They made all 12 free throws in the first three quarters, but

FARGO, N.D. -- James Madisons Mike Houston might not be the only Football Championship Subdivision coach to make five-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State the focus of the entire season. Hes probably the most blatant about it.When Houston took over an already solid program last spring, he immediately set about to change the culture and emphasize a physical, aggressive style of play he believed would give his team a shot at ending the Bison reign. The Dukes get that chance Friday night in an FCS semifinal at the Fargodome.In essence, weve built this team to try and go in and win this game, Houston said. Our style of play is something that I hope well be able to go in and challenge them. Certainly they are the standard at the FCS level.The Dukes (12-1) are the top scoring team in FCS with an average of just under 50 points per game. They scored 80 or more points twice and 60 or more points twice, including last weeks 65-7 dismantling of previously unbeaten Sam Houston State, the top-ranked team in FCS polling. The Dukes had a 607-270 advantage in total yardage.There is not anything about us that equates to finesse, soft ... you know, anything along those lines, Houston said. Our kids, when they take the field, theyre going to hit you right in the face. Theyre going to come at you as hard as they can.Sam Houston coach K.C. Keeler said after last weeks game that the Dukes have the ability to beat any team in the country. Keeler said something similar about Jacksonville State last year after the Gamecocks defeated his team in the semifinals. The Bison then pushed around the Gamecocks -- billed as a physical team -- in last years championship.North Dakota State defensive end Brad Ambrosius called the brute force shown by James Madison special, but said its tough to gauge by looking at video.You wont really know how physical they are until you start playing them, Ambrosius said. They claim to be physical, they look like theyre physical, but we wont know until Friday.North Dakota State (12-1) is 18-0 at home in the FCS playoffs and has won 19 straight home playoff games including a 1992 Division II first round victory against Northeast Missouri State in the final game outdoors at Dacotah Field. The Bison moved into the 18,700-seat Fargodome the next season.The Fargodome every year is all over ESPN, North Dakota State is all over ESPN, so finally being able to line up and look those players in the face and to be able to compete with them ... Im very excited, James Madison cornerback Taylor Reynolds said. This is a dream come true. Were looking to go into North Dakota State and win.Said North Dakota State fullback Chase Morlock, We welcome them into the dome. Come up here and lets tee it off. They are not going to be intimidated. Its going to take a solid effort to go out and get these guys.The Dukes are the only team in the final four the Bison have yet to play this season. They defeated Eastern Washington 50-44 in September and Youngstown State 20-3 in November, both times in the Fargodome. The last two teams standing advance to the national championship Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.It has been one tough game after another. We have been beat up, we have been beat down, we have come back, Ambrosius said. We just have to keep doing what were doing. Were used to his kind of thing.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Cheap College Jerseys From China . 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Wholesale College Jerseys .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Cheap NCAA Football Jerseys . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. DALLAS -- Wesley Matthews shot the Dallas Mavericks back into the win column.Matthews scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, including eight during a rally that gave Dallas the lead for good, and the Mavericks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 91-81 on Sunday night to end an eight-game losing streak.Im never worried about my shot, Matthews said. I know the time I put into it. I know the confidence that I have, and I know the team has confidence in me.He made all four field goal attempts, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, in the fourth quarter.Matthews made a 3-pointer and another basket to give Dallas a 72-71 edge with 5:39 remaining. New Orleans regained the lead on Anthony Davis two free throws, but for the last time because Matthews made another 3-pointer.His shot-making in the fourth was huge, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. He popped the game open and gave us some separation.He has an iron will. He just stayed into it.Dallas improved to 3-13, still the NBAs worst record.Games like that, a couple of weeks ago we would have hung our heads, let a lead slip and let the team slip, Matthews said. But we held our ground, we stayed firm.Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 23 points. Justin Anderson scored 14 off the bench.The Pelicans, who lost eight straight to begin the season, fell to 6-12.They outplayed us. They deserved to win. Thats the thought. Thats all that needs to be said, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.Davis, who had 36 points and 13 rebounds, was more expansive.We werent doing what our game plan was, he said. Harrison and Wes got a couple shots. It was our defense that killed us tonight.Jrue Holiday had 17 points and six assists for New Orleanss.ddddddddddddNeither team led by more than two points during the games first 10 minutes. Dallas had an 11-0 run to go from trailing 17-15 to a 26-17 lead.Davis scored 13 of New Orleans first 17 points, including 10 in a row.Dallas led 44-42 at halftime, and the game was tied at 60-all after three quarters.In the fourth, Holiday gave the Pelicans their biggest lead, six points at 68-62, with two 3-pointers.TIP-INSPelicans: They made all 12 free throws in the first three quarters, but Davis missed two of six in the fourth. . The Pelicans were without F Dante Cunningham (fractured right fibula) and G/F Tyreke Evans (right knee injury). New Orleans recalled F Cheick Diallo from Austin of the D-League, but he did not play.Mavericks: The 10-point winning margin was the largest lead in the game. . After shooting 38 percent from the floor in the first three quarters, Dallas was 10 for 17 (58 percent) in the fourth. The 3-point shooting improved from 25 to 67 percent (4 for 6).NOWITZKI OUTF Dirk Nowitzki (strained right Achilles tendon) did not play. He played in Dallas previous two games, but has missed 11 of their 16 games this season.Getting him better is going to have to take it incrementally, Carlisle said. Its not as if there was any great setback. Its not the right thing to play him tonight.UP NEXTPelicans: Return home to play the Lakers on Tuesday. New Orleans lost at home to Los Angeles 126-99 on Nov. 12 to fall to 1-9.Mavericks: Finish a brief two-game homestand on Wednesday against the Spurs. The Mavericks lost 96-91 at San Antonio on Nov. 21. ' ' '