Jersey/ . He also had some help Monday night.Hibbert scored a season-high 29 points to help Indiana beat the Utah Jazz 97-86 Monday night, ending the Pacers six-game losing streak. Darrell Henderson Rams Jersey . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program. Joe Namath Jersey . And yet as they left TD Garden amid the slush and snow of a winter storm on Thursday evening, there was a sense among the Leafs that they had finally stood toe to toe with their long-time bully, only to fall just short.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Defensive tackle Kyle Williams reflects on a tumultuous week and wonders whether Mother Nature might have handed the Buffalo Bills a unifying favour.The snowstorm that paralyzed much of the Buffalo region and forced the Bills to relocate their home game to Detroit provided Williams a glimpse of the teams resilient makeup.Much like the community that didnt back down in the face of more than 6 feet of snow that fell, the Bills overcame their own adversity with a resounding 38-3 rout of the New York Jets on Monday night.I think that you can see that guys stuck together, had some adversity and didnt use it as an excuse, Williams said. Maybe the fiber of the community is in this team.With much of the snow melted, theres no better chance for the Bills (6-5) to continue proving that Sunday, when they host Cleveland (7-4) in a key AFC playoff picture showdown.Its a game between two franchises that share the Lake Erie shoreline — and lengthy playoff droughts.The Bills havent made the post-season since 1999, and own the NFLs longest active streak. Its been 12 years for the Browns.You talk about uncharted territory, Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer said. I think for a team that hasnt been in this situation for a long time, you see guys understanding whats at stake.The Browns have won six of eight, including a last-second 26-24 win at Atlanta last week. Theyre also showing signs of having developed a new mettle under coach Mike Pettine, who spent last season as Bills defensive co-ordinator.Pettine isnt surprised by the character the Bills displayed in overcoming the storm, and anticipates to be greeted by an insanely loud crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium.I know what were up against, Pettine said. I dont know if our players do, but theyll get a taste of it early on.Some things to look for in a game between non-division rivals meeting for the seventh time in eight years:PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Browns are in a tightly-contested AFC North race that features all four teams with seven wins, with Cincinnati (7-3-1) holding a slim edge. The Browns close against four of five opponents currently holding winning records.The Bills have little margin for error. Their chances are slim of catching AFC East-leading New England (9-2). Overall, Buffalos 3-5 conference record is the worst among the 11 AFC teams with winning records. And Kansas City (7-4) and San Diego (7-4) have the tiebreakinng edge over Buffalo after beating the Bills this season.dddddddddddd.After playing Cleveland, Buffalo travels to Denver (8-3), hosts Green Bay (8-3) and closes at Oakland (1-10) and New England.BAD MEMORIES: The Browns and Bills have played several not-so-instant-classics in recent years.In 2007, the Browns beat the Bills 8-0 at Cleveland in near whiteout conditions in which the Bills managed 232 yards offence and 11 first downs.In 2009, Billy Cundiff hit an 18-yard field goal as time expired in a 6-3 win at Buffalo, where the Browns had 193 yards offence, and quarterback Derek Anderson completed 2 of 17 attempts for 23 yards.Last season, the Browns beat the Bills 37-24 in a game both starting quarterbacks — Hoyer and Buffalos EJ Manuel — sustained knee injuries.UNWELCOME BACK: Pettine doesnt expect hell get a warm reception Sunday. Thats nothing compared to what might be in store for Browns safety Donte Whitner, who spent his first five seasons with the Bills.The 2006 first-round draft pick bolted Buffalo in free agency in 2011 after being unhappy with the Bills final contract offer. Hes since taken to Twitter numerous times to express his displeasure. That included last summer when Whitner challenged Bills rookie receiver Sammy Watkins, and enraged Buffalo fans during the teams sale process by suggesting the franchise will relocate to Toronto.Im sure Ill get a standing ovation, Whitner said with a smile regarding his return.Bills running back Fred Jackson called Whitners posts dumb, and accused him of being an idiot and trying to ruffle feathers.ON THE RUN: The Browns rookie running back tandem of Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell has provided a formidable one-two punch to first-year co-ordinator Kyle Shanahans attack. After scoring just four touchdowns rushing last season, Cleveland is tied for second in the NFL with 14 this year.Pettine is committed to sticking with the run despite the return of receiver Josh Gordon, who had eight catches for 120 yards Sunday after serving a 10-game league suspension for violating the drug policyBY THE SACKFUL: In one season in Buffalo, Pettine instilled an aggressive approach in helping the Bills finish second in the NFL with a franchise-best 57 sacks. The Bills are already ahead of that pace with a league-leading 46 under Jim Schwartz, the former Lions coach.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '