MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;paced three Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 16 points, as Kansas State put together a complete team effort in posting a 70-46 win over Jacksonville in a rare Monday afternoon game in front of a limited capacity crowd of 504 fans at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats (4-5, 1-1 Big 12) won their third game in the last 4 outings with a solid effort on both ends of the court, as the offense was efficient in producing a season-high 23 assists on 27 made field goals with six players scoring at least 6 points, while the defense held Jacksonville (6-4) to an opponent-low 46 points on 34 percent shooting (16-of-47), including 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from 3-point range, with 17 turnovers. K-State has now held 27 opponents under 50 points in head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1566">Bruce Weber</a>'s&nbsp;tenure. Pack was joined in double figures by sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>, who earned his second double-double in the last 3 games with 13 points and a career-best 12 rebounds to go with 3 steals, and senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>, who added 12 points and dished out a game-high 7 assists. Three others (<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7429">Carlton Linguard, Jr.</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7428">Seryee Lewis</a>) all added at least 6 points in the Wildcats' largest win of the season. The Wildcats connected on 50 percent (15-of-30) from the field, including 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from 3-point range, in the first half to build as much as a 20-point lead on the Dolphins. A key 13-0 run midway through the opening half flipped a narrow 11-10 lead into a 24-10 advantage with just under 9 to play. Seven different players had at least one made field goal in the first half, while five had at least one assist. Pack scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, as the freshman point guard connected on 4-of-6 field goals, including a season-best 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Gordon had a near double-double at the half, grabbing 10 rebounds to equal the entire total for Jacksonville, while posting 8 points. The second half proved much the same, as the Wildcats built as much as a 30-point lead late in the second half, as all 11 available players saw action in the final contest before the team takes an 8-day break from game competition. In all, K-State connected on 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from 3-point range, and held a 45-22 advantage on the glass. The Wildcats posted season-highs for 3-point field goals (11), assists (23) and rebounds (45). The Dolphins had just one player in double figures, as junior&nbsp;Bryce Workman&nbsp;scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. KEY STRETCH(ES) K-State broke up a one-point game (11-10) with a 13-0 run midway through the first half, as four different Wildcats (Pack,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7421">Antonio Gordon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>&nbsp;and McGuirl) scored baskets in the stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers by Pack. In addition, all 5 field goals in the 13-0 run came via an assist, including 2 from junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7432">Rudi Williams</a>. K-State led by more 20 points for most of the second half, building a game-high 30-point lead at 68-38 with just over 4 minutes to play after a 9-0 run. PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;scored a game-high 16 points on 6-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes of action. The 4 3-point field goals were a season-high, while he dished out at least 5 assists in game for the sixth time in 9 games. Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>&nbsp;collected his second career double-double, all coming in the last 3 games, as he scored 13 points on 5-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with a career-best 12 rebounds, a game-high 3 steals and 2 assists in 32 minutes. He nearly had his career-high in rebounds at halftime with 10, which equaled the entire Jacksonville team. STAT OF THE GAME 23 and 27 – K-State was efficient on offense, recording assists on 23 of its 27 made field goals. Seven players record at least one assist, including 5 or more by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;(7),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7432">Rudi Williams</a>&nbsp;(5) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;(5). IN THEIR WORDS K-State Head Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1566">Bruce Weber</a> On the game… "I'm happy for our guys. Obviously, a quick turnaround for us. (Baylor) kicked our butts Saturday and they're really good. I think (there was) a little loss of confidence from that. You have high hopes, then they just totally take you out of the game. Yesterday, I saw a lot of long faces when we got here. I just said 'Guys, if you're going to be sad, I'm not going to let you be sad. You've got to have life, you've got to have energy, and you've got to prepare and understand that there's another game. We've got to be ready for Jacksonville.' We've got to understand that every game is different in how people guard, and we've got to adjust to that. We weren't great at the beginning. We turned it over too many times early, but then we got going and it felt good to get Nijel (Pack) on track again, where he's making some shots. DaJuan, I told him yesterday, 'Be the best&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>,' and he has a double-double, 13 points, 12 rebounds, obviously the only thing is the assists, and then he led us on our play hard chart at 14. We were much more active on defense, we were better on defense. We had a tough turnaround, but they had a tougher one playing Miami about the same time we played Baylor. We thought we could break their spirit a little bit and we were able to do that. I thought (it was a) great job from the coaches with the scouting report and the players listening and going and executing it. (Dontarius) James is a really good player, averaging 20 points a game. We did a lot of switching, we fought him in the post, we frustrated him, we doubled him, and he only has 2 points, and the bucket he got was late, and four turnovers. We did some good things, we made some progress. Obviously we've got some time, they're going home, and then on the 29th come back and play Omaha, and then you're into the league. I hope they can get a chance to go home and enjoy their families. I really hope they stay COVID free and come back and we can continue to make progress as a group." BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

