.I think today I, again, played with nerves, Keys said. I h

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Amid all the very-public speculation about where he will be coaching his next game, Tom Herman still was able to motivate his Cougars.He just didnt get the result he wanted.In what might be the sought-after coachs final game with No. 18 Houston, Riley Ferguson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds left in a wild fourth quarter Friday to lift Memphis to a 48-44 win over the Cougars.Herman guided the Cougars (9-3, 5-3 American Athletic Conference, No. 20 CFP) back from a 17-point halftime deficit.We had a decision to make at halftime on whether we were going to give up and give in or if we were going to come out in the second half and fight. Our guys fought, Herman said. Obviously it wasnt quite enough, but I think our guys have a lot to be proud of in terms of how they fought in the second half.Asked by ESPN before the game to address reports that he might be close to a deal with another school, Herman said, Honestly, dont believe anything that you read.Greg Ward gave Houston a 44-41 lead with 1:29 remaining with his fourth TD toss, a 3-yard pass to Chance Allen.But Memphis (8-4, 5-3) drove 72 yards in five plays and snapped a six-game losing streak against Houston after Ferguson found Anthony Miller for a 10-yard touchdown reception with 19 seconds left. The teams combined to score 31 fourth-quarter points.What a game. Im just so very proud of this football team, this coaching staff and everybody associated with our program, said Mike Norvell, the first Tigers coach to lead Memphis to bowl eligibility in his first season. Im so glad the game went the way it did with the ups and the downs, because that provided us with another opportunity to show the heart and the character and how our guys would respond.Houston has a terrific football team. But today our guys would not be denied, he said.Ward was spectacular, completing 47 of 67 passes for 487 yards. He also rushed for a team-high 65 yards.Memphis struck early against a Houston defense that stifled then No. 3-ranked Louisville and Heisman candidate Lamar Jackson in a 36-10 home win last week.The Tigers scored touchdowns on all three of their first-quarter drives, with Ferguson going 12 of 13 for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the quarter. His 67-yard pass to Phil Mayhue gave Memphis the early lead before Doroland Dorceus made it 14-3 with a 2-yard touchdown run.Houston held Louisville to 312 total yards and 18 first downs in its win over the Cardinals last week. By the end of the first quarter Saturday, Memphis had amassed 222 yards and three touchdowns.THE TAKEAWAYHOUSTON: Perhaps all the rumors about Herman were a distraction, Houston struggled early on defense and allowed 555 total yards.MEMPHIS: Memphis was already bowl eligible for the third straight year, marking just the second time in program history it will play in three consecutive bowl games.POLL IMPLICATIONSHouston lost to a team it was favored against for the third time this year, and it could fall out of the Top 25 a week after its dominant win against Louisville.KEY NUMBERSHOUSTON: Linell Bonner was the main recipient of Wards huge passing game, finishing with 17 receptions for 235 yards and a touchdown. Yeah, hes got a knack for getting open in zones and closing catches. He was a huge factor in the game, Herman said of Bonner.MEMPHIS: Miller had 15 receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Before catching the winning touchdown, Miller had a 35-yard touchdown reception that put the Tigers ahead 41-37 with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter.UP NEXTHOUSTON: The Cougars will wait to find out what bowl theyre headed to and whether theyre losing theyre losing Herman. The 10-win goal is still there, Herman said. Im not sure the timing of any loss hurts any worse, but these guys have so much to be proud of. Theyve earned 22 victories in the course of two seasons, 3-0 against Top 25 teams, 2-0 against Top 5 teams. So theres a lot to hang our hat on.MEMPHIS: The Tigers were already out of the running to make the AAC title game, and will wait to find out where theyll play in the postseason. Every bowl game is a reward, Norvell said. Wherever we have the opportunity to go, were gonna be extremely grateful and were gonna prepare to go be victorious. Thats eight wins. We didnt sign up for that. We want to maximize every opportunity, so the next step in front of us is to finish as bowl champions.LAST WORDWe had a slant by Anthony Miller, and it was man (defense). I like Anthony Miller on any corner in the nation. Try and guard him. Good luck. Just threw the ball to him and he did the rest, Ferguson said about hooking up with Miller for the winning touchdown.Discount Air Max Online . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Wholesale Nike Shoes . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. http://www.wholesaleairmax.us/ . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Wholesale Nike Air Max . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Cheap Nike Air Max China . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste.SINGAPORE -- Angelique Kerber helped Dominika Cibulkova reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals on Thursday.Kerber, who had already advanced from the Red Group, beat Madison Keys 6-3, 6-3 to finish 3-0 in the round robin and eliminate her American opponent. Cibulkova beat Simona Halep 6-3, 7-6 (5) earlier in the day, giving her a 1-2 record.The top-ranked Kerber will be playing in the semifinals of the season-ending tournament for the first time after failing to advance in three previous attempts. In 2016, the German won the Australian Open and U.S. Open, and reached the final at Wimbledon.Today I wasnt thinking about that I already was in the semis, Kerber said. It was important to go out to win the match and win all three matches.Now Im going to the semis with three really good matches which gives me a lot of confidence.In the match with Keys, half of the 18 games resulted in service breaks. Kerber broke Keys serve on six of seven offerings, whhile Keys took advantage of three of four break points.dddddddddddd.I think today I, again, played with nerves, Keys said. I have to learn to separate my feelings and emotions when Im in high-stress situation. Its something I need to work on.Keys and Halep, who had her left knee taped for the early match, also finished the group with 1-2 records, but finished behind Cibulkova in the standings.This win is really, really big for me, Cibulkova said. I feel relieved. It seems like Im playing my best tennis under biggest pressure.Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is 2-0 in the White Group, has already qualified for the semifinals. The second semifinal spot from that group will be decided Friday when defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska plays Karolina Pliskova.Garbine Muguruza has already been eliminated from semifinal contention. ' ' '