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DURHAM, N.C. -- Even with a rash of injured players often dominating the conversation about Dukes basketball team for the first few weeks of the season, theres another identity thats more relevant for coach Mike Krzyzewski in describing the Blue Devils.I have tough kids, Krzyzewski said. I have really tough kids.Thats what the No. 5 Blue Devils have been counting on as theyve rung up a 7-1 record. Only six players were used in Tuesday nights victory against Michigan State.Playing six guys is never going to be easy, fifth-year senior forward Amile Jefferson said. But guys have to always be tough.A deeper bench is likely to be in use Saturday when Duke wraps up a four-game homestand by taking on Maine (2-5) at Cameron Indoor Stadium.Krzyzewski said with Jefferson and guards Matt Jones and Grayson Allen there are enough veteran players to help the Blue Devils through rough patches.Theyve been in big-time games, Krzyzewski said. Theyve had adversity. ... Theyve earned it. It is not inherited wealth, lets put it that way. Its stuff theyve earned.Playing with grit is something thats endearing in some ways for the Blue Devils.We have this inner toughness, Jefferson said. A toughness of the heart and the spirit more than physical. Our guys have always come ready to play.Duke owns a five-game winning streak, but Jones said the 78-69 victory against Michigan State was particularly satisfying because the Blue Devils had to dig deep.I think were growing as a team, especially winning that game, he said. Its definitely a confidence booster. We just have to keep it going.Jones received rave reviews after the last game from Krzyzewski because of his defense. The effort on the defensive end was needed because Jones ended up with just two points for his first time short of double figures this season.It became Dukes first game this season without five players in double-digit scoring.Maine is coming off an 82-61 home loss to Central Connecticut State on Wednesday night. That opponent has the Blue Devils nickname as well -- yet with the game attracting an announced attendance of 836 it means Saturdays game should result in a drastically different setting for the Black Bears.This will be Maines second visit to an Atlantic Coast Conference campus this season after an 80-67 loss for last months opener at Virginia Tech.The Black Bears, wholl face Duke for the first time, were picked to finish last in the America East preseason poll. That didnt sit well with third-year coach Bob Walsh.The truth is, it bothers me, Walsh said. It bothers our players. But that is a good thing. All Black Bear programs show up with something to prove when we play, with a pride and toughness that is evident.The great thing about competition is we get to play the games and the results speak for themselves.Black Bears freshman forward Andrew Fleming, who was the top high school player in Maine last season, posted a season-best 20 points in the teams last outing. Y.A. Tittle Super Bowl Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Patrick Willis Super Bowl Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/laken-tomlinson-jersey-sales.html . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. Emmanuel Sanders Super Bowl Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Matt Breida Super Bowl Jersey . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. BOSTON -- Another tough game for the Red Sox bullpen.This time followed by a save from the Boston bats.Aaron Hill sliced an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth after Tampa Bay tied it in the top half of the inning, and the Red Sox held on for an 8-6 victory over the Rays on Wednesday.We had to find a way to fight back again, manager John Farrell said after the Red Sox finished the homestand with a 3-3 record and headed to the West Coast for the first six in a nine-game road trip.Hanley Ramirez hit a fifth-inning grand slam to erase a 4-1 deficit, and Jackie Bradley Jr. added a solo shot in the sixth to give Boston a 6-4 lead. But one game after the Red Sox blew a two-run lead in the seventh, the Rays loaded the bases against Fernando Abad in the eighth and Logan Forsythe hit a two-run single off Junichi Tazawa (3-2) to tie it.In the bottom half, Ramirez led off with a walk, Sandy Leon bunted him to second and pinch-hitter Brock Holt singled him to third. Hill followed with a single past the first baseman to score Ramirez, and Bradley hit an RBI double to make it 8-6.Difficult loss, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. A walk here and couple of hits, then the big home run by Hanley really killed us.Xander Bogaerts also homered for the Red Sox, and Bradley had three hits. Dustin Pedroia had three more hits for Boston, which had lost five of its previous seven games after moving into a tie for first place in the AL East.Pedroia has 15 hits in his last 20 at-bats and is batting .463 since moving into the leadoff spot on Aug. 10.Erasmo Ramirez (7-10) gave up Hills single and an RBI double by Bradley in the eighth.Kevin Kiermaier had three hits for the Rays, and Forsythe and Logan Morrison each homered as Tampa Bay opened a 4-1 lead through four innings.But Boston took the leadd in the fifth after Drew Smyly loaded the bases on two hits and a two-out walk.dddddddddddd Ramirez hit the next pitch over the Green Monster for his 19th homer of the season.LOST OPPORTUNITYThe Rays made it 4-1 on Kiermaiers single in the fourth, but they could have had another if Tim Beckham hadnt slowed up along the third base line on the way home. Kiermaier was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double, and Beckham hadnt yet touched home plate.Asked which mistake was worse, the out on the basepaths or the squandered run, Cash said: Definitely the not hustling.Thats required of us and probably the easiest part to do in baseball, he said.NOT AVAILABLECraig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 24th save. Farrell said his closer was not available to get a four-out save a day after throwing 22 pitches in a non-save situation just so he could get his work in. I was not going to go with a short turnaround, Farrell said.WRIGHTS STUFFBoston knuckleballer Steven Wright lasted only four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks. In two starts since coming back from a right shoulder strain, Wright has allowed nine runs on 14 hits in 19 innings.I felt like it was hard for me to get the same life, the same action I had pre-injury, he said.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: RP Brad Ziegler was unavailable with the flu. Farrell said he would fly on his own to the West Coast to keep him away from others ... being so contagious.UP NEXTRays: Off Thursday, home against Toronto on Friday with Alex Cobb making his 2016 debut against Francisco Liriano (7-12).Red Sox: Off Thursday, at Oakland on Friday with David Price (13-9) against Andrew Triggs (1-1). ' ' '