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03/18/2010 - San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament's East Region features a matchup between the third-seeded New Mexico Lobos and the 14th-seeded Montana Grizzlies.
The winner of this tilt will battle either sixth-seeded Marquette or 11th- seeded Washington on the hardwood.
Montana earned the Big Sky Conference's automatic bid to the "Big Dance" with a surprising victory over Weber State in the conference tourney title game. The Grizzlies, who are 22-9 overall, are making their ninth NCAA Tournament appearance, and they are 2-8 all-time in the event. They last took part in the NCAA Tournament back in 2006 and reached the second round.
As for the Lobos, the fact that they earned a No. 3 seed with an at-large bid from the Mountain West Conference shows great respect for both the program and that league. They are 29-4 overall and are currently the eighth-ranked team in the AP Poll. New Mexico owns a 6-12 record in 12 previous NCAA Tournament appearances, and they last took part in this event back in 2005. The Lobos have advanced to the second round six times in program history and are heavily favored to do so tonight.
Montana owns a 16-7 series advantage over New Mexico, but the teams haven't met since the 1961-62 campaign.
The leader of this Montana team is First-Team All-Big Sky Conference performer Anthony Johnson, who has started all 31 of his team's games this season. Johnson is racking up 19.6 ppg on 50.6 percent shooting from the floor, including 46.6 percent accuracy from three-point range. Johnson is also tops with 3.0 apg for the Grizzlies, who are averaging 70.0 ppg while permitting 61.2 ppg. There are no other double-digit scorers on the roster, but players like Brian Qvale (9.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg) can be counted on for solid contributions. Johnson was simply dominant in the Big Sky Tournament title game, as he poured in 42 of his team's 66 points in a one-point victory over Weber State. Don't be surprised to see UNM surround Johnson on every possession and force other Grizzlies to make big shots.
There are four double-digit scorers on the New Mexico roster, which is posting 76.6 ppg while limiting opponents to 67.1 ppg. The Lobos are led by Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Darington Hobson, who provides 16.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 152 assists and 42 steals, proof of the tremendous versatility of the 6-7 guard. Roman Martinez is netting 13.8 ppg on the strength of his 42.2 percent shooting from three-point range, and he is also grabbing 6.0 rpg in addition to notching 50 steals. Dairese Gary scores 12.7 ppg, and Phillip McDonald adds 10.7 ppg. The Lobos are outrebounding opponents by 5.7 rpg, and they have attempted a staggering total of 869 foul shots, proof of their aggressiveness at the offensive end of the court. Steve Alford, a great player in his own days, roams the sidelines for New Mexico and is the MWC Coach of the Year.
<< No. 2 seed Kansas State begins tournament play against North Texas
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Expecting big things in the 72nd NCAA
Tournament, the Kansas State Wildcats begin play in their 24th appearance in
the event as they tangle with the North Texas Mean Green at the Ford Center in
Oklahoma City
<< Hoyas and Bobcats clash in Midwest Regional
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-seeded Ohio University Bobcats are
out to continue their magical run tonight, as they lock up with the third-
seeded Georgetown Hoyas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the
Dunkin' Donuts Cen
<< Irish and Monarchs open tournament play in New Orleans
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Thanks to a late run down the stretch, the
Notre Dame Fighting Irish earned the six seed in the South Region and will
open the NCAA Tournament with a first round meeting against the 11th-seeded
Old Dominion Mo
<< Coyotes shoot for historic win in Florida
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes set their sights on a history-making
win when the surprising playoff contenders skate into the BankAtlantic Center
this evening to take on the Florida Panthers.
One of the NHL's great success stories of
Cougars and Gators collide in West Regional action >>
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Back in the NCAA Tournament after a two-
year absence, the Florida Gators open first-round play of the 72nd annual
event this afternoon as they tangle with the BYU Cougars in the West Regional
at the Ford Ce
Upset-minded Racers open tournament play against Commodores >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first team in Division I to reach 30 wins
this season, the Murray State Racers now have their sights set on number 31 as
they take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the 72nd annual
NCAA Tourn
Midwest Regional affair pits Panthers against Rebels >>
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The ninth-seeded Northern Iowa Panthers
mix it up with the eighth-seeded UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the first round of the
NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional tonight at the Ford Center. The winner of
this game w
Spiders and Gaels meet in South Region's first round >>
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - First-round action in the South Region will
take place this afternoon at the Dunkin' Donuts Center when the seventh-seeded
Richmond Spiders take on the 10th-seeded Saint Mary's Gaels.
The Gaels are participa
Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back
With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.
"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."
Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .
Get all your baseball betting lines, MLB lines and MLB team props at the My Sportbook.
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Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
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