Funkerstation » . ... Xavier missed its last 12 3-pointer

RIO DE JANEIRO -- David Rudisha glanced to his left twice as he came around the final bend, waiting for the challenge to come. It didnt. He didnt let it.The world-record holder surged across the line to retain his Olympic title in the 800 meters Monday. He gave no one else a chance and became the first man in more than half a century to win back-to-back golds over two laps at the Games.This is one of my greatest moments, to come here and defend my title, Rudisha said. There is nothing as great for an athlete as to maintain his performance.Rudisha won in 1 minute, 42.15 seconds, nothing on the incredible 1:40.91 he produced for his wire-to-wire win in London four years ago. But this was always going to be about the medal and not the clock, especially after a heavy downpour earlier in the evening left Rudisha and the others with a damp track at the Olympic Stadium. If theres one thing the Kenyan hates, its running in the wet.Rudisha still finished well ahead of Algerias Taoufik Makhloufi, who ran a national-record time of 1:42.61 to add an 800 silver to his gold in the 1,500 at the previous Olympics. Clayton Murphy powered through in the final 50 meters for bronze and a personal best of 1:42.93, overtaking Frances Pierre-Ambroise Bosse on his way to a long-awaited podium finish for the U.S. It was the first medal in the 800 for an American since Johnny Gray in 1992.Super exciting to race him, Murphy said of Rudisha, and hopefully not the last time I get to race him.Rudisha smiled at the end, a broad, beaming smile, relieved maybe after what started as a trying season. He lost a couple of times in the Diamond League and was beaten into third -- third! -- at the Kenyan trials. He freely offered up hugs to the other medalists as he draped the red, black and green Kenyan flag across his shoulders once again.His legacy as one of the greatest 800 runners was pretty firm already, but he cemented it in Rio de Janeiro. Rudisha, 27, has now won four of the past five major titles, and the only one missing -- the 2013 worlds -- he was injured for.With no strong challenger coming at him -- not in this race, and not in any general sense -- Rudisha has the potential to make history with a third straight gold in four years in Tokyo.He wants to be the best. He is the best at it. He knows hes the best, said American Boris Berian, who was eighth. Its that confidence right there. He takes it out, and he has that confidence to hold on.Rudishas teammate, Alfred Kipketer, set a fast pace from the start -- like a bullet, Rudisha said -- and the defending champion had to hold himself back from getting into an early scrap. Instead, Rudisha waited for the back straight to stretch out his long legs and move past Kipketer. He built a cushion, not a big one, but he never seemed likely to get caught. Those two quick looks to the left as he approached the home straight let him know that he had it.Peter Snell of New Zealand was the last man to retain his Olympic title in the 800, and he did so at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Some formidable recent 800 runners, including current IAAF president Sebastian Coe and Wilson Kipketer, didnt win once in the 800 at the Olympics. Coe, an Olympic champion in the 1,500, consistently says Rudisha is one of the best athletes the sport has had.For Rudisha, this victory was confirmation, if he needed it, that hes deserving of such praise from former champions. Rudisha himself could be confirmation that Kenyas distance-running culture of grass-roots talent and hard work is not being taken over by doping.The Olympics comes only every four years, Rudisha said. It means you have to be very disciplined, dedicated, focused and do the right thing to get here.Devin Booker Jersey . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Shaquille ONeal Suns Jersey . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/jamal-crawford-suns-jersey/ . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Richaun Holmes Suns Jersey Dan Majerle Jersey . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup.LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. --Edmond Sumners free throw with 0.3 seconds left in overtime gave the Musketeers an 83-82 win over Missouri in the opening round of the Tire Pros Invitational on Thursday. He was fouled after Xavier inbounded near midcourt, after a heady timeout that Macura called to give his team a chance to set something up at the end.Sumner was fouled by Missouris Terrence Phillips as both went for the ball along the sideline on the deciding play. He missed the first one short, then rattled in the second for the win.Frankie Hughes scored 24 points for Missouri (1-1), and Kevin Puryear finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Phillips scored seven of his 21 points in overtime for Missouri, which never got off a desperation shot after Sumners deciding free throw.I think he was just being aggressive, Missouri coach Kim Anderson said. Im sure hed love to take it back, but you know what? He made a lot of great plays to get us to where we were, so if it wasnt for that it wouldnt come down to that play.Missouri led by 10 in the first half and held the lead most of the second half, but needed to scramble both late in regulation and then from an early five-point deficit in overtime. Missouri went on a 7-0 run late to grab the lead, but Macura made two free throws with 17.8 seconds remaining to tie the ggame for the 15th and final time.ddddddddddddA great basketball game, first of all, Anderson said. I thought our guys did a lot of great things and played one of the top 10 or 15 teams in the country toe-to-toe.BIG PICTUREXavier: It was the second time in three games that the Musketeers were put to the test -- they beat Lehigh 84-81 to open the season last week. ... Xavier missed its last 12 3-pointers, shooting 2 for 22 in the game from long range.Missouri: Hughes is averaging 23.5 points after two games. Only 10 Missouri players have managed to go their entire freshman season averaging more than 10 points. ... The Tigers were outrebounded 52-39.HELLO, AGAINThis is the third straight season that Xavier and Missouri have played.Xavier won 74-58 at Missouri on Dec. 13, 2014, in the start of what was going to be a two-game series, and prevailed again at home 78-66 exactly one year before this meeting -- Nov. 17, 2015.Missouri will be in that position with another non-conference foe later this season, when it meets Arizona for the third consecutive year.UP NEXTXavier: Faces Clemson in the tournament semifinals Friday.Missouri: Faces Davidson in the consolation semifinals Friday. ' ' '