Options are limited for finding a big man after losing Chris 'Bird Man' Andersen to a torn ACL Friday at practice.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavs veteran backup center Chris "Bird Man" Andersen tore his right ACL Friday at practice and is out for the season, the team announced several hours later.

Andersen, 38, may be done playing, period, given his age. He averaged 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in his 12 appearances this season.

The Cavs are in a bit of a roster squeeze. Mo Williams is occupying a spot as is Andersen, and the team isn't likely to cut Andersen because of the tax penalty it would have to pay on his guaranteed $1.55 million salary he was promised when he signed as a free agent last summer.

With a team payroll of $130 million, the Cavs are miles over the $94.1 million salary cap and $113 million salary-tax line, which means they will have to pay millions in taxes at season's end. 

If they cut Andersen to fill his roster spot, they'd have to pay the taxes on his salary and whomever they signed.

It means the Cavs would likely try to trade Anderson as they work through their options, and would do the same for Williams and his $2.1 contract if possible. The Cavs' priority remains finding a backup point guard.

For now, Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love and Channing Frye are Cleveland's only true bigs, though LeBron James and James Jones can play the four and LeBron plays center when the Cavs go ultra small. Free agent big Donatas Montiejunas could be a name Cleveland is considering, but, again, a roster spot would first need to be cleared.

Benedictine played without senior forward Marlon Moore, while Archbishop Hoban's Collen Gurley scored 22 points to lead the Knights' boys basketball win.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Football postponed the start of the boys basketball season for both Archbishop Hoban and Benedictine.

That didn’t bother Hoban on Friday night, as the No. 16 team in the cleveland.com Top 25 left Cleveland with a 53-51 win against the eighth-ranked Bengals.

Junior guard Collen Gurley scored a game-high 22 points, while senior forwards Cartier Bickley and Brian Cuppett each reached double figures in the North Coast League road win.

Collen Gurley active early for @HobanAthletics. pic.twitter.com/znH2RLAZLn

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) December 17, 2016

Two weeks ago, three rotation players suited up for Hoban’s state football championship. Garrett Houser was on the receiving end that day and most of the fall. But now as a junior point guard, he found teammates to start the fourth quarter and push the Knights (3-1, 1-0) NCL Blue Division) to a vital victory.

“It’s been hard, but I’m slowly getting my groove back,” said Houser, who scored three points and dished out six assists. “It’s definitely been a harder transition than last year.”

Houser characterized himself as exhausted the last two weeks, yet he pushed Hoban for two early baskets in the fourth quarter that helped his team seize control in the close game.

Hoban never led by more than six, but coach T.K. Griffith will take it. His team took down Benedictine (1-1, 0-1 NCL Blue Division), which played without 6-foot-5 senior standout Marlon Moore because of an ankle injury.

“We’re still theoretically shorthanded,” Griffith said. “We’ve got guys coming back from football, so we don’t know what we’re doing totally. We’ve had four games in seven days.”

Benedictine, meanwhile, played just its second game in two weeks. The Bengals’ Dec. 2 season opener against St. Ignatius was postponed because of its football team playing a state championship game that night. Even when coach Rob Stricula’s bunch got on the floor last Friday, it came against Central Catholic’s JV team because 15 varsity players served a suspension from their opener.

“Everybody’s fighting to find themselves and we’re really selfish right now,” Stircula said. “The last three weeks have been really bad. I was expecting this.”

A month ago, Stircula felt confident amid preseason practices and scrimmages.

“We had a good summer,” he said.

Then came the lull of the last two weeks. Three weeks if you count Benedictine’s last scrimmage on Nov. 25.

“It was a struggle for me sitting in here, picking a starting five,” Stircula said.

Junior guard Chris Jefferson led Benedictine with 13 points, while sophomore guard Devon Fox added 10.

A late rally came with senior guard JaMari Patterson attacking the basket, scoring and drawing a foul. Patterson missed his free throw, but sophomore Davin Zeigler’s offensive rebound gave Benedictine one more shot with 6.9 seconds left.

Zeigler tried to take that shot himself as he pulled up for a 3-pointer on the wing, just as Stircula rushed a timeout to the nearby official. The coach wanted to play for overtime or get a kickout 3, but the game ended as Patterson’s stepback 3 from the top of the arc misfired.

Gurley corralled the loose ball under the basket. Time expired, and the 6-2 junior trotted to his bench in celebration.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

The Iowa Wild defeated the Cleveland Monsters in a shootout Friday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, 2-1.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Alex Tuch scored in the fifth round of the shootout to lift the Iowa Wild over the Cleveland Monsters, 2-1, in an American Hockey League game Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Monsters were playing their third consecutive overtime game and had their season-high four game win streak snapped, although they scored a point for the fifth consecutive game.

The Monsters, who recorded a 4-3 home overtime win over the Wild on Wednesday, are now 12-11-1-2 on the season, alone in fourth place in the Central Division. Iowa is 12-13-2-1.

• Game summary
• AHL standings

Cleveland led almost the entire game, nursing a 1-0 advantage into the final minute of regulation. Iowa tied the game with 33 seconds remaining when Mike Reilly scored to force overtime.

After a scoreless overtime session, the game went to a shootout. Each team scored once in the first three rounds, forcing extra rounds before Tuch ended it.

The Monsters got on the board with 44 seconds remaining in the first period when Daniel Zaar scored an unassisted goal, his team-leading eighth goal of the season.

Aaron Palushaj scored in the shootout for the Monsters.

Joonas Korpisalo stopped 30 of 31 shots in regulation and 3 of 5 in the shootout to fall to 4-3-2. Iowa's Steve Michalek stopped 17 of 18 in regulation and 4 of 5 in overtime. The Wild held a 31-18 edge in shots.

Cleveland was 0 for 1 on power plays, while Iowa was 0 for 2. The Monsters had just four penalty minutes, the Wild had two.

Up next: The Monsters are at the Chicago Wolves on Saturday at 8. ... Cleveland will return to the Q on Tuesday to begin a four-game homestand to close out the year. The Monsters will entertain the Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday and Thursday, both at 7 p.m. ... The Grand Rapids Griffins will come to the Q for games on Dec. 28 and 30, also at 7 p.m.

Catch up on games from around the OHSAA on Friday in high school boys basketball.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Here are Friday's high school boys basketball scores from around Ohio.

Akr. Coventry 87, Ravenna 42

Akr. Ellet 64, Akr. Kenmore 51

Akr. Firestone 74, Akr. East 61

Akr. Garfield 103, Akr. North 62

Akr. Hoban 53, Cle. Benedictine 51

Alliance Marlington 52, Can. South 43

Anna 55, Russia 47

Ansonia 51, Union City Mississinawa Valley 36

Apple Creek Waynedale 53, Doylestown Chippewa 51, OT

Ashland Mapleton 46, Ashland Crestview 45

Ashtabula Edgewood 52, Hubbard 45

Athens 73, Nelsonville-York 56

Avon 46, Grafton Midview 41

Avon Lake 79, Lakewood 74

Barberton 76, Aurora 71

Barnesville 74, Woodsfield Monroe Cent. 44

Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 58, Arcadia 25

Bay Village Bay 59, Parma Normandy 47

Beachwood 64, Chesterland W. Geauga 56

Beaver Eastern 64, Willow Wood Symmes Valley 40

Beavercreek 61, Lebanon 52

Bellefontaine 43, Urbana 40

Berea-Midpark 70, Amherst Steele 54

Berlin Center Western Reserve 87, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 35

Bethel-Tate 55, Felicity-Franklin 48

Beverly Ft. Frye 70, Sarahsville Shenandoah 23

Blanchester 54, Batavia Clermont NE 34

Brecksville-Broadview Hts. 64, Twinsburg 41

Bristol 85, Southington Chalker 38

Brunswick 58, Elyria 35

Bucyrus Wynford 50, Morral Ridgedale 37

Byesville Meadowbrook 57, Dover 38

Cambridge 59, Marietta 56

Can. McKinley 75, Green 68

Canfield S. Range 70, Hanoverton United 32

Carlisle 55, Middletown Madison Senior 52

Carrollton 54, Salem 46

Casstown Miami E. 42, Arcanum 27

Castalia Margaretta 57, Huron 43

Chillicothe Unioto 55, Bainbridge Paint Valley 25

Chillicothe Zane Trace 60, Williamsport Westfall 47

Cin. Aiken 72, Cin. Western Hills 60

Cin. Clark Montessori 79, Hamilton New Miami 51

Cin. Elder 63, Cin. Winton Woods 33

Cin. Indian Hill 59, Cin. Mariemont 42

Cin. Madeira 48, Reading 42

Cin. McNicholas 58, Middletown Fenwick 53

Cin. Moeller 69, Whitehall-Yearling 46

Cin. Oak Hills 49, Mason 43

Cin. Princeton 48, Flagler Palm Coast, Fla. 44

Cin. Summit Country Day 81, St. Bernard-Elmwood Place 49

Cin. Walnut Hills 64, Cin. Turpin 40

Cin. Withrow 59, Cin. Anderson 50

Cin. Woodward 71, Cin. Shroder 56

Clayton Northmont 74, Miamisburg 71

Cle. Glenville 76, Cle. E. Tech 64

Cle. Rhodes 74, Cle. Collinwood 73

Cle. St. Ignatius 78, Erie Strong Vincent, Pa. 55

Cle. VASJ 79, Cle. Cent. Cath. 50

Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant 51, Portsmouth 46

Cols. Briggs 77, Cols. West 57

Cols. Centennial 63, Cols. Beechcroft 59

Cols. Hartley 58, Cols. Watterson 52

Cols. Linden McKinley 73, Cols. East 48

Cols. Marion-Franklin 78, Cols. Eastmoor 59

Cols. Mifflin 95, Cols. International 35

Cols. Northland 90, Cols. Whetstone 54

Cols. South 69, Cols. Africentric 55

Cols. St. Charles 61, Cols. Ready 44

Cols. Walnut Ridge 64, Cols. Independence 61

Continental 35, Sherwood Fairview 28

Convoy Crestview 45, Columbus Grove 41

Copley 79, Richfield Revere 44

Corning Miller 66, Stewart Federal Hocking 35

Cuyahoga Hts. 64, Fairport Harbor Harding 46

Defiance 39, Kenton 38

Delaware Buckeye Valley 68, Galion 48

Delphos Jefferson 55, Bluffton 39

Dresden Tri-Valley 41, New Lexington 37

Dublin Coffman 88, Galloway Westland 53

Dublin Jerome 50, Thomas Worthington 47

Dublin Scioto 40, Delaware Hayes 39

E. Liverpool 67, Lisbon Beaver 64

Edgerton 55, Hamler Patrick Henry 46

Elida 58, Celina 41

Fairfield Christian 56, Lancaster Fisher Cath. 52

Findlay Liberty-Benton 75, Cory-Rawson 41

Frankfort Adena 53, Chillicothe Huntington 47, OT

Franklin 79, Bellbrook 61

Ft. Jennings 56, Ottoville 48

Ft. Recovery 56, Delphos St. John's 55

Gahanna Christian 50, Granville Christian 45

Gahanna Christian 44, Pickerington N. 41

Galion Northmor 55, Centerburg 44

Gallipolis Gallia 58, Ironton Rock Hill 49

Garrettsville Garfield 51, Ravenna SE 33

Gates Mills Hawken 61, Middlefield Cardinal 49

Germantown Valley View 63, Monroe 45

Glouster Trimble 66, Racine Southern 52

Gnadenhutten Indian Valley 69, Massillon Tuslaw 57

Goshen 58, Batavia 54

Greenfield McClain 76, Lees Creek E. Clinton 18

Greenville 70, Tipp City Tippecanoe 63

Greenwich S. Cent. 71, Monroeville 45

Grove City Christian 73, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep 71

Groveport Madison Christian 75, Canal Winchester 39

Haviland Wayne Trace 82, Liberty Center 62

Hilliard Davidson 85, Cols. Upper Arlington 49

Holgate 47, Kalida 40

Jackson Center 39, Botkins 36

Kansas Lakota 52, Tiffin Calvert 38

Kettering Alter 53, St. Bernard Roger Bacon 48

LaGrange Keystone 64, Sheffield Brookside 50

Latham Western 73, New Boston Glenwood 52

Leavittsburg LaBrae 54, Brookfield 48

Leesburg Fairfield 64, Fayetteville-Perry 53

Leipsic 49, N. Baltimore 45, OT

Lewistown Indian Lake 67, Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan 54

Lexington 46, Ashland 45

Lima Perry 71, McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley 61

Lima Temple Christian 66, DeGraff Riverside 48

Lorain Clearview 82, Rocky River Lutheran W. 32

Loudonville 59, Mansfield Christian 49

Louisville 86, Beloit W. Branch 60

Loveland, Colo. 41, Kings Mills Kings 40

Lucas 51, Danville 39

Lucasville Valley 71, Portsmouth W. 61, OT

Lynchburg-Clay 61, Manchester 56

Lyndhurst Brush 76, Mayfield 63

Madison 100, Eastlake N. 56

Madonna, W.Va. 53, Steubenville Cath. Cent. 37

Magnolia Sandy Valley 71, W. Lafayette Ridgewood 60

Mansfield Madison 56, Bellville Clear Fork 54, OT

Mansfield St. Peter's 76, Kidron Cent. Christian 56

Maple Hts. 78, Warrensville Hts. 61

Maria Stein Marion Local 61, St. Henry 53

Martins Ferry 64, Belmont Union Local 56

Marysville 43, Grove City Cent. Crossing 37

McArthur Vinton County 69, Wellston 38

McComb 51, Vanlue 34

McConnelsville Morgan 72, Thornville Sheridan 64

McDonald 75, Lowellville 48

Medina 83, Strongsville 64

Mentor 99, Euclid 66

Middletown 64, Cin. Colerain 51

Milford 60, Cin. Glen Este 53

Milford Center Fairbanks 81, Mechanicsburg 44

Minerva 54, Alliance 52

Minster 56, Coldwater 51

Morrow Little Miami 66, Oxford Talawanda 42

Mt. Vernon 58, Millersburg W. Holmes 37

N. Olmsted 58, Westlake 51

N. Robinson Col. Crawford 51, Sycamore Mohawk 43

N. Royalton 51, Hudson 46

Napoleon 57, Sylvania Southview 45

New Albany 53, Sunbury Big Walnut 41

New Concord John Glenn 69, Zanesville W. Muskingum 53

New Knoxville 35, Rockford Parkway 34

New London 66, Collins Western Reserve 57

New Middletown Spring. 74, E. Palestine 46

New Washington Buckeye Cent. 60, Attica Seneca E. 49

Newark 95, Cols. Franklin Hts. 25

Norton 59, Akr. Springfield 41

Oak Harbor 59, Clyde 40

Oak Hill 56, Waverly 45

Old Fort 49, New Riegel 48

Olmsted Falls 77, N. Ridgeville 66

Orange 48, Chagrin Falls 37

Oregon Clay 64, Findlay 51

Ottawa-Glandorf 71, Lima Bath 56

Pandora-Gilboa 62, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale 27

Parma 59, Parma Hts. Valley Forge 43

Parma Hts. Holy Name 61, Rocky River 33

Parma Padua 76, Gates Mills Gilmour 55

Paulding 78, Ada 46

Peebles 61, Mowrystown Whiteoak 44

Peninsula Woodridge 72, Lodi Cloverleaf 54

Perrysburg 77, Bowling Green 55

Philo 56, Crooksville 51

Pickerington Cent. 54, Lancaster 35

Pickerington N. 44, Gahanna Lincoln 41

Piketon 47, Southeastern 43

Poland Seminary 66, Cortland Lakeview 55

Pomeroy Meigs 55, Bidwell River Valley 52

Portsmouth Notre Dame 57, Franklin Furnace Green 45

Portsmouth Sciotoville 69, Portsmouth Clay 67, OT

Proctorville Fairland 81, Ironton 40

Reedsville Eastern 66, Wahama, W.Va. 47

Reynoldsburg 53, Grove City 34

Richmond Edison 59, Rayland Buckeye 58

Richmond Hts. 56, Independence 36

Richwood N. Union 41, Plain City Jonathan Alder 39

Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington 52, Seaman N. Adams 49, OT

Rittman 64, Jeromesville Hillsdale 52

Rootstown 69, Mantua Crestwood 66

S. Point 64, Chesapeake 54

S. Webster 38, Wheelersburg 35

Sandusky Perkins 53, Port Clinton 38

Sandusky St. Mary 50, Fremont St. Joseph 48

Sardinia Eastern Brown 57, W. Union 49

Sebring McKinley 83, Mineral Ridge 58

Seneca, Pa. 55, Conneaut 36

Shekinah Christian 68, Tree of Life 65

Sidney 68, Piqua 31

Sidney Fairlawn 64, Houston 36

Sidney Lehman 28, Dola Hardin Northern 18

Smithville 60, Creston Norwayne 50

Solon 88, Shaker Hts. 73

Spencerville 55, Van Wert Lincolnview 36

Springfield 80, Day. Chaminade Julienne 77

St. Clairsville 62, Brooke, W.Va. 42

Stow-Munroe Falls 75, Macedonia Nordonia 50

Strasburg-Franklin 58, Newcomerstown 44

Streetsboro 80, Mogadore Field 57

Struthers 80, Niles McKinley 66

Sugar Grove Berne Union 62, Millersport 41

Sugarcreek Garaway 53, Malvern 50

Sylvania Northview 72, Holland Springfield 53

Tallmadge 50, Kent Roosevelt 41

Tol. St. Francis 64, Tol. Whitmer 53

Troy 61, Vandalia Butler 59

Uniontown Lake 67, Can. Glenoak 56

Upper Sandusky 61, Carey 48

Van Buren 52, Arlington 48

Van Wert 67, St. Marys Memorial 54

Vermilion 66, Milan Edison 50

Versailles 78, New Bremen 48

W. Chester Lakota W. 44, Hamilton 43

Wapakoneta 51, Lima Shawnee 49

Warren Champion 91, Campbell Memorial 33

Warren JFK 78, Louisville Aquinas 67

Washington C.H. 51, Hillsboro 44

Washington C.H. Miami Trace 62, Chillicothe 59, OT

Waterford 62, Crown City S. Gallia 41

Wauseon 60, Delta 36

Waynesfield-Goshen 68, Ridgeway Ridgemont 63

Wellsville 61, Lisbon David Anderson 52

Westerville Cent. 45, Lewis Center Olentangy Orange 38

Westerville N. 60, Lewis Center Olentangy 58

Westerville S. 69, Powell Olentangy Liberty 43

Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 75, Maumee 37

Wilmington 60, Clarksville Clinton-Massie 48

Wooster 68, Mansfield Sr. 46

Wooster Triway 49, Navarre Fairless 27

Worthington Kilbourne 60, Hilliard Darby 52

Youngs. Boardman 61, Steubenville 60

Youngs. Mooney 50, Girard 49

Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley 52, Orrville 47

First Love, Pa. 96, Day. Ponitz Tech. 72

Tol. Cent. Cath. vs. Fremont Ross, ppd. to Jan 17.

I expect Southern Miss, Houston, New Mexico and Central Florida to be among those that play well in Bowl games Dec. 17.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The 2016-17 College Football Bowl season begins with a six-pack of games Dec. 17. 

Some maintain there are too many bowls (this season: 41). I do not. I cannot get enough of college football, in general, and even nondescript bowls can produce notable accomplishments by individual and team.

For the first time, I am going to pick bowl games against the spread -- entertainment purposes only, of course. It better be EPO because, for as much as I love college football, I do not pretend to be an "expert.'' Leave that to the likes of Phil Steele.

For me, college football is fun. Nothing but fun.

Lines are from MGM Mirage via vegasinsider.com as of the afternoon before post is published:

DEC. 17

1. AFR CELEBRATION BOWL

Who: NC Central (9-2) vs. Grambling State (11-1)
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta.
When: Noon.
TV: ABC.
DMan's pick: NC Central +14 1/2.
Skinny: Grambling State QB Devante Kincade is fun to watch, but he won't prevent me from winning by the hook. Grambling State, 35-21.

2. GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL

Who: New Mexico (8-4) vs. Texas-San Antonio (6-6)
Where: University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M.
When: 2 p.m.
TV: ESPN.
DMan's pick: New Mexico -7 1/2.
Skinny: Coach Bob Davie's Lobos enjoy advantages all over the place, especially on the ground. I can't wait to see how many yards RB Teriyon Gipson amasses. New Mexico, 40-27.

3. LAS VEGAS BOWL

Who: Houston (9-3) vs. San Diego State (10-3)
Where: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas.
When: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC.
DMan's pick: Houston -4.
Skinny: Cougars have been a mixed bag: Two of their victories are against Oklahoma and Louisville, but their losses are to Navy, SMU and Memphis (regular-season finale). They prevail here for new coach Major Applewhite. Cougars, 30-20.

