-FM in Boston was first to report that Papelbon was close

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Southern California guard DeAnthony Melton played like a silky-smooth veteran down the stretch at Texas A&M, prompting a gentle reminder from Trojans coach Andy Enfield afterward.Hes a true freshman, in the third game of his college career, and we were on the road, Enfield said with a smile.Melton could have fooled the Aggies, late in the Trojans 65-63 comeback victory before a stunned crowd on Friday night. The 6-foot-4 Melton knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining to close A&Ms lead to 62-60, and with 12 seconds left he stole the ball from A&M point guard JC Hampton to help preserve the victory.He has an uncanny ability to make plays at crucial times, Enfield said.Melton scored four of his eight points in the last two minutes, Chimezie Metu had 14 points and Jordan McLaughlin added 13.The Aggies (2-1) led 63-60 with 58 seconds remaining when the Trojans (3-0) closed with a flourish. Bennie Boatwright made two free throws with 45 seconds remaining to tighten the gap to 63-62. Hampton then drove the lane and missed a short jump shot, and Boatwright missed a 3-point attempt on the ensuing possession. But McLaughlin grabbed the offensive rebound, and Metu followed with a dunk to lift the Trojans to a 64-63 lead they wouldnt relinquish.We made youthful mistakes that Ive got to get them better at, said A&M coach Billy Kennedy, who had to replace four senior starters from last years NCAA tournament Sweet 16 team.Following Metus dunk Hampton dribbled the ball up court with 17 seconds left, but Melton swiped the ball from behind, and Admon Gilder fouled Melton when he drove to the basket with 11 seconds left. Melton made his first free throw but missed his second, and A&M guard D.J. Hoggs 3-point attempt from the top of the key missed the mark at the buzzer.We made some mistakes, and in life when you make mistakes sometimes you pay, A&M forward Tonny Trocha-Morelos said. We made mistakes, and USC took advantage.Hogg led the Aggies with 17 points, and Trocha-Morelos added 15. USCs Elijah Stewart had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Metu grabbed 10 boards.Texas A&Ms front line is just outstanding, Enfield said of the Aggies size and athleticism down low. So to hold them to 38 percent shooting and out-rebound them (47 to 44) was terrific on our part.BIG PICTUREAfter two easy wins at home to start the season, the Trojans showed plenty of resiliency in their first time on the road, overcoming a late deficit in front of a hostile crowd. A&M coach Billy Kennedy said he believes USC is an NCAA Tournament team, and the Trojans looked like it on Friday.The Aggies are young and it showed. Freshman forward Robert Williams has been a dynamo around the basket, but a couple of errant long shots late in the game showed he still has a lot to learn. That goes for plenty of his underclassmen teammates, as well.UP NEXTTexas A&M goes on the road for the first time on Thursday, and will face Cal State Northridge in Fullerton, California, in the Wooden Legacy.The Trojans return to Los Angeles on Tuesday against New Orleans, the first of three consecutive home games.HE SAID ITSometimes you have to lose, and learn in those games, A&M coach Billy Kennedy said of his young team.STAT OF THE NIGHTThe teams were almost even in turnovers (11 for USC and 12 for A&M), but the Trojans doubled up the Aggies, 16-8, in points off turnovers.TURNING POINTA&M led for nearly the entire first half, but USCs Jordan McLaughlin sank a jumper from near the top of the key at the halftime buzzer to lift the Trojans to a 31-29 lead, a harbinger of things to come from USC.STREAK STOPPERSUSC snapped an A&M streak of a dozen consecutive non-conference wins over high-major opponents in Reed Arena. 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After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Yeezy Boost China Cheap . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Veteran reliever Jonathan Papelbon is drawing strong interest from multiple clubs and expects to make a decision on his next team within 24 hours, a source told ESPN Tuesday.Red Sox?manager John Farrell said Tuesday that he has reached out to Papelbon personally, an indication that the club is serious about bringing the reliever back to Boston but not as a closer. The Red Sox are seeking a steady eighth-inning setup man in the absence of Koji Uehara, who is sidelined indefinitely by a right pectoral strain.The Chicago Cubs have also been mentioned as a potential Papelbon suitor.Papelbon broke into the majors with Boston in 2005, recording 219 saves and making four American League All-Star Games in seven seasons with the Red Sox.Theres no question hes a different pitcher now than nine years ago, Farrell said of Papelbon. Theres been a lot of saves recorded in between, a lot of pitches thrown. Hes evolved as more of a pitcher rather than relying solely on velocity and a fastball that he would attack with.Coming back into Boston, if that were to happen, hes very well-aware of the environment, the expectation. So well see where that goes.Papelbon, 35, became a free agent Saturday when the Washington Nationals released him at his request. The Nationals removed him from the closers role in late July when they acqquired Mark Melancon from Pittsburgh in a trade, and the Nationals were reportedly planning to designate Papelbon for assignment when he asked for his release.dddddddddddd.WEEI-FM in Boston was first to report that Papelbon was close to making a decision on his next team.Cubs pitcher Jon Lester, Papelbons former Boston teammate, praised him in an interview with ESPNChicago.coms Jesse Rogers on Sunday and said Papelbon got a bad rap for his dugout confrontation with Washington teammate Bryce Harper last season.He is crazy, Lester said with a smile. But hes no crazier than the rest of us. He just gets a bad rap for what happened in the dugout. Knowing Papelbon, Ive always had good things to say about him as a teammate, how he respects the game and how he goes about his business.Papelbon ranks ninth in MLB history with 368 career saves in 12 seasons with the Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and the Nationals. He was 2-4 with a 4.37 ERA and 19 saves in 37 appearances with Washington this season.Because the Nationals released Papelbon, theyre responsible for the roughly $3 million that remains of his $11 million salary for 2016.ESPN Staff Writer Scott Lauber contributed to this report. ' ' '