The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 45

Sunday News Journal, Wilmington, Del. www.delawareonline.com fcijii! today Golf, D2 Auto racing, soccer, D3 NHL, D6 Basketball, D7 Scoreboard, D15 Baseball, D16 Nov. 16, 2003 Section We're looking for folks who play pick-up football games on Thanksgiving. We want to hear about your best games and if you will be playing this Thanksgiving. E-mail sportsdelawareonline.com.

News tips for Sports: 324-2801 or sportsdelawareonline.com Sports editor. Ron Fritz, 324-2919 1 EAGLES NOT FLASHY, BUT STILL WINNING I i -7V INSIDE NFL week 11 preview, D8 Complete preview of today's Eagles-Giants matchup, D9 COMING MONDAY Complete coverage of the Eagles game, plus full coverage of today's NFL action. four of those games in the fourth quarter. "Although we haven't been putting up 30, 40 points a game, we've been in position to win quarterback Donovan McNabb said, "and we've been able to bring it home." Said tackle Jon Runyan: "Good teams find a way to win those close games and bad teams find a way to lose them." One of those nail-biters came a month ago against the Giants, when the Eagles' Brian Westbrook returned a punt 84 yards for the winning touchdown with less than two minutes to play Tiki Barber, the Giants' All-Pro running back, said last week that the Eagles have an important intangible that many teams, including the Giants, lack. third straight division title.

And they're doing it even though they've been hit as hard by injuries as any team in the league. So how have they done it? How has a team that should have one of the worst records in the NFL instead produced one of the best? "Statistics are important, but the one thing statistics can't measure is the heart of a player and the heart of a team," Eagles tight end Chad Lewis said. "We may not have the stats some other teams have, but no team in the league has more heart than the Philadelphia Eagles." And no team has more close victories. The Eagles have won four straight games to climb back into the NFC East race, and they've won them by an average of about five points per game. They trailed in all By KEVIN NOONAN Staff reporter PHILADELPHIA Their quarterback is ranked 28th in the NFL.

Their leading rusher is ranked 33rd. Their leading receiver is ranked 56th. Their offense is 27th in the league and their defense is 16th. They've given up more points than they've scored. Yet, somehow, the Eagles are 6-3 going into today's rematch with the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field.

While supposed contenders like the Giants, Raiders, 49ers, Steelers, Packers and even the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers are struggling with losing records, the Eagles are shooting for their APftte The win over the Giants four weeks ago was one of several ugly See EAGLES D9 victories for the Eagles this season. CAVALIERS 91, 76ERS 88 (OT) BLUE HENS 51, MASSACHUSETTS 45 (3 0T) I 'J WW APMARK DUNCAN The Cavaliers' LeBron James scored 22 points In Cleveland's overtime win over the Sixers. Cavs, James edge 76ers in overtime i "svvA, v- Tne News JoumalWLUAM BRETZGER COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT A GLANCE Delaware's Jamie Rotonda snags a muffed punt on the 2-yard line to set up the Hens' final score In regulation. Overtime thriller brings A-10 title closer (1) Oklahoma 41 (6)Texas 43 Baylor 3 Texas Tech 40 (2) So.Cal. 45 (7) Georgia 26 Arizona 0 Auburn 7 (3KSU 27 (8) Wash.

St 34 Alabama 3 Arizona State 19 (4) Ohio State 16 Penn State 52 (11) Purdue 13 Indiana 7 (5) Michigan 41 Notre Dame 33 Northwestern 10 BYU 14 UMass could not, and that spelled the difference during an afternoon 21,804 Delaware Stadium patrons likely won't forget Coming a week after its first loss of the season at Northeastern, No. 6-ranked Delaware (10-1 overall. 7-1 A-10) presumably clinched its first NCAA Division I-AA playoff bid in three years. Next week's visit to Villanova in the regular-season finale will determine whether Delaware goes as See HENS -011 By KEVIN TRESOLINI Staff reporter NEWARK When the longest game in the University of Delaware's 112-year football history finally concluded Saturday, it was difficult to pinpoint how it happened or recall everything that did happea Clear in the postgame blur, however, was the unmistakable fact that Delaware had won and it didn't happen accidentally BLUE HENS ONLINE For the latest scores, photos and schedules, plus an online discussion with News Journal reporter Kevin Tresolini, go to delawareonline.comudsports The Blue Hens' 51-45 Atlantic 10 victory over Massachusetts required three overtimes, one more than any of the previous 13 overtime games Delaware has played. In the third overtime, Delaware made the plays that Coverage, D10 DSU tastes sweet victory By TOM WITHERS Associated Press CLEVELAND Zydrunas Dgauskas didn't care who was or wasn't wearing a 76ers jersey Four years between victories over Philadelphia was long enough.