4. RAYCOM MEDIA CAMELLIA BOWL

Who: Toledo (9-3) vs. Appalachian State (9-3)
Where: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Ala.
When: 5:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN.
DMan's pick: Appalachian State +1 1/2.
Skinny: Rockets and RB Kareem Hunt give max effort for the Mid-American Conference banner, but they come up just short. Appalachian State, 30-28.

5. AUTONATION CURE BOWL

Who: Central Florida (6-6) vs. Arkansas State (7-5)
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
When: 5:30 p.m.
TV: CBSSN
DMan's pick: Central Florida -5 1/2.
Skinny: Knights finish above .500 one season after 0-12. Central Florida, 24-17.

6. R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL

The Buckeyes will play the No. 2 Bruins on Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic in Las Vegas. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State basketball team will play No. 2 UCLA on Saturday as part of the CBS Sports Classic. Here's everything you need to know before tip-off.

GAME INFORMATION

Who: No. 2 UCLA Bruins (11-0) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2)

When: Saturday, 3 p.m.

Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (18,800)

TV: CBS, with Brad Nessler, Bill Raftery and John Schriffen on the call.

Series record: This will be the 10th meeting between Ohio State and UCLA in a series dating back to 1936. The Bruins lead the all-time series 5-4.

PROJECTED STARTERS

UCLA: G Lonzo Ball (Fr., 6-6, 14.8 ppg); G Bryce Alford (Sr., 6-3, 15.5 ppg); G Isaac Hamilton (Sr., 6-5, 17.3 ppg); F TJ Leaf (Fr., 6-10, 18.3 ppg); F G.G. Goloman (Jr., 6-11, 5.2 ppg).

Ohio State: G JaQuan Lyle (Soph., 6-5, 11.3 ppg); G Kam Williams (Jr., 6-2, 10.8 ppg); F Marc Loving (Sr., 6-7, 11.5 ppg); F Jae'Sean Tate (Jr., 6-4, 13.9 ppg); C Micah Potter (Fr., 6-9, 4.4 ppg).

UCLA NOTES

The Bruins have won four straight games against Ohio State. In five of the last six matchups, including this year, one of the teams has been ranked No. 1 or No. 2 nationally ... UCLA is coming off a 102-62 win over UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday night. It was the fifth time in 11 games this season that the Bruins have eclipsed 100 points ... UCLA is No. 1 in the country in field goal percentage (56.0), 3-point percentage (45.3), total assists (266) and assists per game (24.2). The Bruins are second in the country in points per game (97.9) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.03) ... Freshman guard Lonzo Ball has five double-doubles in 11 games, and is second in the country in assists per game (8.6) ... UCLA has six players averaging double-figures.

Can Ohio State slow down UCLA?

OHIO STATE NOTES

The Buckeyes are coming off 64-60 win over Connecticut last Saturday. Center Trevor Thompson had 17 points and 17 rebounds in that game, becoming just the fourth Buckeye of the Thad Matta era to have such a game ... The Buckeyes beat No. 4 Kentucky last year in the CBS Sports Classic in New York ... Ohio State is No. 25 in the country in field goal percentage defense (37.9 percent) ... Sophomore guard JaQuan Lyle is No. 28 in the country with 55 assists ... Ohio State is mired in a 6-for-38 3-point shooting slump in its last two games, one of those a loss to Florida Atlantic.

PREDICTION

Bill's pick: UCLA 81, Ohio State 72. The Buckeyes got a much-needed win against UConn last weekend, but didn't look sharp enough to tell me they're in a spot to keep up with UCLA. Now there is a week to prepare for this game, and the one thing Ohio State has been fairly consistent in doing is playing defense. Maybe they'll put together a plan to keep the Bruins somewhat grounded. But UCLA is an exceptional offensive basketball team and Ohio State isn't shooting well enough for me to think it can pull the upset.

Cleveland Metroparks' ambitious restoration plans for the Acacia Reservation are taking shape. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland Metroparks is not moving heaven, but it is shifting tons of earth to restore the former Acacia Country Club to its natural state.

The park system received the 155-acre plot in late 2012 after club shareholders sold it to the Conservation Fund. The anonymous donor who underwrote the $14.75-million transfer to the Metroparks stipulated it could no longer be used for golf and it had to be restored to its natural state.

The most visible effort at the moment is the restoration of Euclid Creek's main stem coursing through the Acacia Reservation in Lyndhurst.

That's good news for the Euclid Creek Watershed that drains 23 square miles through 12 communities, most of them in eastern Cuyahoga County.

The restoration will improve water quality and reduce storm-water runoff.

The current project, which began in October, reconnects the creek to its flood plain.

As a golf course, the goal was to evacuate water. As a park, the objective is to keep the water on the landscape, said Terry Robison, the Metroparks' director of natural resources.

That current phase should be done by year's end, he said. Next year will see new planting, the establishment of swales that help contain the water, and destruction of the drainage-tile network that had hastened runoff from the golf course. Culverts that forced portions of the creek system underground also will be removed.

The Euclid Creek Watershed, which drains 23 square miles in more than 10 Cuyahoga County communities. The Acacia Reservation, though not outlined, is toward the bottom of the map between the words "Lyndhurst" and "Beachwood." (Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District)James Ewinger, The Plain Dealer 

Reforestation is another powerful component of the restoration because it reduces runoff. Most of that takes the form seedlings, saplings and smaller containerized trees.

"It will be 20 to 25 years before there's a full stand of timber," Robison said.

"But we've already seen a response to the work we have done," said Jennifer Grieser, the parks' senior natural resource manager.

That includes rebounding wildlife. Grieser cited the recent appearance of Merlins (Falco columbarius), a breed of falcon.

Acacia's ill effects on the watershed began to abate the moment it ceased to be a golf course because the Metroparks does not use the lawn-enhancing chemicals that golf courses favor.

"As conservation is a pillar of our mission, we are thrilled to feature it in action at Acacia Reservation," said Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman. "Restoration practices improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and allow for more sustainable park management.

"This rare opportunity to return a property to its original state enhances the legacy of the Emerald Necklace and provides a resource that the community will enjoy for the next 100 years.''

The restoration is being underwritten by more than $2 million in grants, Grieser said. Most of that is from the Ohio EPA, with the rest coming the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Conservation Fund.

Improvements to Euclid Creek will also benefit the greater park system, because the Metroparks also hold the original Euclid Creek Reservation to the north, as well as the last leg of the creek as it empties into Lake Erie at the former Wildwood State Park.

Park planners began collecting data and put forth a master plan for the restoration in 2014.

Claire Posius, Euclid Creek Watershed coordinator for the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, said the Metroparks' current undertaking at Acacia is the single largest restoration effort in the history of the watershed.

She said the mouth of Euclid Creek was restored just before the Metroparks took control of Wildwood, Euclid Beach and Villa Angela in 2013.