WHAT'S NEXT K-State takes an 8-day break from game competition before resuming play on Tuesday, Dec. 29 with a home contest against Omaha (2-7) at 7 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. It will be the last game of the 2020 portion of the 2020-21 season.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;paced three Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 16 points, as Kansas State put together a complete team effort in posting a 70-46 win over Jacksonville in a rare Monday afternoon game in front of a limited capacity crowd of 504 fans at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats (4-5, 1-1 Big 12) won their third game in the last 4 outings with a solid effort on both ends of the court, as the offense was efficient in producing a season-high 23 assists on 27 made field goals with six players scoring at least 6 points, while the defense held Jacksonville (6-4) to an opponent-low 46 points on 34 percent shooting (16-of-47), including 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from 3-point range, with 17 turnovers. K-State has now held 27 opponents under 50 points in head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1566">Bruce Weber</a>'s&nbsp;tenure. Pack was joined in double figures by sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>, who earned his second double-double in the last 3 games with 13 points and a career-best 12 rebounds to go with 3 steals, and senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>, who added 12 points and dished out a game-high 7 assists. Three others (<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7429">Carlton Linguard, Jr.</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7428">Seryee Lewis</a>) all added at least 6 points in the Wildcats' largest win of the season. The Wildcats connected on 50 percent (15-of-30) from the field, including 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from 3-point range, in the first half to build as much as a 20-point lead on the Dolphins. A key 13-0 run midway through the opening half flipped a narrow 11-10 lead into a 24-10 advantage with just under 9 to play. Seven different players had at least one made field goal in the first half, while five had at least one assist. Pack scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, as the freshman point guard connected on 4-of-6 field goals, including a season-best 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Gordon had a near double-double at the half, grabbing 10 rebounds to equal the entire total for Jacksonville, while posting 8 points. The second half proved much the same, as the Wildcats built as much as a 30-point lead late in the second half, as all 11 available players saw action in the final contest before the team takes an 8-day break from game competition. In all, K-State connected on 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from 3-point range, and held a 45-22 advantage on the glass. The Wildcats posted season-highs for 3-point field goals (11), assists (23) and rebounds (45). The Dolphins had just one player in double figures, as junior&nbsp;Bryce Workman&nbsp;scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. KEY STRETCH(ES) K-State broke up a one-point game (11-10) with a 13-0 run midway through the first half, as four different Wildcats (Pack,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7421">Antonio Gordon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>&nbsp;and McGuirl) scored baskets in the stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers by Pack. In addition, all 5 field goals in the 13-0 run came via an assist, including 2 from junior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7432">Rudi Williams</a>. K-State led by more 20 points for most of the second half, building a game-high 30-point lead at 68-38 with just over 4 minutes to play after a 9-0 run. PLAYER(S) OF THE GAME Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;scored a game-high 16 points on 6-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes of action. The 4 3-point field goals were a season-high, while he dished out at least 5 assists in game for the sixth time in 9 games. Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>&nbsp;collected his second career double-double, all coming in the last 3 games, as he scored 13 points on 5-of-8 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with a career-best 12 rebounds, a game-high 3 steals and 2 assists in 32 minutes. He nearly had his career-high in rebounds at halftime with 10, which equaled the entire Jacksonville team. STAT OF THE GAME 23 and 27 – K-State was efficient on offense, recording assists on 23 of its 27 made field goals. Seven players record at least one assist, including 5 or more by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;(7),&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7432">Rudi Williams</a>&nbsp;(5) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;(5). IN THEIR WORDS K-State Head Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1566">Bruce Weber</a> On the game… "I'm happy for our guys. Obviously, a quick turnaround for us. (Baylor) kicked our butts Saturday and they're really good. I think (there was) a little loss of confidence from that. You have high hopes, then they just totally take you out of the game. Yesterday, I saw a lot of long faces when we got here. I just said 'Guys, if you're going to be sad, I'm not going to let you be sad. You've got to have life, you've got to have energy, and you've got to prepare and understand that there's another game. We've got to be ready for Jacksonville.' We've got to understand that every game is different in how people guard, and we've got to adjust to that. We weren't great at the beginning. We turned it over too many times early, but then we got going and it felt good to get Nijel (Pack) on track again, where he's making some shots. DaJuan, I told him yesterday, 'Be the best&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>,' and he has a double-double, 13 points, 12 rebounds, obviously the only thing is the assists, and then he led us on our play hard chart at 14. We were much more active on defense, we were better on defense. We had a tough turnaround, but they had a tougher one playing Miami about the same time we played Baylor. We thought we could break their spirit a little bit and we were able to do that. I thought (it was a) great job from the coaches with the scouting report and the players listening and going and executing it. (Dontarius) James is a really good player, averaging 20 points a game. We did a lot of switching, we fought him in the post, we frustrated him, we doubled him, and he only has 2 points, and the bucket he got was late, and four turnovers. We did some good things, we made some progress. Obviously we've got some time, they're going home, and then on the 29th come back and play Omaha, and then you're into the league. I hope they can get a chance to go home and enjoy their families. I really hope they stay COVID free and come back and we can continue to make progress as a group." BEYOND THE BOXSCORE<ul>
 <li>K-State is now 3-4 on the season in non-conference play.</li><li>This was the first meeting between K-State and Jacksonville and the first vs. an Atlantic Sun foe since playing Kennesaw State in 2018… K-State is now 8-0 against teams from the Atlantic Sun.</li><li>The Wildcats' starting lineup consisted of senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>, freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>, freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7430">Selton Miguel</a>&nbsp;and freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7426">Davion Bradford</a>… McGuirl, Gordon and Pack have started all 9 games this season… McGuirl has the longest current active start streak at 14 games.</li><li>It marked the fourth straight game that three Wildcat true freshmen have started.</li><li>All 11 available Wildcats saw action, including walk-ons&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7693">Drew Honas</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7425">Joe Petrakis</a>.</li>
 </ul> Team Notes<ul>
 <li>K-State eclipsed 70 points for the fourth time this season, including the third time in the last 4 games, connecting on 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from 3-point range, and hit on 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the free throw line.</li><li>K-State posted a season-high 11 3-point field goal makes, including 9 in the first half… It marked the third time this season totaling double-digit 3-pointers.</li><li>Eight players had at least one made field goal, while 7 had at least one assist.</li><li>K-State held a 45-22 advantage on the boards, including a season-best 17 offensive rebounds.</li><li>K-State held the edge in points off turnovers (16-11), points in the paint (28-12), fast-break points (18-10) and second-chance points (5-4).</li><li>Jacksonville was held to an opponent-low 46 points on 34 percent shooting (16-of-47), including 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from 3-point range, with 17 turnovers… It marked the 27th&nbsp;time during head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1566">Bruce Weber</a>'s&nbsp;tenure that the Wildcats have held an opponent under 50 points.</li><li>K-State held a 42-23 lead at halftime on the strength of 50 percent (15-of-30) shooting from the field, including 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from 3-point range.</li><li>The 19-point halftime lead was the largest of the season.</li>
 </ul> Player Notes<ul>
 <li>Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7431">Nijel Pack</a>&nbsp;scored a game-high 16 points on 6-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range to go with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes… It marked his third time leading the team in scoring… He scored 12 of 16 points in the first half on 4-of-6 field goals, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range… It marked a season-high for 3-pointers… He now has 4 double-digit scoring games this season… He now has at least 5 assists and at least 5 rebounds in 6 of 9 games this season.</li><li>Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7422">DaJuan Gordon</a>&nbsp;collected his second career double-double, all coming in the last 3 games, with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, with a career-best 12 rebounds, a game-high 3 steals and 2 assists in 32 minutes… He nearly had his career high in rebounds at the half, as he grabbed 10 of the Wildcats' 22, including 8 on the defensive end… It marked his 11th&nbsp;career double-digit scoring game, including his team-leading fifth this season.</li><li>Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7423">Mike McGuirl</a>&nbsp;scored 12 points on 4-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, with a game-high 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals in 31 minutes… It marked his 15th&nbsp;career double-digit scoring game, including his team-leading fifth this season… He now 21 assists in the last 4 games.</li><li>Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7429">Carlton Linguard, Jr.</a>,&nbsp;posted 7 points on 3-of-7 field goals with 3 rebounds in 12 minutes.</li><li>Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7428">Seryee Lewis</a>&nbsp;scored a season-high 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting to go with 5 rebounds and a steal in just under 9 minutes of action.</li>
 </ul> WHAT'S NEXT K-State takes an 8-day break from game competition before resuming play on Tuesday, Dec. 29 with a home contest against Omaha (2-7) at 7 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. It will be the last game of the 2020 portion of the 2020-21 season.

🏀 K-State displays balanced attack in 70-46 win over Jacksonville

🎙 AUDIO: Eagle Radio Sports for Monday

MANHATTAN, Kansas -&nbsp;K-State will conclude the 2020 portion of its schedule on Monday night, as the Wildcats host (22/22) Texas at 7 p.m.

• Monday’s game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, as Brian Smoller (play-by-play) and Missy Heidrick (analyst) will have the call. 

TELEVISION Big 12 Now on ESPN+ RADIO K-State Sports Network Online: kstatesports.com&nbsp;&nbsp;

• The Wildcats are led this season by sophomore Ayoka Lee, junior Christianna Carr and redshirt junior Rachel Ranke.

• Lee, a candidate for all four of the national player of the year awards, leads K-State in scoring (18.2 ppg), field goal percentage (.625), and rebounds (7.3 rpg). She is averaging 1.7 blocks.

• Carr is second on the team and ranks 17th in the Big 12 in scoring with 13.1 points per game while shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range. She leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made per game 2.9.

• Ranke continues her climb towards 1,000 career points, as she is averaging 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. She needs 127 points to become the 43rd player in program history with 1,000 or more career points.

Five names, numbers or storylines about K-State women’s basketball

• With its next win, K-State will become the third Big 12 program and the 19th in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history to win 975 or more games.

• Ayoka Lee, after missing two games, has reached the Big 12 threshold for percent of games played to appear among the league leaders. Lee leads the league in field goal percentage (.625), ranks fifth in scoring (18.2 ppg), fifth in blocks (1.7), ranks eighth in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and ranks 13th in field goal percentage (.744).

• Sophomore guard Emilee Ebert leads K-State in assists (26; 3.3 apg) and total blocks (12; 1.5 bpg). She is the only player in the Big 12 to rank among the top-12 in both assists per game and blocks per game.

• Redshirt junior guard Rachel Ranke connected on a pair of 3-pointers at Iowa State. With the 12 made 3-point field goals, Ranke will become the seventh player in program history with 200 or more connection from 3-point range.

• Kansas State will play its final game of 2020 on Monday. Entering the game, K-State is 15-11 in games played this year. The Wildcats won six of their last eight games before the season was halted due to COVID-19 in March.

• K-State has a blocked shot differential of +30 this season (42-12).&nbsp;

• The Wildcats are second in the Big 12 in blocked shot differential, trailing Oklahoma State’s +34 (52-18).

• Since blocks became official in 1982-83, K-State has 19 seasons with a positive blocked shot differential including a school record +73 (163-90) in the 2005-06 season.

• In the Jeff Mittie era, K-State is a +290 in blocked shot differential with the best effort for a season coming in the 2019-20 season at +66 (163-99).

at (rv/rv) Iowa State 91, Kansas State 69 (December 18, 2020; Ames, Iowa)

• K-State led 40-37 at halftime, but allowed the Cyclones to score 54 points in the second half.

• K-State was led by Ayoka Lee with her third straight game with 20 or more points as she notched 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and pulled in three rebounds.

• Christianna Carr reached double figures for the sixth time this season with 11 points including a 3-of-6 effort from 3-point range. Carr has made three or more 3-pointers six times this season.

• Texas (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) enters Monday’s game following a 101-80 win over Drake on Friday night in Austin.

• The Longhorns are guided on the sideline by first year head coach Vic Schaefer. The 1984 graduate of Texas A&amp;M owns a career record of 306-173 (.639) during his 16 seasons which includes head coaching stops at Sam Houston State and Mississippi State. He led Mississippi State to a pair of NCAA Championship Game appearances.

• The Longhorns are led by Charli Collier and Celeste Taylor.

• Collier, a junior forward/center from Mont Belvieu, Texas, leads the team in scoring (23.7 ppg) and paces the squad in rebounding (10.5 rpg). Collier is second in the Big 12 in scoring and rebounding. Against the Bulldogs, Collier tallied 17 points and four rebounds.

• Taylor, a sophomore guard from Valley Stream, N.Y., is second on the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and paces the squad in steals with 3.6 per game.

• The Wildcats are 83-217 (.277) against teams ranked in the Associated Press (AP) poll including a 52-62 (.456) mark against AP ranked teams in Manhattan.

• K-State is 11-41 (.212) against AP ranked opponents in head coach Jeff Mittie’s seven seasons in Manhattan.

• The Wildcats ended an eight-game losing streak against AP ranked opponents with a 62-53 win over South Dakota State on December 10. This was K-State’s first win against a ranked non-conference opponent since defeating Drake on March 18, 2017, in the NCAA Tournament.