Ilgauskas scored 28 points and had a key put-back, assist and blocked shot in overtime as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a 16-game losing streak against the 76ers with a 91-88 win Saturday night. Rookie LeBron James added 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds. The 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas had eight rebounds and a career-high seven assists for the Cavs, who hadn't beaten the 76ers since April 2, 1999, at Philadelphia. "Every win is a good win for us," Ilgauskas said. "We only won 17 games last year, so they're all big.

That's a tough team to beat" James had a huge block with 11 seconds left in overtime for the Cavaliers, who won it with defense down the stretch. With Cleveland clinging to a 90-88 lead, James was caught by a pick in the lane but raced across the floor and swatted away rookie Kyle Korver's jumper from the baseline. "They used Allen Iverson as a decoy," James said. "When Korver got it, I knew he was going to shoot and I just had one of my high school moments." Korver then missed a 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds left, and Kevin Ollie made one of two free throws for Cleveland. Eric Snow's desperation heave at the horn was way off.

The 76ers played without their starting frontcourt for the second straight game. Derrick Coleman, Glenn Robinson and Kenny Thomas sat out because of injuries. Iverson, the NBAs leading scorer, matched a season-low with 19 points on 8-of-29 shooting. After leading the 76ers to a win over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Iverson, who was hounded by Ricky Davis, just didn't have it. "If I have an off-night, I have an off-night," Iverson said.

"But I don't do my teammates any favors if I quit trying. You have to keep fighting and hopefully something will happen at the end. That's the way it nearly went." Marc Jackson had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Sixers, who shot 34 percent. Snow was just 3-for-15 from the field. Iverson made his first field-goal attempt, a layup, but then missed 11 of 12 shots as the 76ers fell behind 41-30 late in the second quarter before Lusing a 13-2 close to three at the half, dump the obligatory Gatorade jugs on teammates and coaches as they savored the taste of a win.

The Hornets (1-9 overall, 1-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) are relieved, to say the least. "This team has been looking for a win, but it felt like it would never come," freshman defensive back Jamel Trott said. "I'm just glad it's over." See HORNETS 01 2 DSU36, NORFOLK STATE 25 terback because of an injury to Keon Frazier, threw three touchdown passes and junior running back Afumiya McFadden rushed for 70 yards and a TD to help DSU avoid its third winless season in program history. It was the Hornets' first victory since Nov. 23, 2002, and gave players a chance to By KRISTIAN POPE Staff reporter DOVER A new-look offense and a dose of luck that had been missing all season enabled Delaware State to break new ground Saturday The Hornets won their first game of the football season, beating Norfolk State 36-25 at Alumni Stadium.

Junior Andre Smith, getting his first start at quar- The News JoumalGARY EMEK3H DSU's William Jones breaks up a pass Intended for Norfolk State's Howard Gilmore. i 1 SCOREBOARD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, D5 Archmere 28 Dickinson 20 St Elizabeth 0 Charter 12 TATNALL WINS STATE SOCCER CKAMPiGNSKiP Thanks to their tough defensive play, the Hornets beat U-time champ SL Mark's in overtime to capture their first state title. Glasgow 19 St Mark's 35 Delcastle 13 CapeHenlopen 12 PAGE D4 Newark 31 Mt Pleasant 4 6 Brandywine 6 Howard 0 Tne News JoumalGINGER WALL.