also provides the Saints with nearly $13 million in additional spending flexibility under the 2016 salary cap as the team continues to shuffle the roste

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Tyra Buss hit four 3-pointers and scored 23 points and No. 23 Indiana held off Chattanooga 79-76 on Thursday night.Alexis Gassion added 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Hoosiers (3-0) and Amanda Cahill and reserve Jenn Anderson had 12 apiece.Gassions jumper with 22 seconds left provided the final margin. The Mocs (1-2) turned the ball over with 8 seconds remaining and Gassion made two free throws with 4 seconds left.Buss, who has scored in double figures in 40 straight games, made three free throws with 1 second to go in the first half to give Indiana a 37-32 lead in a game neither team led by double figures.Keiana Gilbert led Chattanooga with 19 points, Queen Alford had 17 and Jasmine Joyner had 15 with nine rebounds. Gilberts putback with 1:22 to play made it 75-74 and she made a layup with 44 seconds left after Cahills free throws at 1 minute. Swell Bottle Nz Liberty . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. sWell Bottle Stockists . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. http://www.swellbottlesnz.com/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Swell Bottle Black . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Buy Swell Bottles Nz . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. METAIRIE, La. -- Saints quarterback Drew Brees decided against holding out for the lengthy contract extension he coveted and took one for the team.Brees agreed to new contract that keeps him in New Orleans through the 2017 season, and a person familiar with the deal says it guarantees the record-setting QB $44.3 million the next two years.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Wednesday because financial details of the extension had not been announced.The deal also provides the Saints with nearly $13 million in additional spending flexibility under the 2016 salary cap as the team continues to shuffle the roster in advance of Sundays regular season opener at home against Oakland.Earlier this summer, Brees had stated that he believes he can play at an elite level at least another five years.I wanted the contract to reflect that, naturally, and have it be the last contract that I signed, Brees said. But it was in the best interest of the team to make it a little bit shorter. And I think that just made everyone a bit more comfortable and it still put us in a very good position to go out and do the things we need to do to continue to build the team and put us in the best position to succeed.And that to me was the most important thing.The contract runs for five years, starting this season, and includes a $30 million bonus that, for now, can be prorated over that period, reducing the $30 million that Brees old contract would have counted against the Saints salary cap this season down to a little more than $17 million. The deal also has a no-trade clause, but the final three seasons are voidable, meaning the Saints and Brees, who turns 38 in January, will have to revisit the possibility of another extension next year.This allows me to be around here for a bit longer, and Ill be here as long as theyll have me, Brees said. My mindset is always everything happens for a reason and everything will happen the way its supposed to.The Saints should have more flexibility to make moves with Brees extension.Last week, the Saints brought in defensive end Paul Kruger, a pass rushing specialist who was recently released by Cleveland.Then on Wednesday, the Saints agreed to bring back veteran right guard Jahri Evans, who had been released by tthe Saints last winter and signed with Seattle, but did not make the Seahawks final cut.ddddddddddddOn Tuesday, the Saints cut kicker Kai Forbath and brought in rookie Wil Lutz.Brees owns Saints franchise records in virtually every passing category, having thrown for 48,555 yards and 348 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the club, which signed him as a free agent after San Diego decided not to offer Brees an extension and elevate Philip Rivers to starter. He also was named Super Bowl MVP when the Saints 2009 squad won New Orleans only NFL championship.His yards passing total with New Orleans is the most by any NFL quarterback in a 10-year span in league history.Brees had stated this summer that, in an effort to prevent his contract talks from becoming a distraction, that he would break off negotiations before the first game of the regular season. That meant the Saints had to reach an agreement with their star quarterback by this week to lock down Brees beyond this season while gaining the financial flexibility they sought.Brees was about to enter the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2012, one season after setting a then NFL-record with 5,476 yards passing. He also threw for 46 touchdowns in 2011, when the offense he ran piled up an NFL-record 7,474 yards.The Saints prolific QB again led the league in passing last season, but ultimately did not hold out for a contract that would pay him like the NFLs younger, top-tier QBs. In June, for example, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck agreed to an extension worth up to $140 million for the next six seasons, which averages out to about $23.3 million per year.Brees deal comes about six months after coach Sean Payton, who designed the offense that Brees has run, agreed to an extension in New Orleans through 2020. Now the coach and QB tandem will try to make a run at another Super Bowl.Game notes The Saints released third-string QB Garrett Grayson, a 2015 third-round draft choice, but could potentially bring him back as a practice squad player if he clears waivers.---Online: AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '