Golden Flashes

The big game in the NCAA South Regional semifinals tonight at Rupp Arena is the matchup between defending national champion Duke and a battle-tested Indiana squad. But the most intriguing participant is the surprising team from Kent State. The Golden Flashes, who, with 20 straight victories, own the nation's longest winning streak, will meet third-seeded Pittsburgh in the second game of the doubleheader. The matchup pits teams with identical 29-5 records, both of which have already exceeded all expectations.

One can sense the awe in Michael Fay's voice as he talks about Penn State and Beaver Stadium and the hope as he recounts the story of waiting a few years ago for someone on the Nittany Lions' coaching staff to make a recruiting call to him. The call never came, and the 6-foot-4, 294-pound junior from Allentown will line up at left guard for Kent State when it plays the Lions on Saturday. Still, Fay holds no grudge and eagerly awaits the opportunity to step on the green grass before more than 100,000 spectators.

The underdog Kent State basketball team just kept believing and just kept playing all the way to the bitter end last night in the NCAA South Regional final at Rupp Arena. The only problem for the Golden Flashes was that Indiana did likewise, and so the Hoosiers will move on to the Final Four next weekend in Atlanta. Indiana, the fifth seed, stunned 10th-seeded Kent State with a barrage of three-pointers - hitting its first eight and 15 of 19 overall - on its way to an 81-69 victory.

Ordinarily, the Temple football team would have little to play for in mid-November. But there is something different about this year. They are learning about a game of inches. Last night was another game of inches as the Owls fell to Kent State, 41-38, at Dix Stadium. It was the Owls' fifth loss this season by six points or fewer. "It's tough," senior quarterback Adam DiMichele said. "We have had so many close games this year, but we just don't seem to have that killer instinct just yet. " Temple (3-7, 2-4 Mid-American Conference)

Dorenzo Hudson scored 17 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to lift Virginia Tech past Connecticut (18-16), 65-63, in a second-round NIT game last night in Blacksburg, Va. The Hokies (25-8), who tied a school record for victories, advanced to the quarterfinals of the tourney, where they will play Rhode Island at home on a date to be determined. In other NIT games: Rhode Island 85, Nevada 83 - Delroy James scored a career-high 34 points, and the Rams (25-9) held off the Wolf Pack (21-13)

With two regular-season football games remaining, Temple would move a step closer to the Mid-American Conference's Eastern Division title - and perhaps win it - by defeating Kent State today at Lincoln Financial Field. On the strength of the team's first eight-game winning streak since 1973, Temple enters the contest 8-2 overall and 6-0 in the division, where the Owls have sole possession of first place. Kent State (5-5, 4-2) is still in the race, and Ohio (7-3, 5-1) and Bowling Green (5-5, 4-2)

This is an important football game that Temple's involved in Friday. So what else is new? The Owls need to win the Mid-American Conference East Division contest to increase their chances for a bowl appearance. Kent State has the same goal, with the added incentive of gaining its first bowl bid since 1972. "With this game coming up being senior day, we are going to approach it like it is a playoff game," said Temple cornerback Kee-ayre Griffin, one of 19 seniors playing in their final regular-season game at Lincoln Financial Field.

The frustration was evident on Trevor Huffman's face as he walked toward the Kent State bench during a time-out early in the second half. The 6-foot-1 junior guard, who had accounted for about 40 percent of the Golden Flashes' offense this season, and whose clutch play had helped Kent State upset Indiana in the first round of the NCAA West Regional, was disappearing in the tangle of Cincinnati's aggressive defense. The fifth-seeded Bearcats figured that if they could lock up Huffman, they could lock up a trip to the Sweet 16, which is precisely what they did with a methodical 66-43 victory over No. 13 seed Kent State last night at Cox Arena.

KENT, Ohio - Scootie Randall is eager to make up for lost time. The senior scored a career-high 31 points to lead Temple to an 80-66 victory over Kent State on Tuesday in his first game in 20 months. Randall missed all last season with a left-knee injury when the Owls went 24-8 and to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year under coach Fran Dunphy. "This is my last year and I want to lead these guys," Randall said. "My teammates just found me with the ball and I thank them.

OMAHA, Neb. - Arizona converted three errors into a six-run first inning and advanced to the College World Series finals with a 10-3 victory Thursday over Florida State at TD Ameritrade Park. Freshman starter Brandon Leibrandt was pulled after he recorded just one out for the Seminoles, who used eight pitchers to tie a CWS record for a nine-inning game. Robert Refsnyder and Bobby Brown homered in a span of three at-bats in the fourth as the Wildcats built their lead to 10-1 on their way to their ninth straight win. Kurt Heyer (13-2)

KENT, Ohio - Scootie Randall is eager to make up for lost time. The senior scored a career-high 31 points to lead Temple to an 80-66 victory over Kent State on Tuesday in his first game in 20 months. Randall missed all last season with a left-knee injury when the Owls went 24-8 and to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year under coach Fran Dunphy. "This is my last year and I want to lead these guys," Randall said. "My teammates just found me with the ball and I thank them.

KENT, Ohio - Chris Fouch scored 24 points, but Drexel's season opener did not go as planned. The Dragons, coming off a school-record 29 wins, shot poorly and made key mistakes at critical times in a 66-62 overtime loss at Kent State on Friday night. "Their young guys did what they are supposed to do and our old guys didn't," Dragons coach Bruiser Flint said. "They came to play with toughness. We were a little selfish. " Fouch was 0 for 6 from the field in overtime until he hit a three-pointer to tie it at 62 with 19 seconds left.

KENT, Ohio - Chris Fouch scored 24 points, but Drexel's season opener did not go as planned. The Dragons, coming off a school-record 29 wins, shot poorly and made key mistakes at critical times in a 66-62 overtime loss at Kent State on Friday night. "Their young guys did what they are supposed to do and our old guys didn't," Dragons coach Bruiser Flint said. "They came to play with toughness. We were a little selfish. " Fouch was 0 for 6 from the field in overtime until he hit a three-pointer to tie it at 62 with 19 seconds left.

The dream of an undefeated season and a hopeful shot to play for a national title is over for No. 18 Rutgers after an upset loss at home to Kent State. Everything else is still in place. The nonconference loss won't deny the Scarlet Knights a chance at the Big East Conference regular-season title and a BCS bowl bid. That is what their sights are set on now, following the stunning 35-23 defeat by the Golden Flashes on Saturday in Piscataway, N.J. "This is a lump in the road," Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene said.

OMAHA, Neb. - Arizona converted three errors into a six-run first inning and advanced to the College World Series finals with a 10-3 victory Thursday over Florida State at TD Ameritrade Park. Freshman starter Brandon Leibrandt was pulled after he recorded just one out for the Seminoles, who used eight pitchers to tie a CWS record for a nine-inning game. Robert Refsnyder and Bobby Brown homered in a span of three at-bats in the fourth as the Wildcats built their lead to 10-1 on their way to their ninth straight win. Kurt Heyer (13-2)

OMAHA, Neb. - DJ Baxendale and Brandon Moore combined on a four-hitter, Jake Wise homered for the first time since February, and Arkansas defeated Kent State, 8-1, on Saturday to spoil the Golden Flashes' first appearance in the College World Series. Baxendale didn't allow a hit until Sawyer Polen's infield single with two out in the fifth. He held the Flashes (46-19) scoreless until Jimmy Rider homered in the sixth. Arkansas (45-20) broke open the game on Matt Vinson's two-run double that made it 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth.

This is an important football game that Temple's involved in Friday. So what else is new? The Owls need to win the Mid-American Conference East Division contest to increase their chances for a bowl appearance. Kent State has the same goal, with the added incentive of gaining its first bowl bid since 1972. "With this game coming up being senior day, we are going to approach it like it is a playoff game," said Temple cornerback Kee-ayre Griffin, one of 19 seniors playing in their final regular-season game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Michael Ford ran for two touchdowns and Jarrett Lee admirably directed Louisiana State's offense in place of suspended quarterback Jordan Jefferson in the fourth-ranked Tigers' season-opening 40-27 victory over No. 3 Oregon on Saturday in Arlington, Texas. Missing cornerback-punt returner Cliff Harris was too much for Oregon to overcome in a rare season-opening matchup of top-five teams on a neutral field. Boise State 35, Georgia 21 - Kellen Moore threw for three touchdowns - giving him 102 in his career - and the No. 5 Broncos (1-0)

PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND NATIONAL Andy Dalton passed for 355 yards and three touchdowns as Texas Christian remained perfect with a 47-7 win at previously unbeaten Utah. LOCAL Senior Mark Hatty (Neumann-Goretti High) threw for 272 yards and three scores as Delaware Valley won at Albright, 42-17, to clinch a third consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference title and its second straight berth in the Division III playoffs. AROUND TOWN Temple 28, Kent State 10 The Owls (8-2, 5-1 Mid-American Conference)

KENT, Ohio - Kent State entered the game against Temple leading the nation in two defensive categories, but on Saturday it didn't even have the best defense on the field. The Owls forced three turnovers and limited the Golden Flashes to 223 total yards as they earned a 28-10 victory at Dix Stadium. The win kept Temple (8-2, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) tied for the top spot in the MAC East with Ohio (7-3, 5-1) and Miami of Ohio (6-4, 5-1). The Owls control their own destiny, facing both teams to finish the regular season.