four passes last season, completing one for 6 yards. ... I

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Shannon Hale hit 3 of 5 from 3-point range and finished with 19 points and Alabama beat Ball State 77-59 on Friday night.I thought his body language was good, Alabama coach Avery Johnson said. ...What more can I say. That Shannon Hale is the one I consistently want to see.After coming off the bench to score 13 in the first half, Hale was inserted into the starting lineup for the second in place Bola Olaniyan. Reserves ArMond Davis and Avery Johnson Jr. combined to score 30 for the Crimson Tide (2-1), with 17 and 13 points, respectively, to help Alabamas bench to match the Cardinals in scoring.Davis made 5-of-7 3-pointers and Johnson Jr. made 3-of-3 while adding six assists and five rebounds.Johnson Jr. said his teammates were instrumental in his success, but he also said breaking from routine and taking a nap before the pre-game meal helped to settle his nerves.I just kind of told myself yesterday, Im not going to wait until like my fifth or my last year to turn it up, Johnson Jr. said. So I thought this was going to be a good opportunity so once I got there I did some different things in my pregame.It was close for much of the first half and scoreless for the first 4-plus minutes. Hales dunk with 15:20 left in the half was the first made field goal and gave Alabama a 4-0 lead. Alabamas offense picked up from there until it cooled off late in the second half when the team failed to make a shot from the field for nearly 7 1/2 minutes.Despite those struggles, the Cardinals (1-2) were unable to take advantage. Tayler Persons led Ball State with 15 points. Franko House, who came in averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds, finished with 10 points and seven boards.Johnson credited Wednesdays practice with the success of the bench. With three starters missing that day others had to step up.Shannon and Avery and ArMond they practically are on the same team every practice so they are getting in a good rhythm of knowing each others strengths and weaknesses, Johnson said.BIG PICTUREAlabama: The Crimson Tide bounced back from Tuesdays 77-72 loss to Dayton to avoid falling below .500.Ball State: The Cardinals held their first two opponents to exactly 64 points in regulation, but the team didnt have an answer for Alabamas offense once it got going.NEXT UPAlabama: The Crimson Tide will leave the confines of Coleman Coliseum for the first time this season to face Valparaiso in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ball State: The Cardinals will return home to face Coppin State for the chance to claim the teams first home victory of the season on Monday.STAT OF THE NIGHT: Ball State committed 21 turnovers -- 100 more than the Tide. Alabama finished the game with 14 steals and outscored the Cardinals 26-6 on points off turnovers. 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Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. NEW ENGLAND (12-4) at ARIZONA (13-3)Sunday, 8:30 p.m., EDT, NBCOPENING LINE -- Cardinals by 5SERIES RECORD -- Cardinals lead 7-6LAST MEETING -- Cardinals beat Patriots 20-18, Sept. 16, 2012AP PRO32 RANKING -- Cardinals No. 2, Patriots No. 5PATRIOTS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (6), RUSH (30), PASS (5)PATRIOT DEFENSE -- OVERALL (9), RUSH (9), PASS (17)CARDINALS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (1), RUSH (8), PASS (2)CARDINALS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (5), RUSH (6), PASS (8)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Bill Belichick has best record of all NFL coaches in last 60 games (46-14), Arizonas Bruce Arians is third (43-17). ... Patriots have had winning record 15 straight seasons, won seven consecutive NFC East titles and played in six straight AFC championship games. ... Stephen Gostkowski missed 42-yard FG with 1 second left in last meeting with Cardinals, 20-18 home loss in 2012. Loss was first in a home opener at Gillette Stadium. ... Gostkowski has led NFL in scoring last four seasons. ... Rob Gronkowski needs three TD catches to break franchise record for scoring receptions held by Stanley Morgan. All but two of Gronkowskis 66 TD catches came from Tom Brady. ... Gronkowski played for University of Arizona for two seasons, catching 16 TD passes in 22 games. ... QB Jimmy Garoppolo is 20 for 31 in NFC career passing wiith one TD.dddddddddddd He threw four passes last season, completing one for 6 yards. ... In addition to not having suspended Brady (Deflategate), Patriots are without Rob Ninkovich, suspended four games for violating NFL substance abuse policy. .... Cardinals have won six consecutive home openers. ... Cardinals led NFL in offense (408.4 yards per game) last season and were second in scoring (30.6). Patriots were third in scoring (29.1). ... Arizona is 14-1 at home against nonconference foes under Arians. ... Carson Palmer broke Cardinals franchise records last season in yards passing, TD passes and QB rating. ... Former WR Roy Green will be inducted into Cardinals Ring of Honor at halftime Sunday. ... Cardinals return every player who gained yard or scored point on offense in 2015. ... Cardinals have sold out all 106 games at University of Phoenix Stadium since it opened in 2006. ... Arizona has won 10 straight games in month of September. ... Cardinals 5-0 in prime time games last season. ... Fantasy Tip: All but two of Gronkowskis 66 TD catches came from Brady, who, of course, is suspended.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '