LAS VEGAS -- St. Marys is used to playing in the Orleans Arena every March, having been there annually since 2009 for the West Coast Conference Tournament.Due to scheduling conflicts, the 15th-ranked Gaels got an early season look at the venue on Sunday, and earned a 76-63 victory over UAB.They werent coming to our place and we werent going there and we decided to play in Vegas -- everybody likes to go to Vegas to play games this time of year, St. Marys coach Randy Bennett said. It was good for us. It was a good basketball game in non-conference and I think itll help us down the road.I think itll help us resume wise, and I think itll help us just as a team, playing against a team that athletic and that big. Theyre used to winning, they dont go away. So, we had to play well and we did play well.Jock Landale scored 20 points to lead No. 15 St. Marys (5-0). He was 9 of 11 from the field.In doing a much better job of not getting beat off the dribble, something Bennett was looking for in the Gaels stopover in Las Vegas, they did a good job of limiting UABs shot selection at key moments. The defensive stops allowed St. Marys to go on significant runs to keep the Blazers well behind.The Gaels outscored UAB (3-3) 30-16 during a 14-minute stretch in the first half to open their largest lead of the game, 40-23.We had some good stretches, and we need more of them, Bennett said. We played 40 minutes tonight, we probably had 25 minutes of what I thought was good defense. Thats got to be closer to 37 or 38 minutes, thats where we need to get. We were closer to that last year and we have to get back there.The Blazers wouldnt go away, however, as they came out of the locker room and used a 16-7 run to cut the lead to seven, at 50-43 with 14:33 left. But the Gaels used a 13-3 run of their own, ignited by three consecutive 3-pointers, to push the lead back to double digits, at 63-46 with 9:29 remaining.Though it is just five games into the season, St. Marys looked in mid-season form for most of the game, with solid ball movement and noticeable chemistry the Blazers are still looking for without junior point guard Nick Norton, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL.We get along so well on and off the court and I think that adds to our trust factor, Landale said. We never really doubt each other to make the shot or an open play. We just get how each one of us operates individually and it makes things a lot easier.Emmett Naar, Stefan Gonzalez and Calvin Hermanson each scored 12 points for the Gaels. They were 27 of 52 (.519) from the field, including 50 percent (13 of 26) from 3-point range. St. Marys also hit all nine of its free throws.Meanwhile, the Blazers continue to struggle without Norton, who came into his third year as a starter but was lost for the season just 15 minutes into the season-opener.The Blazers shot 47 percent from the field, hitting 26 of 55, and were led by Chris Cokley, who had a season-high 20 points. Deion Lavender also had a season high with 12.I was proud of the way we fought back and competed and made it a good game, but weve been doing that and weve shown flashes, UAB coach Rob Ehsan said. Were going to have to figure out how to play consistently at a higher level, and I think were still learning that against the best teams in the country.BIG PICTUREThe undefeated Gaels look to finish the opening month unscathed this week, and then will enjoy five straight home games to start December. Given their competition, and their slate from Dec. 8-22, its conceivable St. Marys can open West Coast Conference play 11-0.RESERVE MINUTESBennett said he plans to utilize his reserves much more starting with the next game, with hopes of giving quality minutes to Tanner Krebs, Jordan Ford, Dane Pineau, Jordan Hunter to get their confidence up in time for conference play.The first five games have been pretty tough, so its been hard to be liberal with the substitutions, he said. We have another tough one with Stanford on Wednesday, but I think we can get some guys that are on the bench in the game.UP NEXTSt. Marys: At Stanford on Wednesday night.UAB: Host Alabama A&M on Tuesday night. Air Max 97 Pas Cher Chine . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Air Max 97 Blanche Pas Cher .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. http://www.maxnikepascher.fr/destockage-air-vapormax/vapormax-plus.html . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Air Max 90 2019 Pas Cher . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Air Max 97 Homme Pas Cher . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Curtis Samuel was taking a subway -- after taking the bus -- to football practice in high school, he never doubted he was talented enough to play at a top program such has Ohio State.His only concern was whether the Buckeyes would find him in Brooklyn.With the help of a family that kept his priorities straight and a well-connected high school coach, Samuel went from hearing the rumble of the elevated subway train next to Sid Luckman Field to the roar of 100,000 Ohio State fans at the Horseshoe.Samuel has emerged as No. 6 Ohio States most dangerous offensive weapon in his junior season. Playing the hybrid receiver-running back position that Percy Harvin once filled for Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer on a national championship team at Florida, Samuel is having a Harvin-type season. He is averaging 137 yards from scrimmage per game, 9.5 per touch, with eight touchdowns.That Samuel has performed so well in this role should be no surprise. He has been playing it since high school. Erasmus Hall coach Danny Landburg was first told about Samuel by Curtis stepfather, Roy Armstead, when Curtis was 7 years old and playing Pop Warner.Samuels talent was easy to spot. He was hurdling fences for the heck of it and outrunning all the other kids.I never knew I was fast. But everybody said I was fast. That was really exciting to hear that, Samuel said.For Nicole Samuel, Curtis mom, football was at first just a way to get her energetic son out of their apartment.Curtis walked at 7 months. From 7 months on he was moving around. He was flipping. He was talking a lot. He was just busy. All the time, Nicole Samuel said.Curtis older cousin, Rashaun Samuel, played football and Rashauns mother suggested to Nicole that it would be a good outlet for Curtis.He was unbelievable, Nicole said. And from then he just took off.Landburg could see a future Harvin or Reggie Bush.At first he said. `Im a running back, Landburg said. I said, `No, youre more than just a running back. His body type is not the type you want to pound 20 times a game.The 5-foot-11, 197-pound Curtis Samuel broke his ankle during practice when he was a sophomore in high school and watched from the bench at Yankee Stadium as Erasmus Hall lost the city championship. He vowed to make up for it and led Erasmus to the title as a junior.Sid Luckman Field, named after the Brooklyn native and Erasmus Hall alum who went on to become a Hall of Fame quarterback for the Chicago Bears in the 1940s, is a very different setting from those in which many four- and five-star recruits play in under Friday night lightss.ddddddddddddFirst off, most of Erasmus Halls games are played Saturday afternoon. And the best way to get to the game is mass transit. A quarterback with a decent arm could stand on the midfield logo at Luckman Field and hit the F train with a football as it rattles by every five minutes or so.Samuel said ignoring the trains was easy during games. It was harder during a four-hour practice. Its like right next to you. Its real loud.The commute from Erasmus Hall in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn to Sid Luckman is about 25 minutes, Samuel said, if the buses and subway are running on time. After practice, it was another 40 minutes to get home.Im thinking in my head, a kid from New York City is not going to get a look from a big-time school like that, Samuel said.Generally, recruiters dont find many blue chips in the Big Apple. In Samuels recruiting class he was one of two New York City players, both from Brooklyn, to make Rivals.coms list of the top 250 players in the country. The 2017 class has one New York City player in the top 250.Landburg made sure Samuel was not overlooked. He knew Meyers offense was the perfect fit for Samuels skills, and Samuel was good enough to get Meyer to come to Brooklyn.I actually love Brooklyn, Meyer said. Love the delis there. He liked it so much he went back for freshman safety Jahsen Wint, another Erasmus Hall alum.Meyer said he never worried about Samuel making the transition to Columbus.There was no doubt once you got to know ... who was surrounding him, Meyer said.Nicole Samuel said her son is fortunate to have numerous positive role models from his father, Curtis Council, to cousin Rashaun to Armstead. Though its the women in Curtis Samuels life that have been inspirational.A lot of kids dont make it out of New York City or Brooklyn just playing sports, Samuel said. Theres a bunch of other distractions they get into. My mother kept me level-headed and on the right path. I love her to death for that.Samuel calls his 28-year-old sister, Denisha, his rock and heart. Denisha calls Curtis her little big brother.I went (to Columbus) for the game (last) Saturday, and I took the bus back by myself. Hes like, `When you get back make sure you call my phone no matter what time it is, Denisha said.Samuel said he misses Brooklyn and his family -- even all those bus and subway rides.What does he like best about Columbus? I really love the fans, he said.It certainly beats listening to the F train go by. ' ' '