aught the only ball hit his way on a night when the wind was blowing out in Wrigley.That was probably the funnest moment of the game, Francona said of

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Dennis Smith Jr. scored a career-high 24 points and N.C. State held off Saint Josephs for a 73-63 victory Monday in the third-place game of the Paradise Jam tournament.Torin Dorn added 19 points, Terry Henderson 15 and Abdul-Malik Abu had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Wolfpack (4-1), who overcame an 11-point deficit in the first half to lead by as many as 14 points.I think we just started really slow, N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried said. I dont know if it was because of last nights game (a 112-94 loss to Creighton in the semifinals Sunday). We didnt have a lot of zip early. But around the 12-minute mark of the first half, we really started to play. We got going, started to execute and our defense was better. Our guys really responded.Shavar Newkirk scored 23 points and Charlie Brown added 14 for the Hawks (3-2), who shot just 32.9 percent from the field (24 of 73) including 5 of 22 from 3-point range.Still, Saint Josephs managed to make N.C. State sweat in the closing minutes. Down 57-43 with less than 11 minutes remaining, the Hawks pulled to within six points three times, the last at 69-63 with 2:29 remaining.But Smith connected of a pair of free throws less than a minute later, followed by a Henderson dunk that pushed N.C. States lead back to double digits.We had some terrific numbers -- 22 offensive rebounds, 73 shots, eight turnovers, 10 for 12 from the foul line, Saint Josephs coach Phil Martelli said. Just terrific numbers. We just didnt have enough guys making shots.BIG PICTURESaint Josephs: Sophomore guard Lamarr Kimble struggled in Mondays game, missing his first 10 shots. He finished with three points on 1-of-15 shooting, including 1-of-7 3-pointers.N.C. State: Smith showed why he was voted the ACCs preseason rookie of the year and put on the leagues preseason first team. While not particularly effective shooting (6 of 15 from the field, 3 of 6 on 3-pointers), he made 9 of 10 from the free throw line and added eight assists.UP NEXTSaint Josephs: Takes a few days off, then hosts Temple on Nov. 30.N.C. State: Hosts fellow Paradise Jam participant Loyola-Chicago on Saturday. Yogi Berra Jersey . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Gary Carter Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/750l-jesse-orosco-jersey-mets.html .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Tom Glavine Jersey .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Doug Sisk Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. CHICAGO -- Terry Francona is on the verge of ending another long World Series drought.Call him Mgr. October.Clevelands maestro of a manager, who has pushed all the right buttons this season and especially over the past few weeks, moved closer to capturing his third Series title as the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 in Game 4 on Saturday night to take a 3-1 lead.Francona is the one who guided the Boston Red Sox around the Curse of the Bambino in 2004, helping them to their first title in 86 years. He led them to another three years later.And now hes got the resilient Indians on the edge of taking their first World Series in 68 years.The 57-year-old would never take any credit for Clevelands success, but the Indians wouldnt be where they are if not for Francona, who improved to 11-1 in World Series games.The guy everyone calls Tito -- his dads name -- claims he doesnt have a crystal ball. But he certainly seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to setting his lineup, pulling pitchers at just the right time and keeping his players focused.Hes at the front of all we do -- our attitude we take onto the field, the looseness we kind of carry ourselves and create the environment of having fun and being ourselves -- that all starts with him, said Jason Kipnis, whose three-run homer in the seventh blew the game open.Following Clevelands 1-0 victory in Game 3, a chess match with Chicagos Joe Maddon that he called one of the most agonizing games of his managerial career, Francona made the difficult decision of not starting first baseman Mike Napoli in Game 4.Hes like the heart and soul of our team, Francona said beforehand. It bothers me to sit him, a lot.Francona played Carlos Santana at first instead, and the move panned out when he homered leading off the second inning against John Lackey. And although his move proved to be wise, Francona wasnt happy he had to keep Napoli on the bench before using him as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. Napoli flied out to the warning track in left-center.I still wasnt pleased that Nap didnt play, he said. But hell be in there tomorrow. His one at-bat, he took a really good swing that, I think, should help make him feel a little better going into tomorrow.Francona has been forced to be creative with his lineup during the three games at Wrigley Field, where the Indians have had to play by National League rules and couldnt use their designated hitter.He took a risk byy starting Santana in left field for Game 3 even though the former catcher had played just four innings in his career in left.dddddddddddd It worked, though, as Santana caught the only ball hit his way on a night when the wind was blowing out in Wrigley.That was probably the funnest moment of the game, Francona said of Santanas catch in the first. I was going crazy in the dugout. Then I thought I better cool it because there might be another one that finds him.None did, and Francona made several more astute moves in the first Series game at Wrigley in 71 years. He pulled starter Josh Tomlin in the fifth and ace reliever Andrew Miller came in and shut down the Cubs. And when Millers turn came up to bat, Francona sent in pinch-hitter Coco Crisp, who drove in the games only run.Of course he did.Francona also got a little lucky.He made so many double switches that he ran out of position players, and was going to have to bat Game 4 starter Corey Kluber.He almost used some guys that werent on the roster, joked Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway. I mean, theres no better manager in all of baseball than him. He thinks of everything at every moment. Ive learned so much from him.Francona knew just what to do with Kluber on Saturday night.Miller was throwing in the bullpen when Anthony Rizzo doubled leading off the sixth. Miller, who has been virtually unhittable in the postseason, was ready but Francona stayed with Kluber and he promptly retired the next three batters.Its been like that all month as the Indians, who have been overlooked despite running away with the AL Central, swept Boston, beat Toronto in five games and are now a win away from their first title since 1948.The Indians can almost taste the champagne, but Francona wont let them think too far ahead.Nothing changes. Were going to show up tomorrow -- the only thing that changes is well pack our bags, because were going to go home one way or the other, and well show up and try to beat a really good pitcher, and thats what we always do. Nothing needs to change.That 48 Cleveland team was managed by Lou Boudreau, who was also the clubs starting shortstop.Francona laughed before Game 4 when he was asked if he was ready to play short.Im just trying to handle managing, he said. That will be enough.Its been more than that. ' ' '