At the same time, several analysts said, more advertisers are returning to network programming in a possible indication that the economy is nudging ahead.

Behind by 11 points at halftime, New Jersey nudged ahead, 84-83, by the third quarter's end, and used 12 points by Anderson to keep a comfortable lead through the game's waning minutes.

And then, in the final minutes, Tennessee finally nudged ahead to stay, winning, 66-56, in the semifinals at the women's Final Four.

By half time, New Zealand nudged 12-5 ahead after Halai scored a second try.

They nudged ahead to another double-digit advantage, 85-73, with 5:52 left.

And any thoughts the Pacers had of nudging ahead on the boards never materialized as the Knicks grabbed a 40-31 edge in rebounding despite missing their leading rebounder in Ewing.

Orcus was gliding silently north-east at two hundred feet, the cox'n holding her while Farge nudged the boat ahead with short bursts on slow one.

I throttled well back until my boat was barely nudging ahead and looked around, but there was nothing ahead, nothing behind.

Gibson retired six straight hitters as the Yankees nudged ahead by two runs and Hernandez handled the ninth with aplomb in corraling his sixth save.

He encouraged blasting dynamics too readily throughout, and nudged the pace ahead uncomfortably toward the end of the finale.