Posius was not optimistic about the likelihood that Acacia and the segment of Euclid Creek would be protected until the Metroparks stepped in.

Before that, there were nine public parks in Euclid Creek Watershed communities totaling 141 acres.

She said acquisition of Acacia's 155 acres more than doubled the amount of public park land in the watershed.

The Toledo Rockets take on Appalachian State in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl today in Montgomery, Ala.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Toledo and Appalachian State kick off the 2016 college bowl season Saturday in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game is at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN. It's the first of six bowl games involving teams from the Mid-American Conference.

Who: Toledo (9-3, 6-2 MAC) vs. Appalachian State (9-3, 7-1, Sun Belt Conference)
When: Today, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Montgomery, Ala.
TV: ESPN
Skinny: Appalachian State's three losses were to Tennessee in overtime to open the season, Miami and Troy. Only Miami (45-10) took it to the Mountaineers as the other two setbacks were by a touchdown or less.

Appy State, which counts a 48-35 victory over Akron this season, does the bulk of its offensive work on the ground, averaging 247.1 yards per game rushing behind tailback Jalin Moore (1,367 yards, 10 TD).

That should make for a good matchup with Toledo tailback Kareem Hunt, who rushed for 1,355 yards with eight touchdowns.

Toledo completed the regular season in second-place in the MAC West Division with a 9-3 overall record. Toledo will be making its third consecutive bowl appearance (2015 Marmot Boca Raton Bowl; 2014 GoDaddy Bowl) and its sixth bowl game in the last seven years (2015 Marmot Boca Raton Bowl; 2015 GoDaddy Bowl; 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; 2011 Military Bowl; 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl).

Toledo will be making its MAC-leading 16th bowl appearance overall in program history (11-4 record in bowl games).

Kickoff is at 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on CBS.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns (0-13) and Buffalo Bills (6-7) meet Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Week 15 of the NFL season.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on CBS. The Browns Radio Network will broadcast the game on WKRK/92.3 FM, WKNR/850 AM and WNCX/98.5 FM.

The CBS game crew will be Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta. The Browns Radio Network crew will include Jim Donovan, Doug Dieken and Nathan Zegura.

If you won't be near a TV on Sunday, you can follow the game on cleveland.com/browns. Watch for our live updates post about an hour before kickoff to get updates and analysis from reporters Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko. 

NFL Game Pass allows users to stream live audio online. It also offers full video replays of games shortly after they end. There is a cost associated; however, the service offers a seven-day free trial. 

For complete coverage of the game, visit cleveland.com/browns.

A look at the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors from their players and how they stack up from team finances to on-court performances.

Collen Gurley scored 22 points and led Hoban to a 53-51 win at Benedictine. See how he did it.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Benedictine coach Rob Stircula did not hesitate when assessing Archbishop Hoban junior guard Collen Gurley.

“He’s the best player in the league,” Stircula said. “It’s not even close.”

This came Friday night after Gurley scored 22 points and led Hoban to a 53-51 win at Benedictine. The win gives the Knights (3-1, 1-0 North Coast League Blue Division) early control in their league race as three football players, including junior point guard Garrett Houser, regain their basketball footing.

Houser found Gurley on a midcourt pass that pushed their slim lead to 43-38, an advantage they didn’t lose the rest of the way.

"He makes my job easy,” Houser said. “If I don't have a shot, I just kick it out to him."

Gurley is the Knights’ leading returning scorer at about 13 points per game.

“I think I take smarter shots now,” the 6-foot-2 guard said. “As a sophomore, I was rushing shots; not really getting into it.”

Gurley scored 16 of his points in the second half to propel the Knights, ranked 16th in the cleveland.com Top 25, past No. 8 Benedictine. Houser added six assists.

Here is what else stood out Friday night in Northeast Ohio:

GAME OF THE NIGHT

No. 13 Cornerstone Christian raised its Division IV state championship banner on a night it welcomed its closest rival on the road to Columbus.

About nine months after dispatching Lutheran East during the regional finals in Canton, the Patriots edged the 14th-ranked Falcons, 63-61.

Senior guard Tre Williams scored 20 points to fuel Cornerstone against his old school.

CCA raises Championship Banner and beats @LEFalconsHoops by a final score of 63-61! pic.twitter.com/MSbU5AZb0G

— Cornerstone Hoops (@CCA_HOOPS) December 17, 2016

PERFORMANCES OF THE NIGHT

• Devanaire Conliffe scored 28 points and helped Willoughby South to a 75-74 win against Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.

• New-look Beachwood got 27 points from Jayson Woodrich in a 64-56 win at West Geauga.

GARERI MILESTONE

Ellet senior forward A.J. Gareri reached the 1,000-point plateau in his career, helping the Orangemen to a 64-61 home win vs. Kenmore.

Honored to score my 1,000th point tonight. Thanks to my teammates; not possible without you guys.

— A.J. Gareri (@Agar44) December 17, 2016

SENATE LEAGUE SHAKES UP

East Tech owns the last three Senate titles, but Glenville took control of the league’s regular-season standings with a 76-64 win at home.

Coach Michael Holt’s Tarblooders emerged from a 30-30 halftime score as five players scored in double figures. Point guard Nelson Wheatley led the way with 16 points, while Hercules Shepherd, Aaron Loines, Joshua Manningham and Reggie Holmes also notched 12 points or more.

The effort came against a 33-point night from East Tech senior Tyshaun Howard. He is carrying the load for the Scarabs as they await additions Isaiah Washington and Aaron Pate after 11 games.

Speaking of Washington, his old school at Rhodes got 25 points from Quintin Flanagan and 23 from Chance Davis to edge Collinwood. Geno Taylor led the Railroaders with 24 points.

BOUNCING BACK

Fifteenth-ranked Holy Name might turn back a lot of teams this winter.

The Green Wave did that Tuesday to Padua, which bounced back Friday in a resounding way. Senior guard Alex Ludwick scored 25 points, junior forward Kevin Peterson added 17 and the Bruins handed Gilmour its first loss, 76-55.

SHORT ON RESOURCES

Without junior point guard Jerry Higgins, No. 7 Villa Angela-St. Joseph picked apart Central Catholic in an NCL White Division game.

The Vikings’ 79-50 win marked the second game in which the Ironmen were without their varsity lineup, which served a two-game suspension from a season-opening scuffle with St. Vincent-St. Mary. Central Catholic should get back its regulars Friday at home vs. Elyria Catholic.

New Story: VASJ BOYS BASKETBALL – Vikings defeat rival CCC, 79-50, behind senior leaders https://t.co/c1Tzynx3qE pic.twitter.com/F3h1uTICOp

— Viking Athletics (@Viking_AD) December 17, 2016

TOP 25 WATCH

• No. 4 Cleveland Heights tuned up for Saturday’s LeBron James Classic with a 75-52 win against Bedford in both teams’ Lake Erie League opener. Senior forward Jaylen Harris led the Tigers with 19 points. Yahel Hill added 12 and Tyreke Smith scored 11.

Desean Reed led Bedford with 15 points.