• Kansas State has opened the season from beyond the arc with 54 connections on 199 attempts (.271). The Wildcats have received 23 of the 54 made 3-point field goals from Christianna Carr.

• The Wildcats rank third in the Big 12 for 3-point field goals made per game (6.8) and rank 17th in the nation for total 3-point field goals made.

• The Wildcats made a season-high nine 3-pointers at Iowa State on December 18.

• K-State has benefitted from the shooting of Rachel Ranke and Carr. When either player has made three or more 3-pointers in a game, K-State is 24-6.

• Under head coach Jeff Mittie, the Wildcats have made five or more 3-pointers in a game 142 times in 203 total games including 21 games with 10 or more connections from deep (19-2).

• In the seven seasons under Mittie, K-State has buried 1,192 three-pointers which is 5.87 per game.

• In the 2019-20 season, the Wildcats averaged 5.0 three-point field goals per game with a percentage at 26.8 (144-of-537). Of K-State’s 1,996 points, 21.6 percent came from a three-pointer.

• Kansas State buried a season-high 11 three-point field goals against UIC, which were the most since K-State registered a&nbsp; 2018-19 season-high 14 connections from beyond the arc at Oklahoma on February 10. The 14 connections were tied for the most in the Mittie era.

• The Wildcats followed the effort against UIC with 10 connections against Oral Roberts on November 18. It was the first time K-State made 10 or more 3-point field goals in consecutive games since February 24 &amp; 26, 2018, against Kansas and at Texas Tech when the Wildcats made 12 three-pointers in each game.

• Sydney Goodson joined the Wildcats this summer as a graduate transfer after spending two seasons on the floor with Texas Tech.

• Goodson has gelled well with her new teammates, as she has handed out 21 assists (2.6 apg) this season. Over the last four games, she is averaging 3.8 assists.

• During the Jeff Mittie era, Goodson ranks tied for sixth for assists by a transfer in her first and/or only season with the Wildcats.

• She tied her career-high with eight assists against Kansas City on December 14.

• In her career, Goodson has handed out 197 assists (2.2 apg) with a career-best of 95 in the 2018-19 season at Texas Tech.

Lee Putting the Ball in the Basket

• Ayoka Lee remains a great scoring threat in the post for K-State.

• Lee has started the 2020-21 seaosn with an average of 18.2 points per game and five games in double figures including a career-high 31 points against Kansas City on December 14. Lee ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring.

• She has scored in double figures in five of the six games she has played this season including a current streak of three straight games with 20 or more points. Lee has scored in double figures in 32 career games, including 12 games with 20 or more points.

• With her 31 points against Kansas City, Lee became the 26th player in program history to record 30 or more points in a game.

• In the 2019-20 season, Lee averaged 15.7 points (456 points) and ranked eighth in the Big 12 in scoring and was the top freshman scorer in the Big 12. Nationally among centers, Lee ranked fourth for points per game.

• The product of Byron, Minnesota, ranked fourth in school history for points in a freshman season.

• In combination with her rebounds and blocks, Lee was the first freshman in program history with 400 or more points, 300 or more rebounds and 90 or more blocks in a freshman season.

Ranke with Range&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Guard Rachel Ranke continues to be a threat for the Wildcats from beyond the three-point line.

• For her career, Ranke has made 188 three-point field goals and ranks seventh on the K-State career 3-point field goals made list. She ranks seventh in program history for career 3-point field goals attempted with 598. She needs 12 made 3-point field goals to become the 12th player in program history with 200 or more 3-point connections.

• Ranke holds the school record for 3-point field goals made by a player 6’0” or taller in school history.

• In the 2018-19 season, Ranke led the team with 71 three-point field goals made. Ranke ranked fourth in program history for 3-point field goals made by a sophomore.

• Since the 2000-01 season, Ranke made the second-most 3-point field goals in the first two seasons of a K-State career with 160 conversions.

MANHATTAN, Kansas -&nbsp;K-State will conclude the 2020 portion of its schedule on Monday night, as the Wildcats host (22/22) Texas at 7 p.m.• Monday’s game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, as Brian Smoller (play-by-play) and Missy Heidrick (analyst) will have the call. TELEVISION Big 12 Now on ESPN+ RADIO K-State Sports Network Online: kstatesports.com&nbsp;&nbsp;• The Wildcats are led this season by sophomore Ayoka Lee, junior Christianna Carr and redshirt junior Rachel Ranke.• Lee, a candidate for all four of the national player of the year awards, leads K-State in scoring (18.2 ppg), field goal percentage (.625), and rebounds (7.3 rpg). She is averaging 1.7 blocks.• Carr is second on the team and ranks 17th in the Big 12 in scoring with 13.1 points per game while shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range. She leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made per game 2.9.• Ranke continues her climb towards 1,000 career points, as she is averaging 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. She needs 127 points to become the 43rd player in program history with 1,000 or more career points.Starting 5Five names, numbers or storylines about K-State women’s basketball1. Doorstep of 975• With its next win, K-State will become the third Big 12 program and the 19th in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history to win 975 or more games.2. Lee Among League Leaders• Ayoka Lee, after missing two games, has reached the Big 12 threshold for percent of games played to appear among the league leaders. Lee leads the league in field goal percentage (.625), ranks fifth in scoring (18.2 ppg), fifth in blocks (1.7), ranks eighth in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and ranks 13th in field goal percentage (.744).3. Ebert Emerging• Sophomore guard Emilee Ebert leads K-State in assists (26; 3.3 apg) and total blocks (12; 1.5 bpg). She is the only player in the Big 12 to rank among the top-12 in both assists per game and blocks per game.4. Ranke from Distance• Redshirt junior guard Rachel Ranke connected on a pair of 3-pointers at Iowa State. With the 12 made 3-point field goals, Ranke will become the seventh player in program history with 200 or more connection from 3-point range.5. 2020 in the Rearview• Kansas State will play its final game of 2020 on Monday. Entering the game, K-State is 15-11 in games played this year. The Wildcats won six of their last eight games before the season was halted due to COVID-19 in March.Number to Know30• K-State has a blocked shot differential of +30 this season (42-12).&nbsp;• The Wildcats are second in the Big 12 in blocked shot differential, trailing Oklahoma State’s +34 (52-18).• Since blocks became official in 1982-83, K-State has 19 seasons with a positive blocked shot differential including a school record +73 (163-90) in the 2005-06 season.• In the Jeff Mittie era, K-State is a +290 in blocked shot differential with the best effort for a season coming in the 2019-20 season at +66 (163-99).Last Time Outat (rv/rv) Iowa State 91, Kansas State 69 (December 18, 2020; Ames, Iowa)• K-State led 40-37 at halftime, but allowed the Cyclones to score 54 points in the second half.• K-State was led by Ayoka Lee with her third straight game with 20 or more points as she notched 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and pulled in three rebounds.• Christianna Carr reached double figures for the sixth time this season with 11 points including a 3-of-6 effort from 3-point range. Carr has made three or more 3-pointers six times this season.At a Glance: Texas• Texas (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) enters Monday’s game following a 101-80 win over Drake on Friday night in Austin.• The Longhorns are guided on the sideline by first year head coach Vic Schaefer. The 1984 graduate of Texas A&amp;M owns a career record of 306-173 (.639) during his 16 seasons which includes head coaching stops at Sam Houston State and Mississippi State. He led Mississippi State to a pair of NCAA Championship Game appearances.• The Longhorns are led by Charli Collier and Celeste Taylor.• Collier, a junior forward/center from Mont Belvieu, Texas, leads the team in scoring (23.7 ppg) and paces the squad in rebounding (10.5 rpg). Collier is second in the Big 12 in scoring and rebounding. Against the Bulldogs, Collier tallied 17 points and four rebounds.• Taylor, a sophomore guard from Valley Stream, N.Y., is second on the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and paces the squad in steals with 3.6 per game.K-State Against Ranked Opponents• The Wildcats are 83-217 (.277) against teams ranked in the Associated Press (AP) poll including a 52-62 (.456) mark against AP ranked teams in Manhattan.• K-State is 11-41 (.212) against AP ranked opponents in head coach Jeff Mittie’s seven seasons in Manhattan.• The Wildcats ended an eight-game losing streak against AP ranked opponents with a 62-53 win over South Dakota State on December 10. This was K-State’s first win against a ranked non-conference opponent since defeating Drake on March 18, 2017, in the NCAA Tournament.Wildcats Solid From the Arc• Kansas State has opened the season from beyond the arc with 54 connections on 199 attempts (.271). The Wildcats have received 23 of the 54 made 3-point field goals from Christianna Carr.• The Wildcats rank third in the Big 12 for 3-point field goals made per game (6.8) and rank 17th in the nation for total 3-point field goals made.• The Wildcats made a season-high nine 3-pointers at Iowa State on December 18.• K-State has benefitted from the shooting of Rachel Ranke and Carr. When either player has made three or more 3-pointers in a game, K-State is 24-6.• Under head coach Jeff Mittie, the Wildcats have made five or more 3-pointers in a game 142 times in 203 total games including 21 games with 10 or more connections from deep (19-2).• In the seven seasons under Mittie, K-State has buried 1,192 three-pointers which is 5.87 per game.• In the 2019-20 season, the Wildcats averaged 5.0 three-point field goals per game with a percentage at 26.8 (144-of-537). Of K-State’s 1,996 points, 21.6 percent came from a three-pointer.• Kansas State buried a season-high 11 three-point field goals against UIC, which were the most since K-State registered a&nbsp; 2018-19 season-high 14 connections from beyond the arc at Oklahoma on February 10. The 14 connections were tied for the most in the Mittie era.• The Wildcats followed the effort against UIC with 10 connections against Oral Roberts on November 18. It was the first time K-State made 10 or more 3-point field goals in consecutive games since February 24 &amp; 26, 2018, against Kansas and at Texas Tech when the Wildcats made 12 three-pointers in each game.Goodson Assisting New Faces• Sydney Goodson joined the Wildcats this summer as a graduate transfer after spending two seasons on the floor with Texas Tech.• Goodson has gelled well with her new teammates, as she has handed out 21 assists (2.6 apg) this season. Over the last four games, she is averaging 3.8 assists.• During the Jeff Mittie era, Goodson ranks tied for sixth for assists by a transfer in her first and/or only season with the Wildcats.• She tied her career-high with eight assists against Kansas City on December 14.• In her career, Goodson has handed out 197 assists (2.2 apg) with a career-best of 95 in the 2018-19 season at Texas Tech.Lee Putting the Ball in the Basket• Ayoka Lee remains a great scoring threat in the post for K-State.• Lee has started the 2020-21 seaosn with an average of 18.2 points per game and five games in double figures including a career-high 31 points against Kansas City on December 14. Lee ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring.• She has scored in double figures in five of the six games she has played this season including a current streak of three straight games with 20 or more points. Lee has scored in double figures in 32 career games, including 12 games with 20 or more points.• With her 31 points against Kansas City, Lee became the 26th player in program history to record 30 or more points in a game.• In the 2019-20 season, Lee averaged 15.7 points (456 points) and ranked eighth in the Big 12 in scoring and was the top freshman scorer in the Big 12. Nationally among centers, Lee ranked fourth for points per game.• The product of Byron, Minnesota, ranked fourth in school history for points in a freshman season.• In combination with her rebounds and blocks, Lee was the first freshman in program history with 400 or more points, 300 or more rebounds and 90 or more blocks in a freshman season.Ranke with Range&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Guard Rachel Ranke continues to be a threat for the Wildcats from beyond the three-point line.• For her career, Ranke has made 188 three-point field goals and ranks seventh on the K-State career 3-point field goals made list. She ranks seventh in program history for career 3-point field goals attempted with 598. She needs 12 made 3-point field goals to become the 12th player in program history with 200 or more 3-point connections.• Ranke holds the school record for 3-point field goals made by a player 6’0” or taller in school history.• In the 2018-19 season, Ranke led the team with 71 three-point field goals made. Ranke ranked fourth in program history for 3-point field goals made by a sophomore.• Since the 2000-01 season, Ranke made the second-most 3-point field goals in the first two seasons of a K-State career with 160 conversions.

 K-State Women's Basketball ends 2020 schedule against Texas tonight

MANHATTAN, Kan.—The K-State Men's basketball team will host a rare Monday afternoon game today at Bramlage Coliseum.&nbsp; Bramlage will be open to approximately 15 percent capacity (1,879). There are no single-game tickets available.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KANSAS STATE (3-5, 1-1 Big 12) vs. JACKSONVILLE (6-3)

Monday, December 21, 2020 &gt;&gt; 1:01 p.m. CT

LAST TIME OUT: 2/2 BAYLOR 100, K-STATE 69

MANHATTAN, Kan.—The K-State Men's basketball team will host a rare Monday afternoon game today at Bramlage Coliseum.&nbsp; Bramlage will be open to approximately 15 percent capacity (1,879). There are no single-game tickets available.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a>GAME 9</a>KANSAS STATE (3-5, 1-1 Big 12) vs. JACKSONVILLE (6-3)Monday, December 21, 2020 &gt;&gt; 1:01 p.m. CTOPENING TIP<ul>
 <li>Kansas State (3-5, 1-1 Big 12) makes a quick turnaround from Saturday’s loss to No. 2/2 Baylor with a rare Monday afternoon game, as the Wildcats continue their 4-game homestand with a non-conference contest against Jacksonville (6-3) at 1 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Ben Boyle (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (analyst) on the call.</li><li>K-State is 2-4 in non-conference play with just 3 remaining scheduled to play in 2020-21, which includes Monday’s game with Jacksonville (6-3), the Tuesday, Dec. 29 game with Omaha (2-7) and the SEC/Big 12 Challenge contest against Texas A&amp;M (4-1) on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. The Wildcats snapped a 2-game losing streak in non-conference play with a 76-75 win over Milwaukee on Dec. 11. This will be the first-ever meeting with Jacksonville, while the team is 7-0 vs. Atlantic Sun teams.</li><li>K-State returns to non-conference play after splitting its two December Big 12 games, defeating Iowa State, 74-65, on the road on Dec. 8 before the 100-69 loss at home to No. 2/2 Baylor on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats averaged 71.5 points on 45.9 percent shooting in its first 2 Big 12 games, while 5 players averaged better than 8.5 points per game, including 3 in double figures (Antonio Gordon (12.5 ppg.), DaJuan Gordon (11.5 ppg.) and Selton Miguel (11.0 ppg.).</li><li>No. 2/2 Baylor looked every bit one of the nation’s top teams on Saturday, as the Bears became just the 14th opponent to record a 100-point game against K-State and the first at Bramlage Coliseum since 1992 with a 100-69 victory. Baylor jumped out to a double-digit lead just 5 minutes into the game en route to building as much as a 32-point lead in the second half. The Bears connected on 57.8 percent (37-of-64) from the field, including tying an opponent record with 15 3-pointers.</li><li>The young Wildcats still had a number bright spots despite the loss, as the team hit on 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field, including 57.9 percent (22-of-38) from inside the 3-point arc, and posted season-highs for points in the paint (34), bench points (34) and second-half points (42). Sophomore Antonio Gordon recorded his first career 20-point game with 23 points on 9-of-9 shooting, as he became the eighth Wildcat to go 9-of-9 or better and the first since Dean Wade at Oklahoma State in 2019. Gordon’s 23 points tied for the eighth-most by a reserve in a conference game.</li><li>Since switching to the 4-guard look, K-State is averaging 73 points on 48.8 percent&nbsp; shooting (79-of-162), including 61.5 percent (59-of-96) from inside the 3-point line. Newcomers (Miguel, Davion Bradford, Rudi Williams) are all averaging in double figures, including 13.0 points per game by Miguel, 12.0 points per game by Bradford on 72.2 percent shooting and 11.0 points per game by Williams on 63.2 percent shooting. In all, underclassmen have combined for 146 of the team’s 219 points on 51.4 percent (55-of-107) shooting in the last 3 games.</li><li>K-State continued its youth movement against No. 2/2 Baylor, as the Wildcats started 3 true freshmen (Bradford, Miguel and Nijel Pack) for the third consecutive game, including the second time ever in a conference game. The Wildcats played just 2 upperclassmen (Mike McGuirl and Williams).</li>
 </ul>NOTES ON JACKSONVILLE<ul>
 <li>Like K-State, Jacksonville (6-3) will be playing its second game in 3 days, as the Dolphins saw its season-high 3-game winning streak end in Saturday’s 73-64 loss at Miami (Fla.). Prior to the loss, the team had won 3 games in a row over Florida National (78-69), New Orleans (77-70) and at South Carolina State (60-58). Aside from the game against Miami, Jacksonville also played a high-major game with Georgia (a 98-65 loss) on Dec. 4.</li><li>Jacksonville is averaging 73.9 points on 46.7 percent shooting, including 34.6 percent from 3-point range, to go with 36.1 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 6.2 steals and 3.1 blocks per game, while allowing 69.0 points on 42.3 percent shooting, including 30.9 percent from 3-point range. The team is connecting on 63.8 percent from the free throw line.</li><li>Four Dolphins are averaging in double figures led by junior Donatrius James, who is averaging 18.6 points on 50.4 percent shooting, including 44.1 percent from 3-point range. James has 4 20-point games and has hit on 4 or more 3-pointers in 5 of 9 games played. Diante Wood is averaging 12.4 points on 44.6 percent shooting, while Kansas City native and sophomore Tyreese Davis is averaging 12.3 points on 54.2 percent shooting, including 38.9 percent from 3-point range. Junior Bryce Workman is averaging 11.0 points on a team-best 60.7 percent shooting with 6.0 rebounds.&nbsp;</li><li>Jacksonville is led by seventh-year head coach Tony Jasick, who has led the Dolphins to a 90-113 record, including 3 seasons of 15 or more wins. He is 142-160 overall in 10 seasons as head coach, which included a 3-year stint at Fort Wayne, where he led the team to a 25-11 record in 2013-14.</li>
 </ul>SERIES HISTORY<ul>
 <li>This will be the first meeting between K-State and Jacksonville.</li><li>K-State is 7-0 against teams from the Atlantic Sun, including wins over Lipscomb in 2002 and 2003, Kennesaw State in 2006 and 2018 and North Florida in 2010, 2011 and 2012. This will be the first meeting with a A-Sun opponent since a 56-41 win over Kennesaw State on Nov. 9, 2018.</li>
 </ul>HISTORY AT BRAMLAGE COLISEUM<ul>
 <li>K-State has posted a 389-130 (.751) all-time record at Bramlage Coliseum since its opening during the 1988-89 season. The 389 wins are the most at a home venue for the Wildcats, surpassing the 378 wins at Ahearn Field House (1950-88). It is the school’s third home venue.</li><li>K-State has registered a 189-50 (.794) record at home over the past 15 seasons, including an 82-40 (.678) mark in Big 12 play. The 189 wins rank fourth among all Big 12 schools in that span, while the 82 league victories at home are among the top in the Big 12. In all, the program has double-digit victories in 26 of its 32 seasons in the arena.</li><li>K-State has a 250-72 (.776) record at home, including a 146-15 (.907) mark in non-conference action, since the 2001-02 season for an average of just over 13 home wins (13.1) per season in that span.</li><li>Head coach Bruce Weber has tallied a 104-34 (.759) record at Bramlage Coliseum since taking over at K-State in 2012-13 with just 10 non-conference home losses . The 34 losses (26 of which have come in Big 12 play) have come by a grand total of 334 points or just 9.8 points per game.</li>
 </ul>NON-CONFERENCE HISTORY<ul>
 <li>K-State has a 113-12 (.904) record at home venues (includes home games played at Bramlage Coliseum, INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita and the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City) in non-conference play dating back to the 2006-07 season, including a 104-10 (.912) mark at Bramlage Coliseum</li><li>Despite seeing their 33-game winning streak end at Bramlage Coliseum with a loss to Marquette on Dec. 7, 2019, the Wildcats have still won 100 of their last 110 non-conference home games.</li><li>K-State has posted a 149-46 (.764) record in non-conference play since the 2006-07 season. Prior to last season, the team had posted double-digit non-conference wins in 12 of the last 13 seasons.</li>
 </ul>LAST TIME OUT: 2/2 BAYLOR 100, K-STATE 69<ul>
 <li>Second-ranked Baylor looked every bit one of the nation’s top teams, as the Bears were impressive on both ends of the court in posting a 100-69 win over K-State on Saturday afternoon in front a limited capacity crowd of 848 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.</li><li>The unbeaten Bears (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) jumped out to a double-digit lead on back-to-back 3-pointers from senior MaCio Teague with just under 15 minutes to play in the first half en route to building as much as a 32-point lead in the second half in shooting 57.8 percent (37-of-64) from the field, including 46.8 percent (15-of-32) from 3-point range. The 15 3-point field goals made tied for the most by an opponent in school history.</li><li>Baylor became the 14th opponent to record a 100-point game vs. K-State in its history and the first since Xavier (Ohio) scored 103 points on Dec. 31, 2007. It was the first 100-point game by an opponent at Bramlage Coliseum since Oklahoma scored 117 on Jan. 18, 1992.</li><li>The youthful Wildcats couldn’t match the skill and intensity of their veteran opponent but still managed to shoot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field, including 57.9 percent (22-of-38) from inside the 3-point arc. In all, 9 players had at least one made field goal, including 23 of 28 made by underclassmen.</li><li>Sophomore Antonio Gordon was one of 2 players in double figures, as he collected a career-high 23 points on 9-of-9 field goals with a team-tying 6 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. His 23 points tied for the eighth-most by reserve in a conference game and the most since Marcus Foster had 23 against TCU on Jan. 7, 2015. Gordon became the eighth Wildcats to go 9-of-9 or better from the field and the first since Dean Wade also went 9-of-9 at Oklahoma State on Feb. 2, 2019 and the first at home since 2002.</li><li>Freshman Selton Miguel had double figures for the third time in 4 games with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.</li>
 </ul>UP NEXT: OMAHA (2-7)<ul>
 <li>K-State will take an 8-day break for the holidays before returning to action on Tuesday, Dec. 29 when the Wildcats continue their 4-game homestand with a game against Omaha (2-7) at 7 p.m., CT.</li>
 </ul>

