NEU » TALL PROBLEMSUCFs Fall affected Mississippi

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Isil Alben hit two free throws with 13.1 seconds left as Turkey held off Belarus 74-71 Thursday in group play to take another step closer to advancing in group play.Belarus (1-3) had several chances at the end. Tatyana Troina missed two jumpers before her final driving layup bounced off the glass, leaving her clasping her hands over her face in anguish. Lindsey Hardings final desperation heave from outside the arc was also off the mark. Harding finished with 17 points.Nevriye Yilmaz scored 26 points for Turkey (2-2), now the fourth team in Group A with at least two wins. Lara Sanders added 22 points and 11 rebounds.Neither team led by more than eight. Belarus last led at 49-48 off a free throw by Harding. Turkey took the lead for good with a 14-6 run, then held on as fans chanted Belarus while blowing a horn most of the game.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/ Cheap Shoes Free Shipping .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. 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McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Mississippi State coach Ben Howland is done trusting last years film on the NCAAs tallest player, UCF 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall.That kids a lot better than last year, Howland said.And that could be very bad news for the Knights opponents this season.Fall had a career-high 26 points and 12 rebounds in UCFs runaway, 86-61 victory over the Bulldogs at the Charleston Classic on Thursday.Fall, considered a project during his freshman year, was nimble around the basket and dominant when he got the ball -- eight of his 13 made baskets were dunks. He and the Knights made quick work of Mississippi State, taking a 29-point lead in the opening half and never giving up the double-digit margin the rest of the way.I have confidence from coaches and my teammates because they know I can do whats needed for us to win, Fall said.First-year UCF coach Johnny Dawkins was grateful to see Fall on the roster when he came over after eight years at Stanford. Fall has been coachable and eager to improve, Dawkins said.Its a unique opportunity, he said. Tackos made it enjoyable because hes allowed us to coach him as he grows in the game.Fall finished shooting 13 of 17 and added three blocks and an assist as the Knights cruised the victory.Tank Efianayi had 17 points, 15 coming in UCFs big first half as it made 19 of 30 shots to take a 53-33 lead. B.J. Taylor also finished with 17 points for the Knights.Fall choked off any thoughts of a Mississippi State comeback with the first two baskets of the second half, including a gliding one-handed jam as the crowd at TD Arena cheered.He surpassed his previous high of 23 points set against Stetson last December.The Bulldogs could not respond and fell into the losers brackett of the eight-team tournament.ddddddddddddThe Knights will face home-standing College of Charleston on Friday night for a spot in the championship finals.BIG PICTUREMississippi State: The Bulldogs fell into a big hole early and could not dig themselves out. They went nearly seven minutes with just two baskets as UCF built a 29-point lead in the first half. Thats not going to cut it when Southeastern Conference play rolls around.UCF: Theres no bigger picture for the Knights than Tacko Fall, who according to the school is one of the worlds 40 tallest living human beings. Hes also the tallest player in the NCAA and played like it against Mississippi State. Cant see why Fall could not continue this kind of play once UCF begins American Athletic Conference play.TALL PROBLEMSUCFs Fall affected Mississippi States offense as well. Its tallest starter, 6-10 Aric Holman who scored 11 points in the Bulldogs opening win last week, was only 2 of 4 shooting in 28 minutes as he spent much of his time fronting the 7-6 Fall. Schnider Herard, also 6-10, missed both shots he took in 18 minutes and had four fouls subbing in on UCFs biggest player.EFFICIENT PLAYPoint guard B.J. Taylor finished with 17 points, but Dawkins was far more pleased with him handing out 10 assists without turning the ball over in 35 minutes of play. Dawkins, a former All-American point guard for Duke, said Taylor protecting and distributing the ball to the right people will be a big reason for UCFs potential success this year.UP NEXTMississippi State faces Boise State on FridayUCF will play College of Charleston on Friday. ' ' '