• No. 5 St. Ignatius pulled back to .500 with a 78-55 win against Strong Vincent in the Wildcats’ home opener. Matt Davet scored 25 points, Austen Yarian had 22 and Michael Spear added 13 for St. Ignatius (2-2).

Yarian and Davet each grabbed 11 rebounds for double-doubles.

• Mentor coach Bob Krizancic used 14 players, all of whom scored, in the Cardinals’ 99-66 home romp of Euclid. Jack Korsok led Mentor with 26 points. Emari Baddour had 19 to pace the Panthers, who trailed by just three points after the first quarter. A 30-10 second-quarter run changed the game’s complexion.

• Luke Schaefer’s 27 points helped Medina leave Strongsville with an 83-64 win. The Bees took control with a 29-12 third quarter. They were up just one at halftime.

• Brunswick handed No. 19 Elyria its first loss with a stout defensive performance on the road, 58-34. Sophomore guard Kyle Goessler led the Blue Devils (3-2) with 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 5-of-7 3-pointers.

• Another unranked Greater Cleveland Conference team, Solon, took down a ranked team. Tony DeCesare’s Comets overcame 28 points from junior guard Dale Bonner and beat No. 22 Shaker Heights, 88-73.

Sincere Carry led Solon with 23 points. Trent Williams added 11.

Comets BBK goes to 4-1 on the young season with an 88-73 GCC victory over Shaker Heights - Nice win Solon! pic.twitter.com/MR5PW1eSJq

— Comet Athletics (@SolonAthletics) December 17, 2016

• No. 25 Brush overcame 29 points from Julian Hicks to beat Mayfield, 76-63. Junior forward Tyler Williams led the visiting Arcs with 21 points.

CLICK HERE FOR FRIDAY’S SCOREBOARD

FAST FORWARD

Here is what’s ahead this weekend.

LeBron James Classic at St. Vincent-St. Mary: The third annual event takes place at LeBron James Arena. Five games are Saturday.

• No. 8 Benedictine vs. Youngstown Ursuline, noon


• Middletown vs. No. 25 Brush, 2 p.m.


• No. 4 Cleveland Heights vs. Gahanna Lincoln, 4 p.m.


• Canton McKinley vs. Toledo St. John’s, 6 p.m.


• No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Evanston (Ill.), 8 p.m.

Sunday brings five more games, including a girls matchup.

• Pickerington North vs. Evanston (Ill.), noon


• St. Vincent-St. Mary girls vs. Westerville South girls, 2 p.m.


• Westerville South vs. No. 6 Garfield Heights, 4 p.m.


• No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Warren Harding, 6 p.m.


• Walsh Jesuit vs. Brunswick, 8 p.m.

Click here for a preview of the event from NEOSpotlight.com’s T.J. Peatross.

Hoops with a Heart at North Canton Hoover: Another weekend event, this one features three cleveland.com Top 25 teams.

• No. 4 Cleveland Heights vs. Mount Mission (Va.), 11 a.m.


• No. 1 Lorain vs. North Canton Hoover, 6 p.m.


• No. 14 Lutheran East vs. Youngstown Ursuline, 7:45 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

Reporters and columnists at cleveland.com have made their picks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns (0-13) face the Bills (6-7) on Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Week 15 of the NFL season. Kick off is at 1 p.m.

The Browns lost last week to the Bengals, 23-10. The Bills lost last week to the Steelers, 27-20.

So how will Sunday's game go? Reporters and columnists at cleveland.com have made their picks:

Dan Labbe (13-0)

Bills 23, Browns 17: Browns save that first win of the year for a Christmas (Eve) miracle. (Don't hold me to that.)

Mary Kay Cabot (12-1)

Bills 24, Browns 13: Marcell Dareus backs up his guarantee.

Doug Lesmerises (12-1)

Bills 17, Browns 13: Can someone figure out a way to get Bills backup QB Cardale Jones in this game please?

Bud Shaw (9-4)

Bills 17, Browns 13: Browns players say they still believe in Hue Jackson. Imagine if they didn't.

Scott Patsko (8-5)

Bills 21, Browns 10: The Browns haven't scored more than 13 points in a game since Week 8. 

DMan's looks at his best 'bets' for the college football bowl games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- OneUp Sports called to ask for my best "bets'' for the College Football Bowl schedule, Dec. 17.

I feel strongly about two of the teams playing on the six-game slate.

All Dec. 17 picks.

Entertainment purposes only. Just for fun.

Matt Moore will start at QB for the Miami Dolphins on Saturday against the New York Jets, replacing the injured Ryan Tannehill.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dreams of a playoff spot for the Miami Dolphins started to fade when quarterback Ryan Tannehill went down with a knee injury last week.

It doesn't look like the injury will keep Tannehill out for an extended amount of time, but for now the Dolphins will have to depend on 32-year-old QB Matt Moore, who has not started a game in five years.

With Tannehill out, the Dolphins might depend more on running back Jay Ajayi to take pressure off of Moore.

Other games of interest this weekend include the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots at the Denver Broncos, both on Sunday. The Broncos can't afford many more losses if they want to remain in playoff contention.

Here's a look at some prime games to watch, along with the complete weekend schedule and TV. You can get previews, scores, stats and updates all weekend on our NFL Scoreboard.

PRIME MATCHUPS

Miami Dolphins (8-5) at New York Jets (4-9)  

• When: 8:25 p.m., NFL Network
• Why watch: The Dolphins are making a push into the playoffs while the Jets are getting into position for a high pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Dolphins will play without QB Ryan Tannehill, who was injured last week.

Sunday

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-7-1)  

• When: 1 p.m., CBS
• Why watch: The Bengals can't afford any more losses if they want a chance to make the playoffs. The Steelers can't afford a loss if they want to win the division. The Steelers and the Bengals have developed a heated rivalry recently.

Detroit Lions (9-4) at New York Giants (7-6)  

• When: 1 p.m., CBS
• Why watch: Are the Lions really one of the better teams in the NFL and how will the Giants respond after last week's victory over the Dallas Cowboys? The Lions can wrap up the division with a victory.

NFL WEEK 15 SCHEDULE/SCORES

Thursday

• Seattle Seahawks 24, Los Angeles Rams 3

Today

• Miami (8-5) at New York Jets (4-9), 8:25 p.m., NFL Network

Sunday

• Green Bay (7-6) at Chicago (3-10), 1 p.m., FOX
• Jacksonville (2-11) at Houston (7-6), 1 p.m. CBS
• Cleveland (0-13) at Buffalo (6-7), 1 p.m., CBS
• Philadelphia (5-8) at Baltimore (7-6), 1 p.m., FOX
• Tennessee (7-6) at Kansas City (10-3), 1 p.m., CBS
• Indianapolis (6-7) at Minnesota (7-6), 1 p.m. CBS
• Detroit (9-4) at New York Giants (7-6), 1 pm., CBS
• Pittsburgh (8-5) at Cincinnati (5-7-1), 1 p.m., CBS
• New Orleans (5-8) at Arizona (5-7-1), 4:05 p.m.,  FOX
• San Francisco (1-12) at Atlanta (8-5), 4:05 p.m., FOX
• Oakland (10-3) at San Diego (5-8), 4:25 p.m., CBS
• New England (11-2) at Denver (8-5), 4:25 p.m., CBS
• Tampa Bay (8-5) at Dallas (11-2), 8:30 p.m., NBC

Monday

• Carolina (5-8) at Washington (7-5-1), 8:30 p.m., ESPN

Browns top offensive assistant Pep Hamilton says RG3 can return to his Pro Bowl form of 2012. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Like Hue Jackson, Browns top offensive assistant Pep Hamilton still thinks Robert Griffin III has a bright future.

"Without a doubt, he has the potential to be what he was his rookie year and more,'' said Hamilton, assistant head coach/offense and quarterbacks coach.

That's a tall order, considering Griffin was NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowler in 2012.

Hamilton believes there's still plenty of upside despite a bad outing last week against the Bengals. In that 23-10 loss, Griffin had a 0.0 rating in the first half, 38.4 overall. But Hamilton attributes it to his 11-week layoff with a fractured shoulder and the fact the offense changed while he was out.

"He's tough. He's smart,'' said Hamilton. "He's a guy that's proven that he can have success in this league. ... It is just a matter of whether or not he can get caught up with this group of guys with regards to the time that they've had in the system. Throughout the time that he was out, he was very attentive and astute in every meeting and always involved.

"From a mental standpoint, I don't see there being any issues. It's just a matter of getting out there and playing the game and having a chance to time up throws with Corey Coleman and time up throws with Terrelle Pryor and Gary Barnidge. There's no way to simulate gameday in practice.''

Griffin completed 12 of his 28 attempts for 104 yards, missing guys by 10 yards sometimes. Once, he hit an unsuspecting Barnidge in the shoulder. He completed only three of 11 attempts to rookie Coleman for 26 yards. He couldn't find Pryor, connecting with him once for three yards. A throw into triple coverage off a flea-flicker from the end zone was picked off.  

"He has another week of practice under his belt,'' said Hamilton. "It's not just RG. It's with any player that has missed that amount of time, such a long period of time being off. ... I am talking specifically with just the speed of the game, re-acclimating himself and going out there and making plays for us."

Jackson wants to see RG3 improve 'before we just write him off'

Also like Jackson, Hamilton has called for Griffin to make a big jump Sunday against the 6-7 Bills, who have lost five of their last seven. But can he make significant strides in one week?

"He has no choice,'' said Hamilton. "We're counting on him to become more consistent. With another week of practice under his belt, we expect that he'll go out and play efficient football and give us a chance to win the game."

That won't be easy. The Bills are fifth in the NFL with 33 sacks and seventh against the pass with 229.6 yards allowed per game. But the Browns have just three games left in which to evaluate Griffin, three chances to prove he deserves another $6 million next season.    

Despite moving practice indoors this week because of the icy practice fields and sub-zero windchills, Hamilton saw Griffin take a leap.

"Absolutely,'' he said. "We had a really good week of practice. Hopefully, we will improve our overall continuity and we can be more efficient and effective as an offense unit this Sunday."

Jackson also saw more completed balls in practice -- but acknowledged Griffin had a good week last week, too.

"There just seems to be better chemistry,'' he said. "Now, he's directing people in what spots to be in and where they need to be for him. I think they get it. ... I felt like that this has been a good week as far as that is concerned."

A key to the game will be holding off the Bills' relentless pass rushers, including outside linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, who's tied for the NFL lead with 10 sacks.

"They're very good,'' said Hamilton. "They are a very stout defense, in particular their defensive front. They have some really good defensive tackles. They have guys that can rush the passer off the edge. Their linebackers are downhill, physical type guys that play a physical brand of football. We are faced with a tremendous challenge, but our guys, we have had a good week of practice. We're up to the challenge. We're going to do whatever it takes to find a way to get a win this week."

And they're hoping to see flashes of that old NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

A player Lakers head coach Luke Walton described as one who "gets upset a lot," was beaming with excitement. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A little more than an hour before tipoff, Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov strolled into an unfamiliar place: the visitor's locker room at Quicken Loans Arena.

The previous two years, the 7-footer had made countless trips down that same hallway, en route to the home locker room, less than 200 feet away.

On Saturday night, Mozgov crammed himself into the back corner, adjacent to the small workout area, preparing for his first game against his old team since signing with the Lakers early in free agency.

Upon his arrival, he was greeted by a member of the Cavaliers communications staff, who had a bag of goodies and a special, customized box for the championship ring he was about to receive. At that moment, as Mozgov searched for a way to peek at the gifts without revealing them to the numerous media members huddled around his locker, the player Lakers head coach Luke Walton described as one who "gets upset a lot," was beaming with excitement.

"Feels like I miss this place. I'm not going to lie," Mozgov said. "It was a lot of emotions right here. I receive it and I give it back and I really miss it."

His former teammates clearly missed him as well. Moments before tipoff, following a video presentation, Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue handed Mozgov his newest piece of jewelry. Then he got mobbed by a plethora of Cavaliers.

"It's a lot," Mozgov said pregame when asked to describe his emotions. "I keep telling (people) I'm really grateful. I think I was part of one of the best teams in the world and it means a lot to me. A lot of emotions and a lot of thoughts. Just excited. Can't really tell how (excited)."

Mozgov won't soon forget his time in Cleveland. He capped his tenure with a title.

But there were also some rocky moments. He lost his starting spot and fell out of the rotation during last year's title run. He also underwent off-season arthroscopic knee surgery following the 2014-15 campaign, which prevented him from recapturing the form he showed months earlier after arriving in a trade from Denver.

"The last season I was coming off the surgery and probably rushed it too much," he admitted. "Didn't really heal and had problem the whole season, but then I got an off-season and recovery right and then I played for my national team to get my rhythm back. Just feels good right now."

Mozgov didn't want to rehash his free agency decision, only offering a brief glimpse into his feelings now that he's with the Lakers after getting a life-changing contract, with the security he always wanted.

"I miss you guys but I'm happy where I'm at right now," he said. "We have a young, good team and we play hard. We're growing up together and I like it."

While Mozgov's night started by walking into enemy territory, for a brief moment Saturday he was embraced as if still wearing the Wine and Gold, receiving an enormous ovation during the pregame ceremony and then again when introduced as Lakers starter.

Lue pumped his fist, smiled and shared a private moment with Mozgov, one of his "favorite" people.

"I got a lot of attention today from media and fans," Mozgov said. "I kind of like it. More support. I see people smile and it makes me smile.

"I just am who I am. I don't try to be good or bad person, I just do the things I do and (for) people to say things like that, of course it makes me feel good. Makes me feel like I left something behind."

J.R. Smith joins Simone Biles and Cubs catcher David Ross on the latest cover of ESPN The Magazine.

The Dec. 23 cover of ESPN The Magazine features Simone Biles, David Ross and J.R. Smith.ESPN The Magazine 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith joins Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and World Series hero David Ross for the cover story in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, available on newsstands Dec. 23.

