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USC ended September at 1-3, triggering criticism for coach Clay Helton and unease about the Trojans future. Tom Kuhnhackl Islanders Jersey .As October draws to a close, however, USC isnt the Los Angeles-based college football program in crisis. UCLA, a trendy preseason sleeper pick for the College Football Playoff, sits at 3-5 after Saturdays 52-45 loss to Utah. The Bruins are off to their worst start under fifth-year coach Jim Mora, who won 29 games in his first three seasons.UCLA has the nations worst rushing offense and last week attempted a team-record 71 passes against Utah, completing 40.Despite a roster regarded in Pac-12 circles as the leagues most talented and a sophomore quarterback, Josh Rosen, projected as an NFL star, UCLA is in danger of missing a bowl for the first time since 2010 and for the third time since 2001. What has gone wrong in Westwood? Coaches and other insiders weigh in on the bad-news Bruins. Leo Komarov Jersey .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. Anthony Beauvillier Islanders Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http:///...uk-islanders-jersey/ . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- This time VCU built on its halftime lead.Justin Tillman scored a season-high 17 points to help VCU beat LSU 85-74 on Friday in the fifth-place game at the Battle 4 Atlantis, a win coming two days after the Rams blew a halftime lead in the opening-round loss to No. 20 Baylor.JeQuan Lewis scored 19 for the Rams (5-1), who shot 58 percent after halftime. VCU pushed a 40-33 halftime lead into a double-digit lead about 5 minutes into the second half and maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way.I think we got off to a better start the second half, VCU coach Will Wade said. By the first media (timeout) wed expanded the lead by just a point but we hadnt given any ground like we had in the Baylor game.In that one, the Rams led 36-28 before losing 71-63.We reminded them of that at half, Wade said.Tillman, a 6-foot-7 junior, had missed two straight games due to a left foot injury before coming to the Bahamas. He saw limited work against Baylor, but had 13 rebounds in Thursdays win against St. Johns and followed that with a strong scoring day.He finished 8 of 9 from the floor while also pulling down eight rebounds.I had to get back into the game and just start picking it up, game by game, Tillman said.Antonio Blakeney and Skylar Mays each scored 14 for the Tigers (4-2), who shot 49 percent but couldnt keep the Rams within reach after halftime.I thought once we got in halfcourt sets, we did a decent job of defending, LSU coach Johnny Jones said. But when we were turning the ball over, it was very quick, easy scoring opportunities for them and they fed off that. We had entirely too many turnovers in the second half.BIG PICTURELSU: This was the second double-digit loss for LSU in three games in Atlantis, going back to a 35-point loss to Wichita State in Wednesdays opener. Brock Nelson Jersey. The Tigers trailed by as many as 19 in this one, while their lone win here came Thursday against Old Dominion.We know we can take valuable lessons from this that they can compete at a certain level, Jones said. Now weve got to put things together: taking care of the basketball, making sure were rebounding and doing the things we need to and being able to execute our offense at a high level.VCU: The Rams lost their Atlantis opener to Baylor -- the eventual champion -- but bounced back with two straight wins to take some positive momentum back to the state of Virginia.I thought we got better as we were here, Wade said.TIP-INSLSU: LSU committed 10 of its 18 turnovers after halftime. ... Duop Reath scored 13 points. ... LSU finished with a 36-33 rebounding advantage. ... Junior guard Jayln Patterson earned his second straight start and had seven assists.VCU: VCU had 14 of its 19 points off turnovers after halftime. ... Lewis 19 points gave him exactly 1,000 for his career. ... Lewis also finished with nine assists and one turnover. ... Samir Doughty had 12 points and seven rebounds. ... VCU had eight turnovers.UP NEXTLSU: The Tigers return home Tuesday to play Houston.VCU: The Rams play at home Tuesday against Princeton.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '