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DENTON, Texas -- Deckie Johnson made 16 straight free throws and scored a career-high 23 points, and North Texas beat Division III-member Sul Ross 85-77 on Friday night for their 14th straight home-opening victory.Johnson was four makes away from tying the program record of 20-for-20 shooting at the line.Freshman A.J. Lawson added 14 points, JaMichael Brown had 13 and Rickey Brice Jr. 12 for North Texas. Jeremy Combs, a preseason all-conference honoree, had nine points and seven rebounds. The Mean Green made 24 of 39 free throws (61 percent) and outrebounded Sul Ross 43-32.North Texas used an 11-0 run to take a 15-6 lead and the Mean Green led Sul Ross 40-34 at halftime.DeVondre Livingston led Sul Ross with 16 points. Brock Anders added 13 points and Jacob Dawson 12 for the Lobos in the first meeting between the schools. . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times.Jamie Redknapp is expecting an even but exciting Capital One Cup final on Sunday - and says the performances of Liverpools Philippe Coutinho and Man Citys David Silva will be decisive... Liverpools 4-1 win over Manchester City earlier this season was their best performance under Jurgen Klopp so far. But theyll come up against a different City side in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. Jamie Redknapp joins Ed Chamberlin to preview the Capital One Cup final between Liverpool and Manchester City In November, Vincent Kompany didnt play. David Silva didnt play. Fernandinho didnt come on until half-time, when City were 3-0 down. Sergio Aguero was only half-fit, and substituted after 66 minutes. Now, this City side, in personnel at least, are starting to represent their best line-up again - albeit with the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, who was one of their best players in the Liverpool defeat.Of course, you dont have to be a football expert to realise the importance of Kompanys return. Theyve won 67 per cent of their games with him in the team. That figure drops to 59 per cent when he has been missing. City have kept seven clean sheets from nine Premier League games when he has started and managed just four in the 17 he has missed.If Kompany had been fit for the whole season, Man City would have been comfortably clear at the top of the Premier League. City have also got Silva starting to ease his way back into his game after injury. Aguero is fully fit now and looks incredible. Fernandinhos back. You look at the spine of that team and think, if they go on a long run - which theyre more than capable of doing - you cant really rule them out of anything this season.My biggest worry with City is they just go out and play, without worrying about the opposition. It often seems as though theres no defensive organisation or thought to stopping the other team from playing. Weve got better players, well beat you. But its not always like that in football. Philippe Coutinho ran the show at Man City in November, says Jamie Philippe Coutinho, in particular, is one player theyll have to have a plan for on Sunday.If youre Fernandinho or Yaya Toure, how are you going to stop him? He was a major problem for City at the Etihad, where they couldnt live with him. He ran the game. Key Battle: Aguero v Sturridge Which striker will deliver the Capital One Cup? Now Daniel Sturridge is back in the Liverpool team, too - a player who is always a threat - and he and Coutinho have a great understanding between them. City cant afford to let them combine like they can.ddddddddddddOf course, the same goes for Liverpool - they need a plan to stop Citys main man, Silva. Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have a great understanding between them. Man City cant afford to let them to combine like they can. Jamie Redknapp The Liverpool midfield have to find a way to hurry him up, stop him from playing at his pace and delivering those passes to Aguero. If they can do that, theyll stand a far better chance. But if Silva dominates the game, keeps finding pockets of space, drifting around the pitch, playing under no pressure, he can be the difference.Its going to be fascinating to see how the two teams deal with the other sides threats. Can Liverpool keep David Silva quiet? Overall, Im expecting an even but exciting game - and one certainly well worth watching.Of course, Klopp will be eager to pick up his first piece of silverware in England - and what a great moment lifting the trophy would be for him in his first season at Liverpool. Winning cup competitions is what Liverpools tradition has been built on and something the fans are desperate for. Jurgen Klopp and Manuel Pellegrini will both be desperate to lift the trophy As for Pellegrini, with this his last season at City, hell be looking to go out on a high, too, and win this competition for the second time in three years.Then there will be the battles all over the park - on top of Coutinho and Silvas clashes with the opposition midfield, Kompany versus Sturridge is going to be box office.And Raheem Sterling is also an intriguing sub-plot. Im sure images of him will be on the back pages of newspapers and at the top of websites on Monday regardless of the outcome - whether its him lifting the trophy or looking dejected while Liverpool fans celebrate. Sterling v Liverpool Paul Merson, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson on whether Sterling can sink old club Liverpool He said he wanted to leave Anfield to win trophies and on Sunday he has the opportunity to do just that. Man City paid £49m for Sterling and these are the occasions when they need him to show up. If Liverpool win, hell undoubtedly get a lot of stick from their fans - but he has made his bed and he has to lie in it.But who will win? Im finding it really tough to call and reckon it could even be a draw in normal time. Then, once it gets to extra-time and penalties, anything could happen. Its one not to miss. Jamies Sky Bet tip Find out what Jamie is backing in his 22/1 scorecast here. Watch the Capital One Cup final: Liverpool v Man City live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 4pm on Sunday. Also See: Road to Wembley Liverpools League Cup wins Barnes & Goater Q&A Sterling v Liverpool ' ' '
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