The 6-foot-8 forward has gone from the Oranges

NEW YORK -- C.J. Fair didnt have many chances to be the main option for Syracuse last season. Now he has plenty. The 6-foot-8 forward has gone from the Oranges fourth option to No. 1, and he showed why Sunday in a 68-63 victory over St. Johns at Madison Square Garden. "We went to C.J., and he made a couple of tough plays. Shots that had to be made," coach Jim Boeheim said. "Hes been a key player. He wasnt our first option last year but hes always made big shots, big plays for us. We had other guys but he was developing. Hes going to get the ball and these opportunities, and hes prepared for that." Fair hit three big shots from the same spot -- about 15 feet from the basket on the right baseline. The smooth left-handed shooter tied the game from there at 58 with 6:51 to go, then he made two more in the final 3 minutes as the second-ranked Orange (10-0) were able to open a lead as big as seven points. "Im very comfortable on the baseline. I guess thats what you say is my sweet spot," he said. Since 1979, this had always been a Big East Conference game. Syracuse is now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and St. Johns remained in the Big East. The majority of the crowd of 16,357 was rooting for Syracuse, something they used to get to do during the Big East tournament. Now, it will be a rare visit to Madison Square Garden for the Orange. "It was a great game at the Garden," Boeheim said. Fair and freshman guard Tyler Ennis both scored 21 points to lead the Orange. Ennis had 15 points in the first half as Syracuse took a 39-27 lead. The Red Storm (6-3) chipped away and were able to tie it at 53 on three free throws by Rysheed Jordan with 9:16 to go. There were then four lead changes and three ties as Syracuse became the second highly ranked team to escape this weekend. No. 1 Arizona beat Michigan 72-70 on Saturday. Ennis was "really unbelievable" in the first half, Boeheim said. "In the second half they did a much better job on him," he said. "As a freshman point guard, he is playing better than any I ever had, and Ive had a few pretty good freshman guards. If he played like a freshman, wed be 7-3. Hes been the difference in our team." DAngelo Harrison led St. Johns with 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting, including 1 of 5 from 3-point range. Jordan had a career-high 13 points for the Red Storm and JaKarr Sampson added 12. Jerami Grant scored 14 points for the Orange. This was Syracuses first true road game this season. It was the Oranges ninth straight win in the series that Syracuse leads 51-37. The Red Storm missed their first 10 attempts from 3-point range and were 1 of 15 overall. They were coming off a 104-58 victory over Fordham in which they shot 60 per cent on 3s. "The last four minutes of a game is where Syracuse separates itself," St. Johns coach Steve Lavin said. "I was very disappointed with the first half, happy with the first 16 minutes of the second half, and I really didnt like the finish. We didnt execute and didnt play with any purpose at all." Lavin referred to turnovers, forced shots and some missed free throws. The Red Storm missed four straight foul shots after taking a 60-58 lead. They were 20 for 26 from the line overall. "It hurts to lose but it hurts to lose to Syracuse in particular," Harrison said. "Certain things that you can take away from the last four minutes of the game, thats what we will watch the most." Nick Bosa 49ers Jersey . Then Klay Thompson put his foot on the gas. Thompson scored 19 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and Harrison Barnes scored 14 points in his season debut to help the Golden State Warriors to a 106-93 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Joe Montana 49ers Jersey . LUCIE, Fla. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-George-Kittle-Jersey/ .com) - Top seed Klara Zakopalova reached the second round, while former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone came up a loser Tuesday at the inaugural Rio Open tennis event. Joe Montana Womens Jersey . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing. Dwight Clark 49ers Jersey . Martin Reway and David Griger both recorded four points with a goal and three assists each. Mario Lunter, Daniel Gachulinec and Stanislav Horansky also scored for Slovakia (1-0). Dominik Kahun had both goals for Germany (0-2), who lost its opening match to Canada 7-2 on Thursday.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - New team. Same old brash and bold Rex Ryan.The Buffalo Bills new coach opened his inaugural news conference with the team Wednesday by tapping the microphone and saying: Is this thing on? Because its getting ready to be on.Outlining his objectives, Ryan said the job is his last chance to prove himself. He vowed to build the Bills into a bully and said he has an additional chip on his shoulder after being fired by the New York Jets.Yes, its personal, he said, about being fired. Its embarrassing.Despite having a grudge against the Jets, Ryan maintained the New England Patriots remain the AFC East team he wants to beat the most.Though he stopped short of guaranteeing Buffalo winning a Super Bowl, Ryan did guarantee winning a championship as being his sole pursuit.Were not afraid of it, Ryan said. My message to the players is get ready. Were going to be playing games in January and so forth. Were going to build a bully and were going to see if youre going to play us for 60 minutes.The entertaining, provocative front comes as the Bills search for relevance and under new owners Terry and Kim Pegula, who bought the team in October. Though coming off a 9-7 season, which matched Buffalos best finish in 10 years, the team still missed the playoffs to extend the NFLs longest active drought to 15 seasons.Ryan spent six seasons with the Jets, where he went 50-52, including 4-2 in the playoffs. He was fired along with general manager John Idzik following a 4-12 finish.He replaces second-year coach Doug Marrone, who surprised the Bills by opting out of his contract on Dec. 31.Ryan made a veiled reference to Marrones departure by saying: This football team deserves a loyal coach.Terry Pegula shares Ryans confidence and aggressive approach.We want the Buffalo Bills to be a nightmare to play against, he said.After interviewing 12 candidates, Pegula hired someone with previous head-coaching experience to take over a team he considers on the verge of being a contender.Ryans background is on defence. He inherits a unit that has been among the NFLs most aggressive over the past two years. Last season, Buffalo finished fourth in yards allowed, led tthe league with 54 sacks and produced three Pro Bowl linemen.ddddddddddddMany members of Ryans defensive staff with the Jets are expected to fill vacancies in Buffalo. That includes Dennis Thurman taking over as co-ordinator to succeed Jim Schwartz, whose contract was terminated by the Bills on Tuesday.Ryan intends to retain Bills defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson. The Bills announced special teams co-ordinator Danny Crossman is staying.Ryans biggest challenge is on offence, and a unit that finished 26th in yards gained.Kyle Orton, who replaced second-year starter EJ Manuel five games into the season, said he intends to retire, leaving Manuel as the only experienced quarterback currently on the Bills roster.Ryan said he and his staff — including newly hired offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman — are beginning to evaluate the roster and its too early to make any determination.Ryan and Roman share a run-first-philosophy.Ryan is no stranger to Buffalo. His father, Buddy Ryan, previously served as the University at Buffalos defensive co-ordinator in the 1960s.Rex Ryan and his two brothers spent their teen years in Toronto, a two-hour drive from Buffalo. Ryan avidly followed the Bills because many games were broadcast across Southern Ontario.He listed off many former Bills greats from the 1960s and 70s, including fullback Cookie Gilchrist, Hall of Fame offensive guard Billy Shaw, and an offensive line dubbed The Electric Company, which paved the way for O.J. Simpson.Ryan spent his first day getting a literal taste of Buffalo after flying into town Tuesday morning.He had a beer with Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly at bar near Ralph Wilson Stadium. Later, he was in a suite to watch the Pegulas other team, the NHLs Sabres, retire former star goalie Dominik Haseks No. 39 before losing to the Detroit Red Wings.Ryan grew up a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, but noted hes changing allegiances.If Bruce Gamble was still in the net for the Leafs, maybe Id be a Leafs guy, Ryan said, referring to the goalie who played in Toronto in the late 1960s and early 70s. But Im a Sabre all the way.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '