all.The thing I like about Robert the most is hes hungry, corne

LAS VEGAS -- St. Marys is used to playing in the Orleans Arena every March, having been there annually since 2009 for the West Coast Conference Tournament.Due to scheduling conflicts, the 15th-ranked Gaels got an early season look at the venue on Sunday, and earned a 76-63 victory over UAB.They werent coming to our place and we werent going there and we decided to play in Vegas -- everybody likes to go to Vegas to play games this time of year, St. Marys coach Randy Bennett said. It was good for us. It was a good basketball game in non-conference and I think itll help us down the road.I think itll help us resume wise, and I think itll help us just as a team, playing against a team that athletic and that big. Theyre used to winning, they dont go away. So, we had to play well and we did play well.Jock Landale scored 20 points to lead No. 15 St. Marys (5-0). He was 9 of 11 from the field.In doing a much better job of not getting beat off the dribble, something Bennett was looking for in the Gaels stopover in Las Vegas, they did a good job of limiting UABs shot selection at key moments. The defensive stops allowed St. Marys to go on significant runs to keep the Blazers well behind.The Gaels outscored UAB (3-3) 30-16 during a 14-minute stretch in the first half to open their largest lead of the game, 40-23.We had some good stretches, and we need more of them, Bennett said. We played 40 minutes tonight, we probably had 25 minutes of what I thought was good defense. Thats got to be closer to 37 or 38 minutes, thats where we need to get. We were closer to that last year and we have to get back there.The Blazers wouldnt go away, however, as they came out of the locker room and used a 16-7 run to cut the lead to seven, at 50-43 with 14:33 left. But the Gaels used a 13-3 run of their own, ignited by three consecutive 3-pointers, to push the lead back to double digits, at 63-46 with 9:29 remaining.Though it is just five games into the season, St. Marys looked in mid-season form for most of the game, with solid ball movement and noticeable chemistry the Blazers are still looking for without junior point guard Nick Norton, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL.We get along so well on and off the court and I think that adds to our trust factor, Landale said. We never really doubt each other to make the shot or an open play. We just get how each one of us operates individually and it makes things a lot easier.Emmett Naar, Stefan Gonzalez and Calvin Hermanson each scored 12 points for the Gaels. They were 27 of 52 (.519) from the field, including 50 percent (13 of 26) from 3-point range. St. Marys also hit all nine of its free throws.Meanwhile, the Blazers continue to struggle without Norton, who came into his third year as a starter but was lost for the season just 15 minutes into the season-opener.The Blazers shot 47 percent from the field, hitting 26 of 55, and were led by Chris Cokley, who had a season-high 20 points. Deion Lavender also had a season high with 12.I was proud of the way we fought back and competed and made it a good game, but weve been doing that and weve shown flashes, UAB coach Rob Ehsan said. Were going to have to figure out how to play consistently at a higher level, and I think were still learning that against the best teams in the country.BIG PICTUREThe undefeated Gaels look to finish the opening month unscathed this week, and then will enjoy five straight home games to start December. Given their competition, and their slate from Dec. 8-22, its conceivable St. Marys can open West Coast Conference play 11-0.RESERVE MINUTESBennett said he plans to utilize his reserves much more starting with the next game, with hopes of giving quality minutes to Tanner Krebs, Jordan Ford, Dane Pineau, Jordan Hunter to get their confidence up in time for conference play.The first five games have been pretty tough, so its been hard to be liberal with the substitutions, he said. We have another tough one with Stanford on Wednesday, but I think we can get some guys that are on the bench in the game.UP NEXTSt. Marys: At Stanford on Wednesday night.UAB: Host Alabama A&M on Tuesday night. Greg Gaines Womens Jersey . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Joe Namath Womens Jersey . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-Kurt-Warner-Jersey/ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Bobby Evans Youth Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Torry Holt Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. BEREA, Ohio -- Hes now RG4.3.Trying to revive a once soaring career that crashed badly in Washington, quarterback Robert Griffin III believes he has a leg up -- two of them actually -- over the competition to win Clevelands starting job.As the Browns prepared to open training camp Friday under first-year coach Hue Jackson, Griffin gave his assessment of the QB field.Theres only one of us that runs 4.3, he joked, noting his blazing time in the 40-yard dash. They like to race me a lot.Clevelands other quarterbacks may not catch him. They wont have time.Griffin is expected to beat out veterans Josh McCown, Austin Davis and rookie Cody Kessler for the top gig and become Clevelands 25th starting quarterback since 1999 -- and the one the Browns hope finally pulls them from the NFLs basement.Griffin signed a two-year contract in March with the Browns, who are eager to see if the 26-year-old can recapture the magic he showed while electrifying the NFL as a rookie in 2012. While that was only four years ago, it seems like ages, and even Griffin isnt entirely sure if he can get back to being the player he once was.Hours before his first practice, Griffin was asked how to get his game back to its jaw-dropping rookie level.I just think you have fun, he said. Its a kids game that we get to play for a kings ransom. At the end of the day, you know what youre doing. Youve done your studying, you worked hard, youve run, youve lifted, all those things. Now youve just got to come out here and have fun. I think thats the beauty of the game, the more fun you have the easier it is for you to play freely and go out and make plays.Jackson plans to name his starter before the teams first exhibition game on Aug. 12 at Green Bay, giving the quarterbacks 11 practices or scrimmages -- at most -- to make an impression.Griffin didnt offer much of an opinion on Jacksons timetable, while McCown, the 37-year-old who started eight games last season for Cleveland, believes its best to get such an impactful decision -- and potential disruption -- out of the way.I think it gives us a sense of direction and the way hes headed, McCown said. The team and everyone can get behind the guy and move forward. Were all supportive of that. I just think sometimes if it drags out and lingers it can be a distraction. You name a guy and move forward, and everybody gets behind that guy. I trust his leadership on that.Griffin took the majority of snaps witth Clevelands starting offense on Friday, but Jackson said that was more because McCown doesnt need as much work than any kind of pecking order.ddddddddddddThe 6-foot-2 Griffin had a rather unspectacular workout. He showed good velocity on several throws over the middle, but he overthrew a couple deep balls and never left the pocket to showcase his running ability. McCown made some plays but will have to do more to overtake Griffin, still knocking off some rust after not playing last season.Griffins stunning fall in Washington led to speculation about whether his skills are declining. He underwent surgery following the 2012 season, and his release in March sparked talk that his career might be in jeopardy.Jackson, though, believes Griffin remains a superior athlete.I know people have questioned where he is physically, Jackson said. I dont see that. Hes still Robert Griffin. The same guy that came out in 2012, but just wiser. Hes been through a lot of different systems and a lot of different things and I think he has grown by leaps and bounds.Off the field, Griffin has been doing all he can to bond with his teammates. One of the knocks on him in D.C. was that he was selfish. The Browns havent seen that at all.The thing I like about Robert the most is hes hungry, cornerback Joe Haden said. Hes super hungry. You could tell in everything that he said, everything he does, that he just wants to work. He wants to be part of a team. He wants to build relationships with all of the players. He goes out of his way to set up different bowling things, and he just wants team camaraderie.I could just tell hes a team-first guy, and thats what I really, really love about him.Game notes Haden, who underwent offseason ankle surgery, is confident hell be ready for the season opener. Hed like to play in one of the final exhibitions. ... The Browns closed practice to fans for safety reasons after thunderstorms rumbled through the area. ... Starting RG John Greco is sidelined with an unspecified injury. ... Rookie LB Emmanuel Ogbah is getting some time at defensive end as the Browns try to make up for the loss of Desmond Bryant, who is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Ogbah was the No. 32 overall pick in this years draft.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '