nd will be able to give it my all.Florences attempt to negotiate gates 8, 9 and

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Keenan Evans scored 28 points to lead Texas Tech over Houston Baptist 93-67 on Friday to clinch a victory for new Red Raiders coach Chris Beard on opening night.Today was about our players, Beard said. Im really proud of my association with Texas Tech and Im proud at the idea that I came back to a place I love. But Im not the story, the story is the players. Weve got guys out there wearing the jerseys tonight. Theyre unselfish, and they bought in. Theyre here for the right reasons. Theyre all good students and good people. Tonight was their story, and I thought it was a good story.The Red Raiders took a 45-36 lead at halftime with Evans scoring 18 points then opened the second half with a 14-4 run.Tonight was a special night because he was making shots, but I have a vision of Keenan Evans where even when he doesnt make those shots, he affects the game, Beard said.Anthony Livingston added 16 points, Aaron Ross 13, Shadell Millinghaus 11 and Niem Stevenson with 10 for the Red Raiders.I thought that we were just trying too hard in the first half, especially defensively, Beard said. Theres an effectiveness to patient defense. People associate patience with offensive basketball, but on defense you have to be patient.Zach Smith had three of the teams four blocks. Tech finished with 20 assists.Atif Russell scored 16 points and Josh Ibarra added nine to lead the Huskies.Tech shot 33 of 54 from the field to Houston Baptists 22-of-58.BIG PICTURETexas Tech: With a slew of new players and a new coach, Tech looks to make its return to the NCAA Tournament. After a first-round loss to Butler in tournament play, the Red Raiders began the year with a solid win over Houston Baptist, which gives them momentum going forward.Houston Baptist: The Huskies began the season like they did last year with a loss. However, they turned things around in Southland Conference play winning their first eight games.INJURED RETURNER: Texas Tech junior center Norense Odiase made his way onto the court before the game but was in a boot on his left foot due to an injury sustained in practice this week. Odiase led the team in field-goal percentage last season.STARTING FIVEThe Texas Tech starting lineup contributed 74 of the teams final 93 points. Four of the starting five scored in double digits. Eleven of Techs 20 assists also came from the five starters.INSIDE PRESENCEThe Red Raiders outperformed the Huskies in the paint. Tech scored 32 points in the lane. The Huskies had 18.TRANSFER TRIOForward Anthony Livingston, guard Niem Stevenson and guard Shadell Millinghaus made their Red Raider debuts Friday night. The three combined for 37 points.UP NEXTTexas Tech: The Red Raiders host North Texas Tuesday night. The matchup will be the first regular-season game for the Eagles.Houston Baptist: The Huskies will continue their journey on the road when it travels to Albuquerque to take on New Mexico on Monday night.Cheap Air Max 95 . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Nike Air Max 95 Black Mens Sale . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. http://www.wholesale95airmax.com/ . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Air Max 97 Womens Cheap . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Air Max 95 Womens Sale . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate.RIO DE JANEIRO -- The confident talk around the British team before these Olympics was that they would return home with their best ever away-Games medal haul. It was even suggested claiming 48 podium places or more would unite a divided nation.But Adam Peatys spectacular performances in the pool apart, the first few days havent quite lived up to expectations.By teatime in Brazil on Tuesday, after 50 events, only four British entrants had finished in the top three in their disciplines and Team GB were level with Kazakhstan and Thailand in the medal count.Early hopes for Chris Froome and Lizzie Armitstead faded and there have been a series of sorry slips, with David Florence in the C1 canoe slalom final the latest among them on Tuesday.He had won silver in the event in Beijing and finished second in the pairs version of it, the C2, in London. In Rio, pretty much everything that could have gone wrong in the final did as he finished last in a field of 10, nearly 15 seconds behind French winner Denis Chanut Gargaud.Florence claimed the mistakes he made were catastrophic. Four years of preparations and unfortunately that makes it all seem like a little bit of a waste of time, he said.It certainly wasnt the best way to celebrate his 34th birthday, which was on Monday, but at least the world champion in both C1 and C2 disciplines was in good company within Team GB.Geraint Thomas, who crashed in the mens cycling road race, could probably sympathise, and so could Louis Smith, who fell off the pommel horse as Britains men failed to meet expectations in the team gymnastics event.William Fox-Pitt, the main man in the British equestrian squad, also disappointed, taking the blame as the nation missed out on a team eventing medal for the first time since 1996.There is plenty of time for a team full of talented athletes to get things back on track, of course, and the successes of Olympic 100 metre breaststroke champion Peaty and Tom Daley, who took bronze with Dan Goodfellow in the 10m platform synchronised diving on Monday, have been rightly celebrated.Some of those who havent yet tasted success still have chances to come, too, and Florence will have an opportunity to mmake amends in the C2 event, which starts on Thursday.ddddddddddddI can pick myself up, it will be easy -- I have done it loads of times, said Florence, whose wife and parents were among a large and loud group of supporters here. I am more used to disappointment than success.London was very disappointing [when he failed to make the C1 final], today was very disappointing. Hopefully, in a couple of days it wont be as disappointing.The margins are tiny, it comes down to one run. I have no problems for the C2 and will be able to give it my all.Florences attempt to negotiate gates 8, 9 and 10 were where it went wrong for him and he said it was unrecoverable from there.He didnt look for excuses, but if he had a lack of preparation couldnt have been one. The journey to Rio for the Games was the canoeists sixth trip to Brazil, and the British spent a great deal of time and money ensuring their athletes were familiar with the Whitewater Stadium course in Deodoro.Before the Games, Team GB coaches boasted about the comprehensive nature of their approach compared to other nations, and Florence must hope that all that work pays off for him when he competes with partner Richard Hounslow.Florence obviously felt keenly disappointed about his C1 performance but he was reasonably philosophical. The experience of competing in Canoe slalom probably makes all its athletes a little bit like that, given it is as much about not making mistakes as it is about going fast.Hes a pretty logical guy, too, if his mathematical physics degree and previous application to become an astronaut are anything to go by.But what about the people around him: Hounslow and his family and friends? They [my supporters] will be disappointed. Hopefully they have had a good time anyway. They will be here in a couple of days to cheer for the C2 and for the other guys in Team GB.Its up to me really [to pick myself up]. Richard will be there and ready to paddle. I hope he knows I will be ready to give it my all. Hopefully well put in a good run, get to the final, and who knows. ' ' '