"This is the strongest and most direct statement we have received from th

LEWISTON, N.Y. -- Dominic Robb scored 18 points on 9 of 13 from the field and Niagara held on down the stretch to defeat Norfolk State 65-61 on Saturday.Back-to-back baskets by Kahlil Dukes pushed Niagara to a nine point lead, 58-49, with 4:37 left. Norfolk State regained control from there, however, putting together a 9-2 stretch to cut it back to 60-58 on a Jonathan Wade jumper with 2:30 remaining.A Zaynah Robinson 3-pointer got the Spartans (2-8) to down to one, but a free throw by James Towns and two more by Dukes finally put Norfolk State away.Dukes finished with 11 points for the Purple Eagles (3-7), who shot just 39 percent but hit 15 of 18 at the line.Wade led all scorers with 23 for the Spartans. Alex Long finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds for Norfolk StateSwell Blue Marble Bottle . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Swell Bottle Uk . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. http://www.ukswellbottle.com/ . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Swell Bottle Green Jasper . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Swell Bottle Wood Collection . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU.MOSCOW -- The International Olympic Committee is waiting for more clarifications from the Russian government on the anti-gay law that is overshadowing preparations for the Winter Games in Sochi, IOC President Jacques Rogge said Friday. The law, signed by President Vladimir Putin in June, bans "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" and imposes fines on those holding gay pride rallies. It has caused a major international outcry and spawned calls for protests ahead of the Feb. 7-23 Olympics in the Black Sea resort. Rogge said the Russian government provided written re-assurances about the law on Thursday, but that some elements are still too unclear to pass judgment. "We are waiting for the clarifications before having the final judgment on these reassurances," Rogge said, a day before the start of the world athletics championships in Moscow. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko insisted Thursday that Olympic athletes would have to respect the laws of the country during the Sochi Games. On Friday, he said there was no way Russia would back down under political pressure. Referring to Western criticism, Mutko was quoted as saying by Interfax: "I wouldnt call the pressure light. Russia must understand that the stronger we are, the more other people arent going to like it. We have a unique country." "We dont have to be afraid of threats to boycott the Olympic Games," Mutko said. "All sensible people understand that sports demand independence, that it is inadmissible that politics intervene.dddddddddddd." On Thursday, Mutko did make it clear that the private lives and privacy of athletes would be respected as it is guaranteed by the Russian constitution Rogge said that was essential. "The Olympic charter is clear," Rogge said. "A sport is a human right and it should be available to all, regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation." Even if Russia accepts that principle, the law leaves open the issue of athletes speaking freely during the games. "As far as the freedom of expression is concerned, of course, this is something that is important," Rogge said. "But we cannot make a comment on the law" until the clarifications have been received. The All Out advocacy group said it was happy with Rogges comments. "This is the strongest and most direct statement we have received from the International Olympic Committee. It shows the IOC is listening to the global outcry," said All Out Executive Director Andre Banks. Still, Rogge pleaded for time to study the Russian reassurances some more. "I understand your impatience to get the full picture, but we havent (received) it today," Rogge said. "There are still too many uncertainties in the text." Rogge said the problems seemed to centre on translations. "We dont think it is a fundamental issue," he said at a news conference following a meeting of the IOC executive board with the International Association of Athletics Federations. ' ' '