Houston steals NCAA bid with upset of UTEP in C-USA final

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/13/2010 - Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kelvin Lewis stepped up with 28 points and drained six three-pointers, as the Houston Cougars claimed their first Conference USA Tournament title and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992 with an 81-73 victory over No. 25 UTEP.

Aubrey Coleman, the nation's leading scorer, struggled with a 4-for-20 showing from the field to end with 13 points. Lewis, though, hit 11-of-15 shots and 6- of-10 three-point attempts, while Zamal Nixon chipped in 13 points.

The seventh-seeded Cougars (19-15) shot 12-of-25 from beyond the arc to book a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since winning the Southwest Conference in 1992. They were subsequently knocked out in the first round of the NCAAs by Georgia Tech.

Randy Culpepper had 20 points and Derrick Caracter provided 18 with nine rebounds for UTEP (26-6), which had run off 16 straight wins since a loss to Houston back on January 13.

The top-seeded Miners self-destructed down the stretch with turnovers on three of four possessions going into the final minute, handing the Cougars a six- point lead on a pair of fast-break buckets on the last two.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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