MINNEAPOLIS -- Nate Mason had 15 points and seven assists, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers had five players score in double figures in an 86-74 victory on Friday against Louisiana-Lafayette.Dupree McBrayer added 15 points for Minnesota, which made 10 3-pointers and shot 40 percent from long distance. Amir Coffey, part of a three-guard starting unit with Mason and McBrayer, scored 13 points.We have a more complete team, Gophers coach Richard Pitino said. I think thats very, very evident when you look at our guys. Its got a lot of balance. Theyre good kids, they want to win. They want to get people talking good about them. Hopefully tonight helped that.Bryce Washington scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds for the Ragin Cajuns, who couldnt stay with the Gophers while shooting 31.9 percent from the field.Minnesota committed 19 turnovers to 15 for Louisiana-Lafayette and was outrebounded 42-39, but the Gophers were helped with an efficient shooting attack from the outside to lead by as many as 27 in the game.The Cajuns closed to 11 near the end of the first half, but Minnesota scored the final 11 points of the half, including a buzzer-beating 3 by Mason.You can see from all the new guys that they bring a different dimension to the team. Mason said. Once we get comfortable in the season, I feel like these guys are going to produce.BIG PICTURELouisiana-Lafayette: Trying to replace 66.2 percent of their scoring last season, the opener against a Big Ten opponent was unkind to the Cajuns. They shot just 27.5 percent from the field and were just 5 of 17 from 3 (29.4 percent) in the first half. Washington, one of the three returning starters, didnt attempt a field goal in the first half. Freshman Justin Miller came off the bench to score 21 points.Minnesota: The Gophers had a balanced effort as they try to discover their core this season with several new players joining coach Richard Pitinos team. Coffey was the Minnesota Mr. Basketball last season. Center Reggie Lynch finally played his first game with the Gophers after transferring from Illinois State last season. Akeem Springs, a transfer from Milwaukee, had 11 points and hit three 3s off the bench.HIGH ON COFFEYCoffey made his much-anticipated debut. Minnesotas Mr. Basketball last season, the freshman was 3 of 5 shooting and 2 of 3 from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-8, 195-pound guard had three assists and four turnovers. But just one turnover came in the second half.I think he just adds a very difficult dimension for teams from a defensive side of it, from how they want to guard him, because hes so tall and hes such a skilled passer, and he really moves well, Pitino said.GETTING EXPOSURELouisiana-Lafayette was also breaking in several new players. To end the second half, the Cajuns had three freshmen and two redshirt freshmen on the court.Weve just got some growing pains that were going to have to fight through, especially with the foul trouble, Marlin said. We couldnt make 3s and just struggled first time out for a lot of these kids.After 12 turnovers in the first half, Louisiana-Lafayette had just three in the second half. The Cajuns also posted 20 offensive rebounds.UP NEXTLouisiana-Lafayettes inexperienced roster will get used to playing on the road. The Cajuns start the season with two road games for the first time since the 2011-12 season when they play at Montana State on Nov. 14.Minnesotas home-heavy schedule against smaller schools continues Nov. 14 against Texas-Arlington. In all, the Gophers play their first six games at home and 12 of the first 14 at Williams Arena.Cheap Air Max 270 . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Fake Nike Air Max Replica . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. https://www.wholesalenikeairmaxshoes.com/ . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Cheap Nike Air Max Outlet . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Wholesale Nike Air Max From China . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season.MILWAUKEE -- Pittsburghs Jameson Taillon remembers Hernan Perez from their days opposing each other in the minors. The rookie right-hander would just as soon forget about him now.Perez drove in three runs with a two-run homer and an RBI single, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers over the Pirates 5-3 on Saturday night after Pittsburgh dealt closer Mark Melancon to Washington.Shifted to third in the batting order because Ryan Braun was sidelined by with right-side tightness, Perez hit a two-run homer in the first off rookie Taillon (2-2).I actually played him coming up with the Tigers in Double-A and Triple-A, Taillon said about Perezs time with Detroit. Im pretty confident I owned him in the minor leagues.Not anymore.Now is when it counts, Taillon said. Hes got me a couple of times.Moved up in the order on Thursday because of Brauns injury, Perez hit a two-run homer off Arizonas Robbie Ray. Perez has seven home runs this season; he had one in 156 games before this year.I feel good right now at the plate, Perez said. I am taking good pitches to swing. Put a good swing on the ball and good things happen.Taillon said that the pitch Perez hit for the home run didnt go where he wanted it.It was a two-seamer that was supposed to run in on his hands, Taillon said. It didnt do too much.With the trading of third baseman Aaron Hill to Boston on July 7, Perez has been playing more often, usually at third, but he has gotten time at short and right field.I feel good right now, getting good pitches to swing at, Perez said. Im putting good swings on the ball and making something happen.Perez is batting .360 with nine runs, three doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI since the All-Star break.Brewers manager Craig Counsell likes what he sees from Perez.Hes the definition of an improving player for me, Counsell said. Being able to slip into that spot and still produce, that says something for sure.Chase Anderson (6-10) gave up an unearned run and four hits in five innings, striking out a season-high seven. Jeremy Jeffress pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 27 chances, allowing Jordy Mercers RBI single.Milwaukee has won eight straight home games against the Pirates and kept two-time All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy on the bench as the Brewers considered trade possibilities. According to multiple reports, Milwaukee has an agreement in place to send Lucroy to the Cleveland Indians?in exchange for four minor league prospects, pending the catchers approval.Jung Ho Kangs RBI single in the fourth cut the gap, but Milwaukee opened a 4-1 lead against reliever Jonathan Niiese with two outs in the seventh when Scooter Gennett had a run-scoring bloop single and Perezs third hit of the game drove in another run.ddddddddddddGregory Polanco hit his 14th homer, an eighth-inning drive off Will Smith. Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered against Neftali Feliz in the bottom half.Nieuwenhuis saved a run in the fourth with a long throw from right that catcher Martin Maldonado caught on the fly. Kang missed the plate with his slide and Maldonado missed his first tag attempt, the tagged a lunging Maldonado for the inning-ending out.FREESE OUTDavid Freese was ejected by plate umpire Marty Foster for arguing balls and strikes before the Brewers came to bat in the fifth. Freese had just struck out swinging. John Jaso replaced Freese at first base.TAILLON DENIEDNieuwenhuis charged Taillons one-hop line drive in the fifth and fired a strike to first baseman Chris Carter to just get Taillon. That would have been the rookies first hit in 12 at-bats.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: Melancon was traded for reliever Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn. I get the business side of it, Melancon said. It is what it is. I am just happy I was part of this organization. . C Francisco Cervelli was back in the starting lineup after being helped off the field in the eighth inning of Friday nights game. Gennett was hit by a pitch, and the ball ended up catching Cervelli on his inside right foot. I feel better, Cervelli said. I did a lot of treatment last night. In the moment, I thought it was broke. It was hard. It was the same spot I got hit in Miami.Brewers: Milwaukee C Jonathan Lucroy was not in the starting lineup for Saturday nights game against the Pirates as the Brewers considered trade possibilities. ... Braun, a late scratch, missed his third consecutive game.UP NEXTPirates: LHP Francisco Liriano (6-10) makes his second start this season against the Brewers. He struck out 13 over 6 2/3 innings and won 5-3 on July 21. He struck out 13 over 6 2/3 innings and won 5-3 on July 21. He needs two strikeouts for 1500 in his career. He has lost four of his last five road decisions.Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (1-4, 5.74) makes his ninth start of the season and second against the Pirates since being reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on June 14 with a right lat strain. He allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings in the 5-3 loss to Liriano and the Pirates.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.? ' ' '