od sign for Wednesday, when Cleveland visits the Knicks: New York is 0-4 on the second night of back-to-backs this season.Heat: It was Dragics highest-scoring total as a member of the Heat. ... Whiteside has led the Heat in rebounds in all 21 games this season. ... Miami struggled again from the li

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Amid all the very-public speculation about where he will be coaching his next game, Tom Herman still was able to motivate his Cougars.He just didnt get the result he wanted.In what might be the sought-after coachs final game with No. 20 Houston, Riley Ferguson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds left in a wild fourth quarter Friday to lift Memphis to a 48-44 win over the Cougars.Herman guided the Cougars (9-3, 5-3 American Athletic Conference, No. 18 AP) back from a 17-point halftime deficit.We had a decision to make at halftime on whether we were going to give up and give in or if we were going to come out in the second half and fight. Our guys fought, Herman said. Obviously it wasnt quite enough, but I think our guys have a lot to be proud of in terms of how they fought in the second half.Asked by ESPN before the game to address reports that he might be close to a deal with another school, Herman said, Honestly, dont believe anything that you read.Greg Ward gave Houston a 44-41 lead with 1:29 remaining with his fourth TD toss, a 3-yard pass to Chance Allen.But Memphis (8-4, 5-3) drove 72 yards in five plays and snapped a six-game losing streak against Houston after Ferguson found Anthony Miller for a 10-yard touchdown reception with 19 seconds left. The teams combined to score 31 fourth-quarter points.What a game. Im just so very proud of this football team, this coaching staff and everybody associated with our program, said Mike Norvell, the first Tigers coach to lead Memphis to bowl eligibility in his first season. Im so glad the game went the way it did with the ups and the downs, because that provided us with another opportunity to show the heart and the character and how our guys would respond.Houston has a terrific football team. But today our guys would not be denied, he said.Ward was spectacular, completing 47 of 67 passes for 487 yards. He also rushed for a team-high 65 yards.Memphis struck early against a Houston defense that stifled then No. 3-ranked Louisville and Heisman candidate Lamar Jackson in a 36-10 home win last week.The Tigers scored touchdowns on all three of their first-quarter drives, with Ferguson going 12 of 13 for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the quarter. His 67-yard pass to Phil Mayhue gave Memphis the early lead before Doroland Dorceus made it 14-3 with a 2-yard touchdown run.Houston held Louisville to 312 total yards and 18 first downs in its win over the Cardinals last week. By the end of the first quarter Saturday, Memphis had amassed 222 yards and three touchdowns.THE TAKEAWAYHOUSTON: Perhaps all the rumors about Herman were a distraction, Houston struggled early on defense and allowed 555 total yards.MEMPHIS: Memphis was already bowl eligible for the third straight year, marking just the second time in program history it will play in three consecutive bowl games.POLL IMPLICATIONSHouston lost to a team it was favored against for the third time this year, and it could fall out of the Top 25 a week after its dominant win against Louisville.KEY NUMBERSHOUSTON: Linell Bonner was the main recipient of Wards huge passing game, finishing with 17 receptions for 235 yards and a touchdown. Yeah, hes got a knack for getting open in zones and closing catches. He was a huge factor in the game, Herman said of Bonner.MEMPHIS: Miller had 15 receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Before catching the winning touchdown, Miller had a 35-yard touchdown reception that put the Tigers ahead 41-37 with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter.UP NEXTHOUSTON: The Cougars will wait to find out what bowl theyre headed to and whether theyre losing theyre losing Herman. The 10-win goal is still there, Herman said. Im not sure the timing of any loss hurts any worse, but these guys have so much to be proud of. Theyve earned 22 victories in the course of two seasons, 3-0 against Top 25 teams, 2-0 against Top 5 teams. So theres a lot to hang our hat on.MEMPHIS: The Tigers were already out of the running to make the AAC title game, and will wait to find out where theyll play in the postseason. Every bowl game is a reward, Norvell said. Wherever we have the opportunity to go, were gonna be extremely grateful and were gonna prepare to go be victorious. Thats eight wins. We didnt sign up for that. We want to maximize every opportunity, so the next step in front of us is to finish as bowl champions.LAST WORDWe had a slant by Anthony Miller, and it was man (defense). I like Anthony Miller on any corner in the nation. Try and guard him. Good luck. Just threw the ball to him and he did the rest, Ferguson said about hooking up with Miller for the winning touchdown.Nike Running Shoes Clearance Sale . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Nike Running Shoes For Sale Cheap . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. http://www.cheapnikerunningshoes.com/ . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. Wholesale Nike Running Shoes .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Nike Running Shoes . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is.MIAMI -- Its been a long time since the New York Knicks were in this position.More than three years, to be precise.Carmelo Anthony matched a season high with 35 points, and the Knicks took advantage of second chances all night to beat the injury-ravaged Miami Heat 114-103 on Tuesday night. At 12-9, New York is three games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2012-13 season.Any time you can put together some wins you feel confident, you feel comfortable, you feel like youre heading in the right direction, and I really feel were doing that, Anthony said. Were heading in the right direction.Kristaps Porzingis had 14 points and 12 rebounds for New York, which has won four straight. The Knicks lost Derrick Rose to back spasms in the third quarter, but still scored 61 points after halftime.We just came out in the second half knowing that we have to win the game and that we have to play better, Porzingis said.Goran Dragic scored 29 points and Hassan Whiteside finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Heat, who fell to 2-8 at home. New York had a 31-13 edge in second-chance points, and outscored Miami 56-36 in the paint.Sometimes the ball goes that way, Whiteside said.The teams were tied at 68 late in the third quarter, when the Knicks went on a 27-13 run over the next eight minutes to take control. Anthony finished 13 for 27 from the field, and Porzingis and Joakim Noah combined for 22 rebounds.The Heat had nine players, and might not have any more than that until next week. Justise Winslow missed his 12th consecutive game with a sore left wrist, and James Johnson (right rotator cuff), Dion Waiters (groin), Luke Babbitt (right hip) and Josh Richardson (right ankle) were also sidelined.None are slated to travel for Miamis three-game, four-day stretch that starts Wednesday in Atlanta.dddddddddddd. The Heat are leaving some staff in Miami to work with the injured players.Theyre getting way more work in than they would get on the road, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.TIP-INSKnicks: Coach Jeff Hornacek is now 1-5 against Miami. Hes beaten every team hes faced, and has yet to coach against his former Phoenix club. ... The Knicks missed their first 11 3-point tries, then made 7 of their last 14. ... New York is over .500 this late in a season for the third time in 12 years. ... Not a good sign for Wednesday, when Cleveland visits the Knicks: New York is 0-4 on the second night of back-to-backs this season.Heat: It was Dragics highest-scoring total as a member of the Heat. ... Whiteside has led the Heat in rebounds in all 21 games this season. ... Miami struggled again from the line, shooting 16 for 27.ON PHILSpoelstra was asked to respond to Knicks President Phil Jacksons comments last month about the way the Heat had to handle LeBron James when he played in Miami. Spoelstra laughed it off. I honestly just think he gets bored and likes to throw stuff out there to get everybody all fired up, Spoelstra said. James and the Cavaliers visit Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.TALL ORDERHilarity briefly ensued in the second quarter when the 7-foot-3 Porzingis had a jump ball against Miamis Tyler Johnson, who might be generously listed at 6-foot-4. Shocking: Porzingis won the tap.UP NEXTKnicks: Host Cleveland on Wednesday, preceding a five-game West Coast trip.Heat: Visit Atlanta on Wednesday, followed by visits to Cleveland and Chicago. ' ' '