In an interview with ESPN's Sarah Spain, Smith, Biles and Ross talk about 2016, the crazy year in sports where anything seemed possible. That included defying the odds and winning five Olympic medals (four golds), shattering a 108-year-old baseball curse, and, of course, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals.

The issue, dubbed "Anything's Possible" looks at those storylines and more, according to the magazine's publishers.

Smith specifically discusses his feelings when the Cavaliers found themselves trailing Golden State 3-1 after Game 4.

He told Spain:

You can watch video of the interview below, or read the cover story here.

Guard Noah Robotham leads Akron to 99-88 victory over Marshall with 27 points, hitting six of seven 3-pointers in the game.

AKRON, Ohio -- The Akron Zips got a strong backcourt performance from junior guard Noah Robotham to lead a stem-to-stern victory over Marshall, 99-88, Saturday evening in Rhodes Arena.

Robotham led the Zips with 27 points, hitting seven-of-eight 3-pointers in the game where the Zips never trailed. Akron was aided by massive center Isaiah Johnson (6-9, 275), who had an efficient 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

• Akron-Marshall summary

With two weeks to go before the start of Mid-American Conference play, the Zips looked sharp and crisp offensively, particularly in the opening half as they built a 53-42 lead.

Marshall, a 3-point shooting outfit as well, closed to within 61-59 early in the second half, but the Zips rebuilt their cushion to 89-84 game with 3:59 to play, then closed out cleanly while Marshall had a pair of critical turnovers, and a pair of misses while the Zips were taking it to the rim.

Akron made 15-of-28 3-pointers while Marshall knocked down 12-of-27.

Akron (8-3) now has a 23-game homecourt winning streak and goes on the road for a pair of tournament games at UTEP next week.

The first half: It was almost all Akron as the Zips began the game hitting their first five 3-pointers to help build a 19-9 lead with 15:57 to play.

They didn't cool off much as the lead grew to 39-26 with 7:34 to play with Akron shooting 75 percent overall and 80 percent on 3-pointers (8-of-10). The only snafu in the game plan was six turnovers at that point, which became eight by halftime.

The Zips were still leading at the break, 53-42, but the eight miscues were a concern, keeping the Herd within range, even as the Zips had 14 assists on 19 baskets. Marshall was not shooting as hot as Akron (65.5 percent) but well enough (53.3 percent), including seven of 11 on 3-pointers.

Fire when ready: Nobody should be surprised Akron and Marshall spent a lot of time shooting from the perimeter. Marshall entered the game 85-for-231 (36.8 percent) after nine games from behind the arc. Akron was 104-of-280 (37.1 percent) on 3-pointers after 10 games.

Jayvon Graves scored 38 points, but St. Vincent-St. Mary played without senior point guard Jonathan Williams and three others while suffering its first loss of the boys basketball season at the LeB...

AKRON, Ohio – Jayvon Graves scored 38 points, but St. Vincent-St. Mary played without senior point guard Jonathan Williams and three others.

Add an Evanston (Ill.) opponent that boasted 6-foot-6 Purdue commit Nojel Eastern, and the combination led to STVM’s first boys basketball loss of the season Saturday night in the LeBron James Classic, 72-66.

Williams, Scott Walter, DeAmonte King and Tyrus Toney all missed their second games as part of a suspension from their season opener two weeks ago at Central Catholic. The four will return Sunday, when the Fighting Irish face Warren Harding and West Virginia recruit Derek Culver.

Four more players will take the place of STVM’s returning guards and miss the next two games as part of suspensions handed down from the season opener.

“I’ll lose a couple bigs, but they’re younger,” coach Dru Joyce said. “Hey, we’ll have to figure it out.”

The Irish, ranked second in the cleveland.com boys basketball Top 25, nearly figured out Evanston. They trailed by 18 points in the fourth quarter, but a 16-2 run pulled them within four until a young, exhausted team had nothing left.

STVM (2-1) played a lineup that included three seniors with Graves, Malik Wooldridge and Justin Sampson. The rest were mostly sophomores and first-year varsity players.

“Some of those guys played 31 or 32 minutes,” Joyce said. “Some of them never played that long in a game. They’re 12-, 15-minute guys. It took its toll.”

Eastern scored just seven points for the Wildkits, hampered by foul trouble and a limp. Senior Elijah Williams scored 17 points, sophomore Ryan Bost had 15 and 6-4 senior guard Malcolm Townsel added 12 to lead Evanston.

Half: Evanston 36, STVM 28 after a late surge. pic.twitter.com/cTWZIsvD4y

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) December 18, 2016

Joyce said he thinks they presented a height differential STVM will only see against St. Ignatius the rest of the season.

While it bothered the Irish, Graves still thrived while playing point guard.

He scored 17 by halftime, attacking the basket and stepping back for 3-pointers.

“He’s shown that there’s not too many people in this state or in the country that one-on-one can stop him,” Joyce said. “You could see in the second half, they were running three guys at him.”

Jayvon Graves leads all scorers with 17 points. pic.twitter.com/sZlYB7LRnE

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) December 18, 2016

Graves shot 13-of-24 from the floor and hit 7-of-10 shots behind the 3-point line. He received team MVP honors, while the Evanston nod went to Elijah Williams.

STVM sophomore Lundon McDay added 16 points.

Check back later for more coverage of the LeBron James Classic, including video highlights. Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

The Cleveland Monsters slipped past the Chicago Wolves in overtime on Saturday, 2-1.

ROSEMONT, Illinois -- Marc-Andre Bergeron scored just 55 seconds into overtime to lift the Cleveland Monsters past the Chicago Wolves, 2-1, in an American Hockey League game Saturday at Allstate Arena.

Bergeron scored his first goal of the season off an assist from the corner by Alex Broadhurst.

The Monsters are now 13-11-1-2. They have played four straight overtime games and won three of them. Included was a tough 2-1 shootout loss Friday to the Iowa Wild at Quicken Loans Arena. Chicago is now 13-11-2-1 and trails in the season series, 3-1.

The Monsters extended their season-long point streak to six games and have a four-game road winning streak, the AHL's longest such active streak.

• Monsters-Wolves summary
• AHL standings

Chicago got on the board first at 9:44 of the second period on a goal by Mackenzie MacEachern, but the Monsters answered at 12:56 when Jaime Sifers scored his third goal of the season, assisted by Alex Broadhurst.

Anton Forsberg stopped 21 of 22 shots to improve to 9-6-1. Wolves goalie Pheonix Copley stopped 19 of 21 shots.

The Monsters had just two penalty minutes and went 0 for 2 on power plays, while stopping Chicago's only power play.

Extra special: Monsters winger Aaron Palushaj has been special in overtime. Four of the Monsters' past five games before Saturday went beyond regulation and two have required a shootout. Palushaj currently leads the AHL with four shootout goals to his credit

Up next: The Monsters return to Quicken Loans Arena to play host to the Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday and Thursday, both games at 7 p.m. ... After Christmas, the Grand Rapids Griffins will visit the Q on Dec. 28 and 30, also at 7 p.m.