FFEYS BLOCKDawkins did most of the work on a 79-yard TD run in the second quarter, turning what appeared to be a tackle in the backfield into an electrifying run.Receiver Trey Griffey provided a last-second boost, racing from the opposite side of the field to block Washingtons Jojo McIntosh just befor

After mostly cruising through four games, fifth-ranked North Carolina takes a different kind of challenge this week. Ralph Sampson Jersey .The Maui Invitational should test the Tar Heels endurance.North Carolina has won each game by double-digit margins, so the likelihood for heightened competition is appealing at this stage of the season.I think that is what the whole team wants, Tar Heels guard Joel Berry said. We want a good challenge. We still have to go out there and play our hardest, so we can try and get better. I think going out to Maui and playing against some better competition will help us.The tournament schedule calls for three games in three days at Lahaina Civic Center, with the Tar Heels beginning Monday night against tournament host Chaminade (2-0), a Division II program.This is North Carolinas seventh appearance in the Maui Invitational, with the Tar Heels reaching the finals five times and winning the 1999, 2004 and 2008 events. The Tar Heels have a 15-3 record in the tournament.Coach Roy Williams said the competition is important. Hes also prone to point out the fringe benefits of the trip because he enjoys tropical weather.We go to Maui every four years for a reason -- the head coach likes it, Williams said.Yet the Tar Heels are aware that the basketball value is of utmost importance.We have to go with the right mindset, senior forward Kennedy Meeks said. I know its a nice place to go.North Carolina holds a 4-0 record for the first time since November 2012.Freshman post player Tony Bradley has scored in double figures in all four North Carolina games. Thats the most consecutive games in double figures at the beginning of a college career for a Tar Heel since Brandan Wrights 18-game stretch in 2006-07.Williams, with a 787-209 coaching record, moved into ninth place in Division I mens coaching victories with Friday nights 83-68 win at Hawaii. He passed Lefty Driesell.That game also resulted in the lowest point total of the season for the Tar Heels, who rang up more than 90 points in the first three games of the season -- something they hadnt done in 22 years.This marks the third Maui Invitational appearance in a row in which the Tar Heels will match up with Chaminade, though the last time it came in a consolation round.Chaminade, which was coming off a 12-15 record in 2015-16, hasnt played since winning Nov. 11 and 12 against Alaska Anchorage and Alaska, respectively, to open the new season.Our defense has been really, really good, sixth-year coach Eric Bovaird said on the schools web site. Its something weve focused on. Were getting better. Its something were going to focus on.Guards Rohndell Goodwin and Kiran Shastri averaged 24 and 20.5 points in the opening two games for Chaminade. Sam Daly, who was among the best in the Pacific West Conference last season in assists and steals, is a senior guard in his second year with the Silverswords after transferring from Grand Canyon.Starting out 2-0 going into Maui feels really good, Bovaird said.The North Carolina-Chaminade winner takes on the Connecticut-Oklahoma State winner in Tuesday nights semifinals, while the losers meet in the consolation bracket. Walt Williams Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Jack Coleman Jersey . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. https://www.cheapkingsbasketball.com/105...rsey-kings.html . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. TUCSON, Ariz. -- Washington survived its first real test after rolling through an easy nonconference schedule.To keep their run going, the Huskies know theyll have to play better than this.Jake Browning hit Dante Pettis on a 4-yard touchdown in overtime and No. 9 Washington overcame a slew of missed opportunities to hold off Arizona 35-28 Saturday night in both teams Pac-12 opener.We can do better than that, Washington coach Chris Petersen said.The Huskies (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) dominated their first three games behind Brownings prolific passing and a first-team defense that did not allow a touchdown.Those wins came against Rutgers, Idaho and Portland State, so Arizona represented a huge uptick in competition.Despite the Wildcats (2-2, 0-1) being down to their fourth-string running back, Washington had a hard time shaking them, plagued by missed chances on Arizonas side of the field.The Huskies failed on a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter and Cameron Van Winkle missed his second field goal of the game in the fourth -- from 40 yards -- to allow the Wildcats to hang around.Lavon Coleman did his part, running for 181 yards and a 55-yard touchdown while Browning was mostly limited to short throws underneath. Browning hit a few big passes in the second half and found Pettis, who made a tough grab on the first possession of overtime.Washingtons defense was unable to contain Arizona quarterback Brandon Dawkins most of the night, but came through when it needed to, forcing a turnover on downs in overtime to eke out the victory.There were a lot of mistakes we made, we had opportunities on both sides of the ball, but thats how this game is, Petersen said. You just have to keep fighting.Dawkins kept the Wildcats in it with a dazzling display, finishing with 176 yards and two touchdowns rushing, 167 yards and another score passing. He escaped what appeared to be a sack to hit Shun Brown on a 54-yard pass, then found Josh Kern on a 3-yard TD pass with 17 seconds left to tie the game at 28.Dawkins couldnt come through in overtime, though, unable to find a receiver on the final play after scrambling to grab a bad snap.I dont exactly know where the snap was and I dont know if I could have gotten itt, Dawkins said. Travis Mays Jersey. The ball was on the ground and I had to pick it up and make a play with it, take a last chance.The worst news for Arizona was that it lost another running back. Freshman J.J. Taylor, playing in place of injured starter Nick Wilson, broke his left ankle in the third quarter, leaving Arizona even thinner at running back.Extremely frustrating, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said of the injuries. This guy is lights out, will be again when he comes back. Unbelievable.THE TAKEAWAYWashington: The Huskies faced adversity for the first time after three easy wins to open the season and survived. Washington failed to capitalize after manhandling the smaller Wildcats to start the second half -- a 171-12 advantage in total yards -- yet made the plays when it needed to down the stretch.Arizona: The Wildcats quick-tempo offense went into a slumber for a long stretch of the second half and its defense was manhandled at times by the Huskies. Arizona had a shot at the end and failed, but the bigger concern is depth after seeing another running back go down.GRIFFEYS BLOCKDawkins did most of the work on a 79-yard TD run in the second quarter, turning what appeared to be a tackle in the backfield into an electrifying run.Receiver Trey Griffey provided a last-second boost, racing from the opposite side of the field to block Washingtons Jojo McIntosh just before he reached Dawkins around the 10-yard line. Griffey closed fast and got in front of McIntosh, allowing Dawkins to score.BROWNINGS CRACK BACKGriffey wasnt the only one making big blocks. Browning had one of his own and it was a big one.With John Ross taking the handoff on a reverse, Browning turned back and bore down on Arizonas Calvin Allen. The 281-pound defensive end didnt see Browning coming and Washingtons quarterback leveled him with a crack-back block , nearly spinning Allen all the way around.UP NEXTWashington: The Huskies host No. 7 Stanford next Friday in what should be just the fourth game ever between top-10 teams at Husky Stadium.Arizona: The Wildcats play at UCLA next Saturday. ' ' '