COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- A defensive approach is beginning to pay dividends for the Colorado Rapids. "We always knew that we had to be a good defence," coach Oscar Pareja said. "We knew that if we played good defence, we would find ways to score goals." The blueprint was in play in a 2-0 win over Chivas USA on Saturday night. "Our defence was one of our weaknesses we had last year," Pareja said. "What we put in our players minds was that we needed to defend better, be solid defensively and the goals would come." Atiba Harris scored in the 11th minute and Nathan Sturgis added a late goal for Colorado (5-4-4), which extended its unbeaten streak to five matches (3-0-2). "Defence is what you build your team off of," Sturgis said. "You try to finish (your scoring chances) and the last couple of games we have put teams away." The Rapids are unbeaten in six home games against Chivas USA, and have eight wins and two ties in their last 10 against the Los Angeles club overall since losing on March 21, 2009. Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin is 5-2-4 with five shutouts since taking over for injured Matt Pickens, who is out several months because of a broken right forearm. Chivas USA (3-6-2) has been outscored 13-1 in four straight losses. "Weve had a lot of roster moves to make and these arent my players," said Chivas coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola. "One player plays a 4-4-2 and another plays a different system and it will take time." Neither team had a shot on goal until Christopher Klute found Harris behind the defence in the 11th minute. The defences dominated play for most of opening half. Chivas USAs offence came alive over a seven-minute stretch, getting free for several shots. Gabriel Farfan broke free from just outside the penalty box, but had his shot sail into the stands in the 22nd minute. Bobby Burlings shot went off the side of the goal and Farfan had a shot easily handled by Irwin, who made only one save in the half. Colorado was aggressive enough to draw fouls and two yellow cards in the waning moments of the half. Scoring chances remained at a premium in the second half. Deshorn Brown broke free for a shot that was deflected wide of the right post in the 56th minute Irwin made an easy save on a shot by Eric Avila in the 69th. Brown set up Sturgis goal in the 78th minute. The win completed a season series sweep by the Rapids, who also won the April 13th meeting 1-0. "We have given up too many goals in as many weeks and it hasnt been good for us," Burling said. "It is a tough stretch and only the people in the locker room can change it."Ingrosso Salomon . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Sconti Salomon . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. http://www.scontatesalomon.it/ . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Salomon Saldi . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Salomon Scarpe Saldi . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period.EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Before Ohio State could move on to next weekends showdown with Michigan, the Buckeyes had to deal with a different nemesis.As usual, Michigan State gave Urban Meyers team all it could handle.Mike Weber ran for 111 yards and a touchdown, and No. 2 Ohio State held off Michigan State 17-16 on Saturday after the upset-minded Spartans missed a 2-point conversion with 4:41 remaining.Tough day at the office right there, Meyer said. Well take the win against a team that we know very well and on the road in November. Were 10-1 and getting ready for rivalry week.Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, No. 2 CFP) can now focus on Michigan, but only after withstanding a spirited challenge from a Michigan State team that derailed the Buckeyes national title bids in two of the previous three seasons. The Spartans (3-8, 1-7) were down 17-10 when LJ Scott scored on a 1-yard run with 4:41 to play. Michigan State went for the lead, but Tyler OConnors pass on the 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted in the end zone.All week long Id said that, hey, if we get close at the end of the game, were going for 2, and were going to take an aggressive approach and play to win the football game rather than to tie, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. They had us covered up on that particular play, so good job by them.The Spartans got the ball back one more time, at their own 20 with 2:04 remaining. Tyquan Lewis sacked OConnor on the first play, and then Gareon Conley intercepted him on the second.Scott ran for 160 yards and also scored on a 64-yard catch-and-run in the first minute of the game, but the Ohio State defense didnt allow much more after that. J.T. Barrett threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel in the first quarter, and the game was tied at 10 at halftime.Webers 4-yard TD run in the third gave the Buckeyes the lead for good.THE TAKEAWAYOhio State: The Buckeyes had to claw their way to this win, but it was still a sweet one against the team that has given them more trouble than any in recent seasons. Michigan State beat Ohio State in the 2013 Big Ten title game and again late in the regular season last year. Ohio States stellar pass defense was the difference. OConnorr and Damion Terry were a combined 8 of 21 with two interceptions for the Spartans.ddddddddddddMichigan State: Dantonios team threw everything it had at Ohio State, executing a successful fake punt in the fourth quarter and later going for 2 when an extra point would have tied it. The Spartans fell just short in the end, unable to establish any consistent offensive threats aside from Scott.The 2-point conversion may be second-guessed in the days to come, but OConnor said the team was on board with it.We dont play for second place, obviously, OConnor said. Everybody was all in on going for it.POLL IMPLICATIONSOhio State: The Buckeyes trailed only top-ranked Alabama coming into this weekend, but the bigger concern for them is their playoff position. Even if Ohio State beats Michigan, it could lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with Penn State for the division title.TOUGH SLEDDINGMichigan State managed only 127 yards passing, over half of it on one play. Ohio State wasnt very productive through the air either. Barrett went 10 of 22 for 86 yards on a windy day that included sporadic snow flurries. The Spartans, who had only seven sacks coming into the game, had three against Ohio State.MILESTONEWeber became the third Ohio State freshman to reach 1,000 yards rushing. Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002) were the other two.It means a lot, he said. It was a goal that I had set at the beginning of the year. My offensive line executed and made it happen.GREAT SCOTTScott had 236 total yards, including a highlight-reel play in the third quarter when he hurdled an Ohio State defender near the sideline.UP NEXTOhio State: The Buckeyes have lost only once in their last 12 meetings with Michigan. Ohio State will be at home next weekend, where it has not lost to Michigan since 2000.Michigan State: The Spartans play at Penn State next weekend, meaning they could have another chance to play spoiler in the Big Ten title race.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '