regular-season series, including the last three in Ottawa. Notes: D Patrick Wiercio | Forum

LOS ANGELES -- Last season, Chimezie Metu got a lot of playing time for Southern California without having much experience. Erik Gustafsson Jersey .All those minutes are starting to pay off for him as a sophomore.Metu had 15 points and 11 rebounds to help the Trojans rally over the final 8:49 to beat Omaha 82-72 Sunday after trailing most of the game.Im trying to play as hard as possible, Metu said. This year we dont have as many great rebounders on our team as we did last year.Shaqquan Aaron scored 15 points, DeAnthony Melton had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Jordan McLaughlin added 12 points for the Trojans (2-0).We knew it would be a tough second game for us as we adjust to our lineups and rotations, especially with (Bennie) Boatwright being injured, USC coach Andy Enfield said. Our players played an excellent second half defensively that helped us win the game.Marcus Tyus scored a career-high 33 points and TreShawn Thurman had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Mavericks (1-1), who were trying to beat a Pac-12 team for the first time.What we had trouble with was Marcus Tyus, Enfield said. It didnt matter whether we were man or zone, he made shots.The Mavs led by six early in the second half when the Trojans got loose for three consecutive dunks, two by Metu and one from DeAnthony Melton to tie the game 49-all.We were just trying to get on the run and get a lot of stops, Metu said, and it was turning into some points for us. We were just looking for some energy, some kind of spark.Aarons 3-pointer tied the game for the last time at 53-all. From there, USC closed the game on a 31-19 run.BIG PICTUREOmaha: Picked to finish fourth in the Summit League, the Mavs will go as Tra-Deon Hollins and Thurman go. Hollins led the nation in steals (127) and steals per game (3.9) as a junior last season, when he averaged 12.5 points. The Mavs have a tough nonconference schedule, with road games at Kansas State, Iowa, No. 24 Iowa State and Pittsburgh.USC: The Trojans protected their home court, where they are in the midst of playing five of six games.OUCHAaron raced in for a fast break layup with 1:33 to go in the first half and went off the back of Omahas Mitch Hahn, sending him crashing to the floor at the base of the basket support. He walked off on his own and had his right wrist wrapped before returning in the second half.If anything it kind of hyped him up even more, Melton said. When he gets mad, he really gets rolling. Its fun watching him play.BACK WITH A BANGTyus played just his second game since Feb. 7, 2015, at Denver, where he sustained a season-ending knee injury. He was 3 of 11 and scored nine points in the Mavs win over UCSB on Saturday.Against the Trojans, he was 11 of 18 from the floor, hit six 3-pointers and went 5 of 7 from the free throw line in 35 minutes.Its an amazing feeling to get a career high, he said. Ive been away for so long. My teammates just kept telling me if youre open, shoot. I got a confidence boost after my first couple of shots went in.UP NEXTOmaha: The Mavs visit Kansas State on Tuesday to finish off three road games in four days to open the season.USC: Visit Texas A&M on Friday in just the teams second-ever meeting. USC won 26-18 on Dec. 18, 1936. Jonathan Toews Blackhawks Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Steve Larmer Jersey . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. http:///...-hall-womens-jersey/ . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. OTTAWA -- Derek Stepan felt like he shed a huge weight Saturday afternoon. The New York Rangers centre had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators ending a 13-game goal-scoring drought. Stepans last goal was Dec. 20th. "Its a big relief," admitted Stepan. "I dont know for whatever reason throughout the year you go through these little dips and gullys and you have to find a way to just get through it. Its like the old saying of getting a monkey off your back." While the goal will definitely help Stepan feel better about his game, he said picking up the two assists were just as important. "It definitely helps with confidence," said Stepan. "Confidence is a tricky thing in this sport. When you seem to find a little bit of it you have to try and build off that momentum." Winners of five of their last six and holding a playoff spot have the Rangers feeling good about their game and they want to continue to improve. "Weve been talking about it as a group that points for the rest of the year are huge," said Stepan. "This one was no different." Brad Richards, Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello also scored for the Rangers (26-21-3). Cam Talbot was solid in goal stopping 27 shots for his 10th win of the season. Marc Methot scored the lone goal for Ottawa (21-19-9) as Craig Anderson stopped 26 shots. The loss put an end to the Senators eight-game (6-0-2) point streak. Ottawa is 1-4-2 on home ice when having to play midday. This one was no different. The last time the Senators won at home in the afternoon was Nov. 9 against the Florida Panthers, which also happens to be the last time they held a playoff spot. "I dont know what it is," said Clarke MacArthur. "To even talk about it is just an excuse. We have to be ready. The other teams come in here ready at two so we have to find a way to be better." Giveaways proved to be extremely costly for Ottawa as the Rangers scored twice on two terrible ones. "It happens to all of us once in a while," said Marc Methot of the giveaways. "Unfortunately it happened a few times (Saturday)." Zuccarello took advantage of a giveaway by Chris Philllips near centre ice and broke in alone on Anderson. Pierre Pilote Jersey. He caught Anderson out of position to make it 4-1 New York late in the third. While the Senators were managing to hold on during the game despite their sluggish play a late goal in the second proved to be the back breaker. With 11.5 seconds remaining Erik Karlsson went to pass the puck back behind his own net but put it directly on Stepans stick. Stepan beat Anderson shortside to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead and disappoint the 19,978 on hand at Canadian Tire Centre. "It was a momentum swing for sure," said Ottawas coach Paul MacLean of giving up the late goal. "Instead of getting out of the period down one, youre down two. It gives momentum to the other team going into the room and now you have to work even harder coming out of the room to start the period to get something going." MacLean said he didnt feel any need to talk to Karlsson as a mistake that blatant is sure to have an effect on any player. Earlier in the period Nash picked up his 12th of the season, as he broke in alone on Anderson and roofed the puck high. "It was a great play by Stepan," said Nash. "The puck rolled on me a bit, but youll take them any way you can get them." Ottawa had gotten off to a decent start with Methot scoring his fourth, tying a career high, to take a 1-0 lead, but midway through the period the Rangers tied it with a power-play goal. With a two-man advantage Stepan made a cross-crease pass to Richards who went high on a kneeling Anderson. "We started the game well and set ourselves up for a good hockey game," said Karlsson. "We just couldnt pull through for 60 minutes. We were a little bit too sloppy with the puck making plays." Saturdays game marked the first of three meetings between the two teams this season. Ottawa had claimed five straight overall against New York in the regular-season series, including the last three in Ottawa. Notes: D Patrick Wiercioch, D Joe Corvo and LW Matt Kassian were a healthy scratch for the Senators. RW Chris Neil returned to the lineup after missing the last six games with a lower-body injury. ... D Justin Falk was a healthy scratch for the Rangers. Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '