Jeff Hart

The Patriots are renowned for throwing new defensive twists at opponents. Here's one they'd like to show on Sunday: stopping long drives and getting the ball back into Tom Brady's hands faster. After two of their weaker defensive games of the season, unbeaten New England is determined to improve against the San Diego Chargers in the AFC championship game.

It was a day former East Hall standout Matt Causey will never forget. Neither will Georgia Tech. Needing a victory badly, Causey scored a career-high 30 points, 18 in the second half, and Anthony Morrow added 17 points as Georgia Tech ended a three-game losing streak to earn its first Atlantic Coast Conference win, beating Virginia Tech 81-70 on Saturday.

Baby, it's cold outside. So cold, one team has practiced with footballs straight out of the freezer. But not so frigid that many players say they will go sleeveless. As for the plummeting temperatures being an advantage for the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's NFC championship game against the New York Giants, the hosts aren't quite so sure.

Joseph Flegler scored 20 points and Lazarius Coleman had a double-double to help Savannah State beat Longwood 79-67 on Saturday.

Kellen Brand scored 20 points, Donald Sims added 19 and Appalachian State pulled away in the second half for its sixth straight win, 88-81 over Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Casey Wohlleb had 19 points and Delvin Franklin had a career-high 17 as Florida Gulf Coast beat Kennesaw State 85-73 on Saturday night. FGCU recorded its first home Atlantic Sun Conference win in school history.

Stetson's Garfield Blair scored 18 points and connected on a short fall-away jumper with 5.6 seconds left for the winning basket in a 76-74 victory over Mercer on Saturday night.

Nick Calathes scored 24 points and made several clutch free throws, Walter Hodge hit a huge 3-pointer in overtime and the Gators extended their wining streak over rival Kentucky to seven games with an 81-70 victory Saturday night.

Bambale Osby scored inside with 21 seconds left to help Maryland stun top-ranked North Carolina 82-80 on Saturday, handing the Tar Heels their first loss of the season.

Memorial Park Funeral Home hopes to open its north Gainesville location in abut six months. Memorial Park President Kevin Wetzel said he has had his eye on the site, 989 Riverside Drive, the current location of Providence Church, for some time.