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Show WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12,2005 11 STATESMAN-SPORTS New Jersey falls to Wallace, Pistons EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rasheed Wallace had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons beat New Jersey 89-80 in the Nets' first game without injured star Richard Jefferson. Jefferson, dressed in all black, watched from the bench as the Nets got 19 points from Vince Carter, 16 from Travis Best and 13 from Jason Kidd while losing for the fourth time in five games. Earlier in the day, the Nets announced that Jefferson would undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist that he originally injured when he was'flagrantly fouled last month by Detroit's Chauncey Billups. Jefferson will wear a Do the Colts have cast for two months and he said he hoped to return for the playoffs - if the Nets qualify. Richard Hamilton scored 18 points for the Pistons, who extended their road winning streak to six games. LeBron James scored 29 points and helped Cleveland rally from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter for its fifth straight victory. Brevin Knight tied a career high with 20 assists for the Bobcats, who lost for the eighth time in nine games. Gerald Wallace and Primoz Brezec led Charlotte with 18 points apiece. Cavaliers 100, Bobcats 98, or CLEVELAND (AP) - GYMNASTICS From Page 9 what it takes? INDIANAPOLIS - Peyton Manning knows his NFL history. He sees his name among trie great quarterbacks who have won league MVP honors: Joe Montana, John Unitas, John Elway, Steve Young, Terry Brads haw. He also knows something is missing. Is this the year Manning gets that elusive championship ring to accompany his second straight Most Valuable Player award? Could be. In none of Manning's previous six seasons with tne Colts has his team been so wellpositioned to challenge for a title. The offense is performing at an almost unfathomable pace, thanks to Manning's precise passing and the superb skills of receivers Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley, plus running back Edgerrin James and tight ends Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark. The defense, while hardly in the class of the other three remaining AFC contenders, has improved. It has enjoyed the advantage of playing from ahead because of how prolific Manning and company have been. It nas two playmakers in Dwight Freeney and Rob Morris, and a terrific coach in Tony Dungy. The Colts also are not a "dome team," as Dungy readily points out. "We don't subscribe to the indoor-outdoor theory," Dungy says. "We have a better record on the road than at home since I've been here." Actually, it's the same \7-7 at home and away. Where they have a terrible record, however, is against New England. And that's where the Colts (13-4) play Sunday, versus the defending champion Patriots (14-2), a club that often befuddles Manning with intricate defensive alignments and shifts. Forget the weather, which hasn't necessarily been the problem for the Colts. Their failures against the Patriots, including a defeat at the RCA Dome in the 2003 season, are due to Bill Belichick's schemes that have thrown off the always-prepared Manning. But this edition of the Colts Barry Wilner seems to possess a different mind-set tnan the team that claimed it could handle the Patriots in recent meetings, then failed. "Your confidence has to be that you're playing well and we're playing more consistently at tne end of the year than last year," Dungy says. "At New England," said Manning, referring to last January's AFC champ ipionship game, "I played like an absolute dog. There's no question about it. "We have to play great up there against a great team." So are they capable of doing so, of eliminating a team that has won all six of its playoff games with Belichick as coach and Tom Brady as quarterback? Yes. Here's why: • The Patriots, even with a week off, are not completely healed. They are hurting most in the secondary, a very bad situation when facing Indianapolis. And their best lineman, Richard Seymour, has an injured knee. • Manning is operating on an unprecedented level, and he has more weapons to choose from than ever. Wayne has become a premier receiver, not just a complement to the brilliant Harrison. Stokley is a perfect slot man. Both tight ends are especially dangerous near the end zone. The offensive line gives Manning enough time to go through his progressions - and nobody reads progressions better. "I've never left the field saying 1 could have done more to be ready," Manning says. "I don't think I do more than any quarterback should; I give it the attention it deserves." • The officials' stronger emphasis on not allowing receivers to be mugged downfield, a direct result of last year's AFC title game, favors the Colts. • The Colts aren't intimidated by the Patriots. John 2s\ray/jzsiray@cc.usu.edu USU GYMNAST ALEX MARTIN balances on the beam during her routine Monday night in the Spectrum. classmen, this year the experience is split between four upperclassmen and 10 underclassmen, six of whom are freshmen. "They are a great group of girls " Ashley Barr said about the freshmen. She said that they get along well and that they meshed immediatly. 'They truly appreciate and respect each other for what they do," Coach Corn said of the gymnasts. He said that the team was very close. Along with the new freshmen, the team is also welcoming back Parenti and Megan Nelson. The two were unable to compete last season because of injuries. "They're back and they showed [tonight] that they are going to be tremendous contributors," Corn said. The team will tumble into the new season on Friday, when they take on the University of Utah. The meet will be in the Spectrum at 6:45 p.m. "I think that we're going to surprise a lot of people," Bansaid. "We're going to show them what we're made o f -vramirez@cc. usu.edu 141N. Main 752-7149 Store Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30 • 8: Sat 'til 6: Middle of the Block, at the Sign of the Clock wTnv.seneedham.com SAMSON & DELILAH SALON & BEAUTY SUPPLY 1/2 price haircut OR $5 off color Coupon required • Expires 2/28/05 115 East 1400 North • Logan • 752-9115 OR 753-6619 Solution to today's puzzle, AGGIE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SATURDAY JANUARY 15 CS NORTHRIDGE 7:00 P . M . THURSDAY JANUARY 13 PACIFIC 7:00 P . M . AGGIE GYMNASTICS MONDAY, JANUARY 10 BLUE & WHITE EXHIBITION MEET 6:45 P . M . FREE UtohStote UNIVERSITY FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 UNIVERSITY OF UTAH 6:45 P . M . 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