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CINCINNATI -- Once Cincinnati applied a little pressure, everything became easy.Jacob Evans III had nine points during a run that put Cincinnati in control midway through the second half, and the 24th-ranked Bearcats overcame cold shooting and a sloppy start to beat Albany 74-51 on Monday night.In the second half, we wanted to come out and play harder, Evans said. We came out and tried to turn up the defense. We scored off our defense.Evans 3-pointer started a 13-2 run that allowed the Bearcats (2-0) to finally shake loose. They went only 5 of 21 from beyond the arc, but Evans finished with 19 points.David Nichols scored 13 points and Joe Cremo had 12 for Albany (1-1), which self-destructed with 22 turnovers -- 11 in each half. Cremo had eight of them.They took the ball out of our hands, Albany coach Will Brown said. They got real physical with us. I think our inexperience on the perimeter as a whole with our starting group showed a little bit today.Cincinnati led only 29-27 at halftime as the Bearcats shot 33 percent from the field and got outrebounded 19-15. There was one tie and 10 lead changes, and neither team could make shots consistently. Cincinnati, however, outscored Albany 40-18 over the final 15 minutes of the game.The scouting report was that they were limited at the point guard position, said guard Troy Caupain, who had four steals. So in practice, we worked on getting after each other.NEW LEADEREvans had 23 points in the opening win, and led the offense again on Monday, asserting himself as a scoring threat in his second season.That takes the pressure off all of us, me included, Caupain said.PESKY DEFENSECincinnati guard Justin Jenifer scored only six points but had three steals and helped to lead the strong closing flourish. Bearcats coach Mick Cronin envisions Jenifer as a defensive specialist who can change the game with pressure on the ball.He has really embraced it, Cronin said. He was like Speedy Gonzalez out there. Thats what hes got to be. I thought Justin really gave us an influx of energy.POLL IMPLICATIONSCincinnati moved into the Top 25 on Monday after a season-opening 84-55 win over Brown. The Bearcats will have a chance to move up -- or get knocked out -- during their upcoming weekend tournament.BIG PICTUREAlbany: The Great Danes opened the season with their first victory over a Big Ten team, winning at Penn State 87-81 on Friday. They kept it close against Cincinnati for more than a half, before their turnovers helped Cincinnati pull away.Cincinnati: The Bearcats have struggled to hit outside shots the last few seasons, relying on their defense to generate points. They had the same issues on Monday, when they pulled away by getting 24 points off turnovers.UP NEXTAlbany: Hosts Oneonta on Wednesday in its first home game.Cincinnati: Plays No. 21 Rhode Island on Saturday in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Tip-Off in Connecticut.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Wholesale Custom Ravens Shirts . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Clarence Moore Jersey . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. http://www.customravensjersey.com/custom...1203d.html . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. 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MONTREAL -- Carey Prices season debut will have to wait a little bit longer.The Montreal Canadiens starting goaltender has missed his teams first two games with illness and, while he skated Monday morning with goaltending coach Stephane Waite after an off-ice workout, he didnt practice with his teammates and wont dress for the Canadiens home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.Backup Al Montoya will make his third straight start.Hes been great, Shea Weber told NHL.com of Montoya. I think you guys have seen how good hes been. Hes been real solid for us. Obviously its a nice guy to have back there when Price is not feeling so well, a guy that can step up and do the job that hes done.The Canadiens (1-0-1) return home after earning three of four points to open the season, including scoring three unanswered goals against the Senators after trailing 2-0 to take the lead before Ottawa tied it late and clinched the extra point in the shootout.Were all looking forward to this game tomorrow, Montoya told NHL.com. Its a new group and were looking forward to stepping in front of the home fans. For me personally, its a chance to play at home in front of great fans in a great building.Those fans will include rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachevs parents and younger sister, who are making the trip from Russia.Its the best moment of my life and of their lives, too, Sergachev, the Canadiens first-round pick (ninth overall) at the 2016 NHL Draft, told the teams website. They put me in hockey. Im their son and theyre so proud of me. This is special.The Penguins (2-0-1) land in Montreal looking to bounce back after a 4-3 setback in overtime on Monday night at PPG Paints Arena. Center Matt Cuullen, who has been filling in on the top line while Sidney Crosby recovers from a concussion, scored his first of the season in the loss.dddddddddddd That upped the 39-year-olds early-season totals to three points, tying him with Evgeni Malkin and youngster Conor Sheary (one goal, two assists each) to lead the defending Stanley Cup champions.Cully just plays the right way, coach Mike Sullivan told the Penguins website after the game. He plays hard. Hes a smart player. His energy doesnt seem to dwindle.Pittsburgh held a 2-0 lead in the first period before falling into penalty trouble, leading to a 5-on-3 goal against, the second one the Penguins have allowed so far this season. They also went down two men in the third period but Marc-Andre Fleury kept the puck out.Weve got to be more responsible with our sticks, Sullivan said to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. We cant put ourselves in position where we give the referees the opportunity to make those type of calls. The timing of a few of them were tough for us.Tuesdays tilt is the first on the road for the Penguins. One question heading into the back-to-back set centered on who will get the nod between the pipes. While Fleury got the nod on Monday, Sullivan hadnt committed to a starter for the second half following the loss. Fleury has historically been the starter in his home province and could get the call again after facing 31 shots against the Avalanche.If not, the Penguins will go with Mike Condon, whom they picked up on waivers from the Canadiens last week. If Condon gets the start, it will be his first in a Penguins uniform. ' ' '