Canberras NRL title quest has received a boost with five-eighth Blake Austin set to return from a broken hand next week.Austin on Tuesday resumed running with the side just over two weeks after fracturing two fingers and having two plates surgically implanted following a training mishap in which he was manhandled by Paul Vaughan.The sight of Austin running and passing with the side set off rumours he was set to be a surprise inclusion for Saturdays qualifying final against Cronulla.And while Austin said he wanted to turn out at Canberra Stadium for week one of the finals, he was told by his surgeon to cool his heels.Instead Austin told AAP he was confident of being back for his sides next clash, which will either be next week or in a fortnight, depending on their result against the Sharks.I was twisting (the surgeons) arm about returning this week, Austin said at the Fox Sports launch of the NRL finals on Thursday.I was backing myself to play this week but it wasnt the smart thing to do.Ill just have to sit back and watch and whether its next week or the week after, Id be confident that I could play.Austin was full of praise for his fill-in Sam Williams, who didnt miss a beat in Sundays 52-10 smashing of the Wests Tigers.Stuck behind Austin and Aidan Sezer in the Raiders pecking order, Williams has spent most of the season in reserve grade.Williams is off contract at the end of this year and Austin said rival clubs would be foolish not to try to sign him.Hes starting half quality and hes in a spot where hes spent most of the season in premier league, Austin said.Im sure hed compliment a lot of teams. Whether he sticks around at the Raiders or moves on, I think clubs would be silly not to have a look at him.Austin revealed he was injured trying to take on 110kg prop Vaughan in a wrestling drill, only to be tossed around like a rag doll.We were wrestling on the mats and I came in to tackle big Paul Vaughan and he threw me off pretty easily and a few of the boys giggled, Austin said.As Im falling, I put my hand out, I got my fingers caught in the wrong spot. Gary Jennings Jr. Youth Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Patrick Kerney Seahawks Jersey . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. http://www.seahawksfansofficial.com/richard-sherman-jersey/ . 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NEW YORK -- To recover from a disappointing last second home loss at Hartford, Boston College had to rebound emotionally and literally.The Eagles sure did.Nik Popovic ended a terrific night of rebounding for Boston College by tipping in a missed layup from Ky Bowman with two-tenths of a second remaining Monday night to lift the Eagles to a dramatic 72-71 win over Auburn in the Under Armour Reunion at Madison Square Garden.Theyre so athletic, that was a big key for us, Boston College coach Jim Christian said. We had to keep them off the boards but I thought with some of our length and size we could get to boards.Coming off the frustrating one-point loss on Saturday, the Eagles (5-5) held a commanding a 49-32 rebounding advantage. Boston College had 14 offensive boards and none were bigger than the one Popovic grabbed as the buzzer neared.Auburn held a 71-70 lead on two free throws by Danjel Purifoy with 7.5 seconds remaining and Boston College went the length of the court. Bowman drove the lane, missing the layup and Popovic was in perfect position.The tip-in was exciting, Robinson said. It was a feeling Ive never had before. It was awesome and for it to happen in this kind of building, it makes it even sweeter.After getting through multiple defenders, Popovic positioned himself at the left side of the hoop and tipped it in. Following a brief review, the game ended when Purifoys inbounds pass eluded Mustapha Heron.If we outrebound, we probably would have won that game, no question, Purifoy said. They outrebounded us and they won the game.The rebounding advantage was significant, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. I knew Boston College would be a good physical team and the fact they dominated the glass was a factor. As a result, they won the game on an offensive rebound it almost stands to reason.Robinson, who was held to four points and shot 2-of-13 Saturday, led the Eagles with 23 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Robinson never touched the ball on the final possession and nearly gave the Eagles a 71-69 lead with 31.5 seconds remaining but his jumper was waved off when a timeout was called.Purifoy scored a career-high 27 points for Auburn (6-2), which was making its first trip to Madison Square Garden aand had most of the seats filled with its orange-clad fans.ddddddddddddBoston College led by 10 early in the first half and Auburn took its first lead at 61-60 on a tip-in by Anfernee McLemore with 6:48 left. The Tigers tied the game at 64 on a deep 3-pointer by Jared Harper nearly three minutes later.The Tigers took their second lead at 67-65 on an uncontested 3-pointer by Purifoy with 2:48 remaining. The lead was 69-65 when Heron drove through the lane with 2:01 remaining but the Eagles forged a 69-69 deadlock on a hook shot by Popovic with 58.5 seconds left.After Robinsons shot was waved off, Turner was fouled by Horace Spencer with 19.1 seconds left and hit a free throw, setting up the late dramatics.BIG PICTURE:BOSTON COLLEGE: The Eagles are looking to get others besides Jerome Robinson to score consistently and placed three in double figures. Ky Bowman made his first four shots and added 15 points while AJ Turner contributed 13. Overall Boston College had eight players score.AUBURN: For as athletic as Auburn is, rebounding is becoming an issue. The Tigers have been outrebounded in their last four games and the margin is 46 after Boston College held a 49-32 edge Monday. Those rebounds negated the 11 blocked shots since most of those merely extended possessions for Boston College when the ball went out of bounds.QUIET NIGHT AT TIMES FOR HERON: Auburns touted freshman Mustapha Heron did not take his first shot until about 9 minutes in and attempted two shots in the first half. He started 1 of 6 and was 3 of 9 overall. Heron, who grew up about 90 miles northeast of New York, in Connecticut finished with 15 points by getting to the foul line 10 times.PEARL THE EAGLE: Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has a unique connection to Boston College. When the Eagles defeated Ball State and Wake Forest in the first two rounds of the 1981 NCAA Tournament, Pearl was flapping his wings as a mascot, donning the bird head and feathers.UP NEXT:Boston College Hosts Sacred Heart on Sunday.Auburn Hosts Coastal Carolina on Thursday before a home game with Oklahoma on Dec. 21 and a visit to Connecticut two days later. ' ' '
