points to go along with 14 rebounds and nine assists on Tuesday night.I dont really pay attention to records, but I do pay attention to the teams we are playing and w

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesotas defense delivered an overpowering performance. Mitch Leidner provided the finishing touch.Leidner threw his first touchdown pass in seven weeks and Blake Cashman and Steven Richardson each had two of Minnesotas season-high seven sacks , leading the Gophers to a 29-12 victory over Northwestern on Saturday.Playing at home for the final time, Leidner found Drew Wolitarsky from 9 yards out with 6:46 left to give the Gophers (8-3, 5-3) a 22-6 lead and then ran in a 12-yard score with 2:31 remaining. The fifth-year senior, who was intercepted once, ended a five-game streak without a touchdown pass.Its been long overdue, Wolitarsky said, smiling.Emmit Carpenter made three field goals and Shannon Brooks totaled 110 yards from scrimmage for the Gophers, whose offense sputtered through most of the afternoon after an 80-yard game-opening march into the end zone and before the late Leidner-led push.Hey, find a way to win this thing, coach Tracy Claeys said. Who cares how anybody has played?Clayton Thorson threw for 276 yards and a late score, but the Wildcats (5-6, 4-4) were denied on fourth-and-1 at the Minnesota 16 in the second quarter and fourth-and-1 at the Gophers 13 in the third quarter. They lost two fumbles and failed on both 2-point conversion tries.Weve just got to learn how to finish, wide receiver Andrew Scanlan said.CARR CRASHAustin Carr, the Big Tens leading receiver, had five catches for 68 yards for the Wildcats before leaving the field a bit woozy from a helmet-to-helmet hit by Minnesota safety Duke McGhee. The targeting penalty, the seventh time this season a Gophers player has received the automatic ejection including two for McGhee, helped set up Northwesterns first score.He knows better than that, Claeys said.Fitzgerald declined to discuss Carrs condition, beyond he seemed to be doing well after the game. The 4-yard touchdown run by Justin Jackson with 2:17 left in the third quarter finished the drive and cut the lead to 15-6, but the Gophers werent deterred.Emotions were pretty high at that point, but were a level-headed team and we didnt let that affect us, said linebacker Jack Lynn, who had 1 1/2 of Minnesotas 12 tackles for loss.TAKE THATRichardson recalled a recruiting visit that Fitzgerald once made to his high school, Chicagos Mount Carmel, that left him feeling snubbed. Richardson, listed at 6 feet and 300 pounds, said Fitzgerald was immediately turned off by his lack of height.I saw that guy come into my high school coachs office and just look me up and down and just look at me like Im way too short to play the game, Richardson said. It was really nice to play one of these types of game in front of him, just because he doubted you.EMPTY SEATSWith a kickoff temperature of 30 degrees, including an 18-degree wind chill factor, the Gophers played in front of their smallest crowd (38,162) in eight seasons at TCF Bank Stadium. Less than half of those fans were still in the seats by the fourth quarter. Minnesotas average attendance this year was 43,814, the lowest since 2002 when the team played at the Metrodome.THE TAKEAWAYNorthwestern: With the Thorson-to-Carr connection quiet even before the star pass-catcher departed the game, the Wildcats were uncharacteristically unproductive on offense until they entered catch-up mode late and padded their statistics.Minnesota: Eliminated earlier in the day from Big Ten championship game contention, the Gophers can still tie for first place in the West Division by upsetting Wisconsin and having Iowa beat Nebraska. They reached the eight-win mark for the third time in four seasons, a feat not accomplished by the program since 1905.UP NEXTNorthwestern: Hosting in-state rival Illinois on Saturday, the Wildcats need a win for bowl eligibility. Theyve beaten the Illini in three of the last four meetings.Minnesota: Seeking their first victory over Wisconsin since 2003 on Saturday, the Gophers have not won at Camp Randall Stadium since 1994.Itd be a great way to top off the year, no question, Leidner said. I know its really important to a lot of guys on this team.---For more college football coverage: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 Swell Flaske Blomster . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. Swell Flaske Liberty . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. http://www.swellflaskenorge.com/swell-flaske-marmor.html .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Swell Flaske . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Swell Bottle Butikk . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers will host LeBron James and the world champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.Before the season, many experts picked the Pacers to be one of the few teams that could challenge Cleveland in the Eastern Conference. However, things havent as well as planned for Indiana in the early going.They come into Wednesday night with a 5-6 record, and a lot of questions on the defensive end. Theyre hoping that their win over the Magic on Monday was a step in the right direction, as they held Orlando to 69 points. Before that, the Pacers were giving up 108 points per game, fifth worst in the NBA.The defense started to come together, Myles Turner told NBA.com. The togetherness was there. The toughness was there. The communication was there. Obviously, we have the talent on offense; but, once were tied together on defense, our offense will spark our defense.Despite the losing record, the Pacers are 5-1 at home this season. In recent years, Bankers Life Fieldhouse has been a tough place for LeBron James teams to play. The Cavaliers beat the Pacers in Indianapolis in February last season. Jamess teams hadnt won a regular-season game in Indiana since February 2012 before that.Bankers Life Fieldhouse is always tough, James said. Its been tough my whole career.Its a big game, Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. The world champs are coming in here. Its kind of a game where you measure yourself.Rodney Stuckey (hamstring) was a full participant in practice this week but is still expected to be out against Cleveland.ddddddddddddHe could return for the Pacers this weekend.The Cavaliers will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They defeated the Toronto Raptors 121-117 on Tuesday and come in with the best record in the Eastern Conference (9-1), just a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for best record in the NBA.There has been no NBA Finals hangover from Cleveland so far this season. Nine wins in their first 10 games matches the best start in franchise history.James is averaging nearly a triple-double. He had 28 points to go along with 14 rebounds and nine assists on Tuesday night.I dont really pay attention to records, but I do pay attention to the teams we are playing and what they bring to the table, James said. It will be a good test. But were already tested.J.R. Smith didnt play on Tuesday night and is questionable for Wednesday with a right ankle sprain. Smith is just three 3-pointers behind Dirk Nowitzki for 15th on the all-time list.Former Pacer Mike Dunleavy could start in his place. Dunleavy has shot 42 percent from behind the arc in his career against the Pacers, though hes off to a rough start with his new team this year.The Cavaliers have made at least 10 3-pointers in each game this season. That will be something to watch for in this game, as the Pacers have struggled defending the three. ' ' '