K-State host rare Monday game versus Jacksonville

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs extended their winning streak to nine games with a 32-29 victory over the New Orleans Saints. The Kansas City defense did its part to spoil Drew Brees' return from rib fractures and a punctured lung that had kept the record-setting passer out four games. Brees passed for 234 yards and three TDs. But he completed less than half of his passes and was intercepted for just the fourth time this season. Le'Veon Bell had a 12-yard touchdown run for the Chiefs.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees began his comeback from injury without a completion on his first six passes. One of those was intercepted. The 41-year-old Brees had moments where he looked like his record-setting self. But there were many others when he didn't in a 32-29 loss to Kansas City. &nbsp;Brees says he has "a little ways to go" but feels well enough to play. Brees finished with 234 yards and three touchdowns. But he completed fewer than half of his passes after completing 73.5% of his passes coming into the game &nbsp;

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Fiesta Bowl could add another high-scoring game to its history with No. 12 Iowa State scheduled to face No. 25 Oregon on Jan. 2. The Cyclones dropped four spots in the College Football Playoff rankings after losing to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. The Ducks won their second straight Pac-12 championship by beating Southern California. Iowa State has the nation's leading rusher in Breece Hall, who had 1,436 yards and 19 touchdowns. Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 1,480 yards and 13 touchdowns with five interceptions in six games.&nbsp;

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Christian Bishop scored 19 points and No. 9 Creighton beat UConn 76-74 in overtime Sunday in the Huskies' return to the Big East. Mitch Ballock added 13 points for the Bluejays, who secured the win with a 9-0 run in the extra period. Marcus Zegarowski had 11 points and eight rebounds. James Bouknight scored a career-high 40 points for the Huskies, who were playing for the first time in 17 days because of coronavirus-related issues. This was UConn's first Big East game since 2013. Creighton had to rally late to send the game to OT.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Marcus Carr scored 32 points, making 14 free throws after halftime, and Minnesota held off Saint Louis 90-82, handing the Billikens their first loss of the season. The game was Carr's fourth straight with 28 points or better. Carr also finished with seven assists and four steals. Four other Gophers reached double figures, Gabe Kalscheur and Both Gach with 11 points each, Liam Robbins and Isaiah Ihnen with 10 each. Jordan Goodwin scored 21 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead Saint Louis, his sixth double-double in seven games.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Aleksa Gulbe scored 18 points with 12 rebounds and No. 15-ranked Indiana drubbed Nebraska 81-45 in the Hoosiers' Big Ten Conference opener. Mackenzie Holmes scored 16 for the Hoosiers who scored almost half their points (38) on the inside. Following a 13-9 first quarter, Indiana went on a 14-5 run in the first five minutes of the second. Gulbe buried a 3-pointer, recorded a three-point play and added a layup to start the run. Indiana went on to a 38-19 halftime lead and was never challenged in the second half. Isabelle Bourne scored 16 for Nebraska.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have placed backup quarterback Jameis Winston on the club's COVID-19 reserve list. The move leaves the Saints with two active QBs for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Winston has played sparingly this season. But his absence could affect how the Saints deploy versatile reserve QB Taysom Hill against the Chiefs. The Saints often use Hill as a tight end and on special teams. That becomes more risky when Hill is Brees' only backup. The COVID-19 list is for players who've been infected or were known to have close contact with an infected person.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Solomon Young scored 18 points, Jalen Coleman-Lands added 16 and Iowa State beat Jackson State 60-45. The Cyclones ended their four-game losing streak while the Tigers remain winless with their fifth consecutive loss following the cancelation of their first four games due to COVID-19. Coleman-Lands grabbed nine rebounds and Young collared eight. Tristan Jarrett scored 18 points for Jackson State. Iowa State is scheduled to host Chicago State on Tuesday, which will mark its fifth game in 12 days. The Tigers are scheduled to play at North Alabama on Tuesday. Jackson State's Jan. 9 contest against Alcorn State will serve as its home opener.

Chiefs beat Saints, Jets finally get first win

UNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs earned their ninth straight win to maintain control of the top seed in the AFC playoffs. And the New York Jets have avoided the distinction of becoming the third team in NFL history to finish 0-16.

Patrick Mahomes (mah-HOHMZ') threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs' 32-29 victory at New Orleans. Mahomes' scoring passes went for 5 yards each to Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman as Kansas City improved to an NFL-leading 13-1.

The Chiefs also spoiled the return of Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who missed five straight games with broken ribs and a punctured lung. Brees passed for 234 yards and three TDs, but he completed less than half of his passes and was intercepted for just the fourth time this season.

The 10-4 Saints missed a chance to clinch the NFC South for a second straight week and now are longshots to capture the NFC's top seed.

On the other side of the NFL spectrum, Sam Darnold passed for 207 yards and the Jets finally earned the first victory of their miserable season by holding on for a 23-20 road win against the Rams. Frank Gore rushed for an early touchdown and made a decisive third-down reception with 2:05 left for New York. Jets' defense stopped the Rams on downs at midfield with 3:54 to play before Darnold hit Gore with a short pass over the middle to convert a third down that allowed the Jets to run out the clock. Robert Woods and Tyler Higbee caught TD passes for the 9-5 Rams in the most humiliating loss of coach Sean McVay's largely successful four seasons in charge.

The Jets' victory puts the Jaguars in the driver's seat for the No. 1 pick in next year's NFL draft.

Elsewhere in Week 15 of the NFL schedule:

— Philip Rivers threw a late touchdown pass before the Colts' defense recovered a fumble in the end zone with 19 seconds left to seal a 27-20 win over the Texans. Zach Pascal caught a pass in the flat, turned up the field and stretched his arms across the goal line while hitting the pylon to give Indy a 27-20 lead with 1:47 to go. Houston got to the Indianapolis 7 on the next series before Darius Leonard punched the ball out of the hands of a Texans receiver to end the threat. Rivers was 22 of 28 with 228 yards and two scores, and Jonathan Taylor had 16 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.

— The Titans remain in a virtual tie with the Colts atop the AFC South at 10-4 after Ryan Tannehill threw for three TDs and ran for two more in a 46-25 thrashing of the Lions. Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards and a score to help Tennessee move closer to clinching its third playoff berth in four seasons. Tannehill finished with 273 yards passing and now has a career-high 31 TD passes this season. Tennessee became the fifth team in NFL history with five straight games of at least 420 total yards and 30 points. 

— Baker Mayfield led two 95-yard touchdown drives and the Browns moved closer to ending their 17-year playoff drought with a 20-6 victory over the Giants. Mayfield finished 27 of 32 for 297 yards and scoring passes to Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper. Nick Chubb had a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put it out of reach. The Giants played without quarterback Daniel Jones and stayed one game off the NFC East lead.

— Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score to carry the Ravens to their third straight win, a 40-7 shellacking of the Jaguars. Rookie J.K. Dobbins ran for 64 yards and a score for the 9-5 Ravens, and 32-year-old receiver Dez Bryant celebrated his first touchdown since 2017 late in the first half. Baltimore built a 26-0 halftime lead and handed Jacksonville its 13th consecutive loss. Gardner Minshew completed 22 of 29 passes for 226 yards and two scores, but he was sacked five times and lost a fumble.

— Tom Brady and the Buccaneers erased a 17-point deficit by scoring on five straight drives in the second half to beat the Falcons, 31-27. Atlanta led 17-0 at halftime and was up 24-7 before Brady rallied Tampa Bay. The 9-5 Bucs finally went ahead on Brady's 46-yard scoring strike to Antonio Brown with 6:19 remaining. The Buccaneers' QB was 31 of 45 for 390 yards and two TDs. 

— The Seahawks have clinched a playoff spot with a 20-15 win over Washington. Russell Wilson threw for just 121 yards, including a 10-yard TD hookup with Jacob Hollister. Wilson also ran for 52 yards on six carries for the 10-4 Seahawks, who led 20-3 in the second half and dropped Washington to 6-8. Carlos Hyde had the game's big play, a 50-yard scoring run that was Seattle's longest rushing play of the season. 

— The Patriots' string of 11 straight postseason appearances is over following a 22-12 loss to the Dolphins. Undrafted rookie Salvon Ahmed and veteran Matt Breida combined for 208 yards rushing after Miami entered the game ranked last in the NFL in yards per carry. Ahmed became the first 100-yard rusher for the team since 2018, finishing with 122 as the Dolphins improved to 9-5. Breida added 86 yards and the Dolphins totaled a season-high 250 against the Patriots.

— Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins bolstered the Cardinals' playoff chances in a 33-26 win against the Eagles. Murray threw for a career-high 406 yards, and DeAndre Hopkins had 169 yards receiving and a stellar touchdown catch for the 8-6 Cardinals. Murray completed 27 of 36 passes, with three touchdowns and one interception for Arizona, which squandered a 16-0 lead before winning its second straight since a three-game slide. Jalen Hurts completed 24 of 44 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns in his second career start, but he couldn't prevent Philadelphia from falling to 4-9-1.

— The Bears gave their sagging playoff hopes a boost as David Montgomery rushed for a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns in their 33-27 victory against the Vikings. The 7-7 Bears didn't punt after their first possession and hung on to win at Minnesota for the third straight year. Dalvin Cook rushed for 132 yards and a score for the 6-8 Vikings, whose playoff chances all-but vanished.

— Tony Pollard filled in for the injured Ezekiel Elliott and ran for two touchdowns to send the Cowboys past the 49ers, 41-33. Four of the seven Dallas scores were set up by turnovers from the 5-9 49ers, who guaranteed themselves becoming the second Super Bowl runner-up in the past 13 seasons to finish with a losing record the next year. Andy Dalton threw for two touchdowns, and Greg Zuerlein (ZUR'-lyn) kicked a tiebreaking field goal early in the fourth quarter after the second interception by Nick Mullens. Dallas is just a game off the NFC East lead despite a 5-9 record.

Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame get green light

UNDATED (AP) — Notre Dame's loss to Clemson in Saturday's ACC title game didn't prevent the Irish from landing a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Notre Dame was picked over Texas A&amp;M for the final berth and will take on Alabama near Dallas on Jan. 1. The other game will have Clemson taking on Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day. 

The Fighting Irish are the first team to lose a conference title game and make the selection committee's final four. The ACC is the second conference to have two teams in the playoff, thanks to an invitation to allow Notre Dame to compete during the pandemic-altered season.

— The fifth-ranked Aggies have to settle for a meeting with No. 13 North Carolina in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2.

— Big 12 champ Oklahoma will battle SEC runner-up Florida in the Dec. 30 Cotton Bowl.

— No. 12 Iowa State scheduled to face Pac-12 champ Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2.

— American Athletic Conference winner and sixth-ranked Cincinnati will meet Georgia in the Peach Bowl on New Year's Day.

Florida's Pitts turns pro less than 12 hours after SEC title game

UNDATED (AP) — Florida standout tight end Kyle Pitts is turning pro and skipping the Gators' bowl game. 

Pitts made his announcement on social media less than 12 hours after the 11th-ranked Gators lost to No. 1 Alabama 52-46 in the SEC championship game. The 6-foot-6 junior from Philadelphia caught 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in 7 1/2 games this season. 

— Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan has entered the transfer portal after an injury-riddled season in which he didn't play. Coan made 18 starts from 2018-19 and helped the Badgers reach the Rose Bowl in 2019. He injured his right foot in preseason practice and underwent surgery. 

— Minnesota is the latest Football Bowl Subdivision team to opt out of bowl game consideration. Coach P.J. Fleck announced Sunday that the decision was made collectively by athletic department leadership, coaches and players. The Gophers lost 20-17 in overtime at Wisconsin yesterday to finish the season at 3-4. 

UNDATED (AP) — The Utah Jazz and All-Star center Rudy Gobert (goh-BEHR') have agreed on a contract extension.

A person familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press the package could be worth as much as $205 million over five seasons. 

The move was announced two days after Ryan Smith was confirmed by the NBA's board of governors to become the owner of the Jazz. Utah has committed perhaps as much as $400 million to Gobert and Donovan Mitchell over a span of five seasons.

Northwestern finally beats Michigan State

UNDATED (AP) — Fourth-ranked Michigan State can expect to slide in the AP men's basketball poll on Monday after losing to Northwestern for the first time in almost nine years.

Boo Buie scored a career-high 30 points and the Wildcats ended a 12-game losing streak to the Spartans by beating them, 79-65. Pete Nance added 15 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in Northwestern's biggest win since its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. 

Aaron Henry scored 11 points for Michigan State, which shot just 39% from the field.

— Quentin Grimes had 27 points and 10 rebounds in No. 6 Houston's 88-55 pounding of Alcorn State. Reggie Chaney added 18 points and six rebounds for Houston, which played without second-leading scorer Marcus Sasser and preseason American Athletic Conference player of the year Caleb Mills.

— Christian Bishop scored 19 points and No. 9 Creighton used a 9-0 run in the extra frame to secure a 76-74 win over Connecticut. Mitch Ballock added 13 points for the Bluejays, who also received 10 points and 13 boards from Denzel Mahoney.

— Freshman Greg Brown scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help eleventh-ranked Texas pull out a 77-74 victory against Oklahoma State. Brown made four free throws during the final 37 seconds as the 7-1 Longhorns survived a late Oklahoma State rally that included two 3-pointers by Bryce Williams in the final 11 seconds.

— Ron Harper Jr. scored 28 points and 19th-rated Rutgers overcame a double-digit first-half deficit to beat No. 13 Illinois, 91-88. Jacob Young finished with 24 points to help the Scarlet Knights withstand Ayo Dosunmu's (EYE'-oh doh-SOO'-mooz) 22 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. 

NHL, players finalize agreement for 56-game season

UNDATED (AP) — The NHL has finalized plans for a 56-game season that will begin on Jan. 13.

The regular season is slated to end May 8 before a 16-team postseason that will run another two months.

Teams will be split into North, South, East and West divisions, with the North group consisting of the seven Canadian teams. All games will be intradivision matchups to minimize travel and the potential for the coronavirus to disrupt the season. 

As far as the divisions, Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington and the New York Islanders and Rangers are in the East; Carolina, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Nashville and Tampa Bay are in the Central; and Arizona, Anaheim, Colorado, Los Angeles, Minnesota, St. Louis, San Jose and Vegas are in the West. 

Ko wins LPGA's season-ending CME Group title in a flourish

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Jin Young Ko has captured the LPGA Tour's yearlong money title despite missing most of the season.

The world's No. 1 player pocketed $1.1 million by winning the CME Group Tour Championship by five strokes over Hannah Green and Sei Young Kim. Ko closed with a 6-under 66 in the final event of the season.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Justin Thomas and his father teamed to win the PNC Championship.

Team Thomas birdied the opening seven holes and the father delivered a 5-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. They closed with a 15-under 57 in the scramble format and a one-shot victory over Vijay Singh (VEE'-jay sing) and son Qass.

Tiger Woods and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, finished five strokes back.

<h2>Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press</h2>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs extended their winning streak to nine games with a 32-29 victory over the New Orleans Saints. The Kansas City defense did its part to spoil Drew Brees' return from rib fractures and a punctured lung that had kept the record-setting passer out four games. Brees passed for 234 yards and three TDs. But he completed less than half of his passes and was intercepted for just the fourth time this season. Le'Veon Bell had a 12-yard touchdown run for the Chiefs.NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees began his comeback from injury without a completion on his first six passes. One of those was intercepted. The 41-year-old Brees had moments where he looked like his record-setting self. But there were many others when he didn't in a 32-29 loss to Kansas City. &nbsp;Brees says he has "a little ways to go" but feels well enough to play. Brees finished with 234 yards and three touchdowns. But he completed fewer than half of his passes after completing 73.5% of his passes coming into the game &nbsp;GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Fiesta Bowl could add another high-scoring game to its history with No. 12 Iowa State scheduled to face No. 25 Oregon on Jan. 2. The Cyclones dropped four spots in the College Football Playoff rankings after losing to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. The Ducks won their second straight Pac-12 championship by beating Southern California. Iowa State has the nation's leading rusher in Breece Hall, who had 1,436 yards and 19 touchdowns. Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 1,480 yards and 13 touchdowns with five interceptions in six games.&nbsp;STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Christian Bishop scored 19 points and No. 9 Creighton beat UConn 76-74 in overtime Sunday in the Huskies' return to the Big East. Mitch Ballock added 13 points for the Bluejays, who secured the win with a 9-0 run in the extra period. Marcus Zegarowski had 11 points and eight rebounds. James Bouknight scored a career-high 40 points for the Huskies, who were playing for the first time in 17 days because of coronavirus-related issues. This was UConn's first Big East game since 2013. Creighton had to rally late to send the game to OT.MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Marcus Carr scored 32 points, making 14 free throws after halftime, and Minnesota held off Saint Louis 90-82, handing the Billikens their first loss of the season. The game was Carr's fourth straight with 28 points or better. Carr also finished with seven assists and four steals. Four other Gophers reached double figures, Gabe Kalscheur and Both Gach with 11 points each, Liam Robbins and Isaiah Ihnen with 10 each. Jordan Goodwin scored 21 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead Saint Louis, his sixth double-double in seven games.BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Aleksa Gulbe scored 18 points with 12 rebounds and No. 15-ranked Indiana drubbed Nebraska 81-45 in the Hoosiers' Big Ten Conference opener. Mackenzie Holmes scored 16 for the Hoosiers who scored almost half their points (38) on the inside. Following a 13-9 first quarter, Indiana went on a 14-5 run in the first five minutes of the second. Gulbe buried a 3-pointer, recorded a three-point play and added a layup to start the run. Indiana went on to a 38-19 halftime lead and was never challenged in the second half. Isabelle Bourne scored 16 for Nebraska.NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have placed backup quarterback Jameis Winston on the club's COVID-19 reserve list. The move leaves the Saints with two active QBs for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Winston has played sparingly this season. But his absence could affect how the Saints deploy versatile reserve QB Taysom Hill against the Chiefs. The Saints often use Hill as a tight end and on special teams. That becomes more risky when Hill is Brees' only backup. The COVID-19 list is for players who've been infected or were known to have close contact with an infected person.AMES, Iowa (AP) — Solomon Young scored 18 points, Jalen Coleman-Lands added 16 and Iowa State beat Jackson State 60-45. The Cyclones ended their four-game losing streak while the Tigers remain winless with their fifth consecutive loss following the cancelation of their first four games due to COVID-19. Coleman-Lands grabbed nine rebounds and Young collared eight. Tristan Jarrett scored 18 points for Jackson State. Iowa State is scheduled to host Chicago State on Tuesday, which will mark its fifth game in 12 days. The Tigers are scheduled to play at North Alabama on Tuesday. Jackson State's Jan. 9 contest against Alcorn State will serve as its home opener.<h2>Update on the latest sports</h2>NFL-SCHEDULEChiefs beat Saints, Jets finally get first winUNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs earned their ninth straight win to maintain control of the top seed in the AFC playoffs. And the New York Jets have avoided the distinction of becoming the third team in NFL history to finish 0-16.Patrick Mahomes (mah-HOHMZ') threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs' 32-29 victory at New Orleans. Mahomes' scoring passes went for 5 yards each to Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman as Kansas City improved to an NFL-leading 13-1.The Chiefs also spoiled the return of Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who missed five straight games with broken ribs and a punctured lung. Brees passed for 234 yards and three TDs, but he completed less than half of his passes and was intercepted for just the fourth time this season.The 10-4 Saints missed a chance to clinch the NFC South for a second straight week and now are longshots to capture the NFC's top seed.On the other side of the NFL spectrum, Sam Darnold passed for 207 yards and the Jets finally earned the first victory of their miserable season by holding on for a 23-20 road win against the Rams. Frank Gore rushed for an early touchdown and made a decisive third-down reception with 2:05 left for New York. Jets' defense stopped the Rams on downs at midfield with 3:54 to play before Darnold hit Gore with a short pass over the middle to convert a third down that allowed the Jets to run out the clock. Robert Woods and Tyler Higbee caught TD passes for the 9-5 Rams in the most humiliating loss of coach Sean McVay's largely successful four seasons in charge.The Jets' victory puts the Jaguars in the driver's seat for the No. 1 pick in next year's NFL draft.Elsewhere in Week 15 of the NFL schedule:— Philip Rivers threw a late touchdown pass before the Colts' defense recovered a fumble in the end zone with 19 seconds left to seal a 27-20 win over the Texans. Zach Pascal caught a pass in the flat, turned up the field and stretched his arms across the goal line while hitting the pylon to give Indy a 27-20 lead with 1:47 to go. Houston got to the Indianapolis 7 on the next series before Darius Leonard punched the ball out of the hands of a Texans receiver to end the threat. Rivers was 22 of 28 with 228 yards and two scores, and Jonathan Taylor had 16 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.— The Titans remain in a virtual tie with the Colts atop the AFC South at 10-4 after Ryan Tannehill threw for three TDs and ran for two more in a 46-25 thrashing of the Lions. Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards and a score to help Tennessee move closer to clinching its third playoff berth in four seasons. Tannehill finished with 273 yards passing and now has a career-high 31 TD passes this season. Tennessee became the fifth team in NFL history with five straight games of at least 420 total yards and 30 points. — Baker Mayfield led two 95-yard touchdown drives and the Browns moved closer to ending their 17-year playoff drought with a 20-6 victory over the Giants. Mayfield finished 27 of 32 for 297 yards and scoring passes to Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper. Nick Chubb had a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put it out of reach. The Giants played without quarterback Daniel Jones and stayed one game off the NFC East lead.— Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score to carry the Ravens to their third straight win, a 40-7 shellacking of the Jaguars. Rookie J.K. Dobbins ran for 64 yards and a score for the 9-5 Ravens, and 32-year-old receiver Dez Bryant celebrated his first touchdown since 2017 late in the first half. Baltimore built a 26-0 halftime lead and handed Jacksonville its 13th consecutive loss. Gardner Minshew completed 22 of 29 passes for 226 yards and two scores, but he was sacked five times and lost a fumble.— Tom Brady and the Buccaneers erased a 17-point deficit by scoring on five straight drives in the second half to beat the Falcons, 31-27. Atlanta led 17-0 at halftime and was up 24-7 before Brady rallied Tampa Bay. The 9-5 Bucs finally went ahead on Brady's 46-yard scoring strike to Antonio Brown with 6:19 remaining. The Buccaneers' QB was 31 of 45 for 390 yards and two TDs. — The Seahawks have clinched a playoff spot with a 20-15 win over Washington. Russell Wilson threw for just 121 yards, including a 10-yard TD hookup with Jacob Hollister. Wilson also ran for 52 yards on six carries for the 10-4 Seahawks, who led 20-3 in the second half and dropped Washington to 6-8. Carlos Hyde had the game's big play, a 50-yard scoring run that was Seattle's longest rushing play of the season. — The Patriots' string of 11 straight postseason appearances is over following a 22-12 loss to the Dolphins. Undrafted rookie Salvon Ahmed and veteran Matt Breida combined for 208 yards rushing after Miami entered the game ranked last in the NFL in yards per carry. Ahmed became the first 100-yard rusher for the team since 2018, finishing with 122 as the Dolphins improved to 9-5. Breida added 86 yards and the Dolphins totaled a season-high 250 against the Patriots.— Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins bolstered the Cardinals' playoff chances in a 33-26 win against the Eagles. Murray threw for a career-high 406 yards, and DeAndre Hopkins had 169 yards receiving and a stellar touchdown catch for the 8-6 Cardinals. Murray completed 27 of 36 passes, with three touchdowns and one interception for Arizona, which squandered a 16-0 lead before winning its second straight since a three-game slide. Jalen Hurts completed 24 of 44 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns in his second career start, but he couldn't prevent Philadelphia from falling to 4-9-1.— The Bears gave their sagging playoff hopes a boost as David Montgomery rushed for a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns in their 33-27 victory against the Vikings. The 7-7 Bears didn't punt after their first possession and hung on to win at Minnesota for the third straight year. Dalvin Cook rushed for 132 yards and a score for the 6-8 Vikings, whose playoff chances all-but vanished.— Tony Pollard filled in for the injured Ezekiel Elliott and ran for two touchdowns to send the Cowboys past the 49ers, 41-33. Four of the seven Dallas scores were set up by turnovers from the 5-9 49ers, who guaranteed themselves becoming the second Super Bowl runner-up in the past 13 seasons to finish with a losing record the next year. Andy Dalton threw for two touchdowns, and Greg Zuerlein (ZUR'-lyn) kicked a tiebreaking field goal early in the fourth quarter after the second interception by Nick Mullens. Dallas is just a game off the NFC East lead despite a 5-9 record.COLLEGE FOOTBALL-CFPAlabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame get green lightUNDATED (AP) — Notre Dame's loss to Clemson in Saturday's ACC title game didn't prevent the Irish from landing a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.Notre Dame was picked over Texas A&amp;M for the final berth and will take on Alabama near Dallas on Jan. 1. The other game will have Clemson taking on Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day. The Fighting Irish are the first team to lose a conference title game and make the selection committee's final four. The ACC is the second conference to have two teams in the playoff, thanks to an invitation to allow Notre Dame to compete during the pandemic-altered season.In other bowl matchups of note:— The fifth-ranked Aggies have to settle for a meeting with No. 13 North Carolina in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2.— Big 12 champ Oklahoma will battle SEC runner-up Florida in the Dec. 30 Cotton Bowl.— No. 12 Iowa State scheduled to face Pac-12 champ Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2.— American Athletic Conference winner and sixth-ranked Cincinnati will meet Georgia in the Peach Bowl on New Year's Day.COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NEWSFlorida's Pitts turns pro less than 12 hours after SEC title gameUNDATED (AP) — Florida standout tight end Kyle Pitts is turning pro and skipping the Gators' bowl game. Pitts made his announcement on social media less than 12 hours after the 11th-ranked Gators lost to No. 1 Alabama 52-46 in the SEC championship game. The 6-foot-6 junior from Philadelphia caught 43 passes for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in 7 1/2 games this season. In other college football news:— Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan has entered the transfer portal after an injury-riddled season in which he didn't play. Coan made 18 starts from 2018-19 and helped the Badgers reach the Rose Bowl in 2019. He injured his right foot in preseason practice and underwent surgery. — Minnesota is the latest Football Bowl Subdivision team to opt out of bowl game consideration. Coach P.J. Fleck announced Sunday that the decision was made collectively by athletic department leadership, coaches and players. The Gophers lost 20-17 in overtime at Wisconsin yesterday to finish the season at 3-4. NBA-NEWSGobert signs extension with JazzUNDATED (AP) — The Utah Jazz and All-Star center Rudy Gobert (goh-BEHR') have agreed on a contract extension.A person familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press the package could be worth as much as $205 million over five seasons. The move was announced two days after Ryan Smith was confirmed by the NBA's board of governors to become the owner of the Jazz. Utah has committed perhaps as much as $400 million to Gobert and Donovan Mitchell over a span of five seasons.T25 MEN'S BASKETBALLNorthwestern finally beats Michigan StateUNDATED (AP) — Fourth-ranked Michigan State can expect to slide in the AP men's basketball poll on Monday after losing to Northwestern for the first time in almost nine years.Boo Buie scored a career-high 30 points and the Wildcats ended a 12-game losing streak to the Spartans by beating them, 79-65. Pete Nance added 15 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in Northwestern's biggest win since its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. Aaron Henry scored 11 points for Michigan State, which shot just 39% from the field.In other top-25 men's basketball action:— Quentin Grimes had 27 points and 10 rebounds in No. 6 Houston's 88-55 pounding of Alcorn State. Reggie Chaney added 18 points and six rebounds for Houston, which played without second-leading scorer Marcus Sasser and preseason American Athletic Conference player of the year Caleb Mills.— Christian Bishop scored 19 points and No. 9 Creighton used a 9-0 run in the extra frame to secure a 76-74 win over Connecticut. Mitch Ballock added 13 points for the Bluejays, who also received 10 points and 13 boards from Denzel Mahoney.— Freshman Greg Brown scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help eleventh-ranked Texas pull out a 77-74 victory against Oklahoma State. Brown made four free throws during the final 37 seconds as the 7-1 Longhorns survived a late Oklahoma State rally that included two 3-pointers by Bryce Williams in the final 11 seconds.— Ron Harper Jr. scored 28 points and 19th-rated Rutgers overcame a double-digit first-half deficit to beat No. 13 Illinois, 91-88. Jacob Young finished with 24 points to help the Scarlet Knights withstand Ayo Dosunmu's (EYE'-oh doh-SOO'-mooz) 22 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. NHL-2021 SEASONNHL, players finalize agreement for 56-game seasonUNDATED (AP) — The NHL has finalized plans for a 56-game season that will begin on Jan. 13.The regular season is slated to end May 8 before a 16-team postseason that will run another two months.Teams will be split into North, South, East and West divisions, with the North group consisting of the seven Canadian teams. All games will be intradivision matchups to minimize travel and the potential for the coronavirus to disrupt the season. As far as the divisions, Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington and the New York Islanders and Rangers are in the East; Carolina, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Nashville and Tampa Bay are in the Central; and Arizona, Anaheim, Colorado, Los Angeles, Minnesota, St. Louis, San Jose and Vegas are in the West. LPGA TOURKo wins LPGA's season-ending CME Group title in a flourishNAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Jin Young Ko has captured the LPGA Tour's yearlong money title despite missing most of the season.The world's No. 1 player pocketed $1.1 million by winning the CME Group Tour Championship by five strokes over Hannah Green and Sei Young Kim. Ko closed with a 6-under 66 in the final event of the season.GOLF-PNC CHAMPIONSHIPTeam Thomas winsORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Justin Thomas and his father teamed to win the PNC Championship.Team Thomas birdied the opening seven holes and the father delivered a 5-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. They closed with a 15-under 57 in the scramble format and a one-shot victory over Vijay Singh (VEE'-jay sing) and son Qass.Tiger Woods and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, finished five strokes back.

Sports Headlines for Monday

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

Final	Northwestern	79	(4)Michigan St.	65	

		Saint Joseph's	at	(10)Tennessee	6 p.m.	

		Gardner-Webb	at	(15)Florida St.	7 p.m.	

AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUEFinal	Baltimore	40	Jacksonville	14	Final	Chicago	33	Minnesota	27	Final	Dallas	41	San Francisco	33	Final	Indianapolis	27	Houston	20	Final	Miami	22	New England	12	Final	Seattle	20	Washington	15	Final	Tampa Bay	31	Atlanta	27	Final	Tennessee	46	Detroit	25	Final	Arizona	33	Philadelphia	26	Final	N-Y Jets	23	L.A. Rams	20	Final	Kansas City	32	New Orleans	29	Final	Cleveland	20	N-Y Giants	6	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	Northwestern	79	(4)Michigan St.	65	Final	(6)Houston	88	Alcorn St.	55	Final	(9)Creighton	76	UConn	74	Final	(11)Texas	77	Oklahoma St.	74	Final	(19)Rutgers	91	(13)Illinois	88	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE		Pittsburgh	at	Cincinnati	8:15 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		Northwestern St.	at	(1)Gonzaga	9 p.m.			Ark.-Pine Bluff	at	(2)Baylor	8 p.m.			Saint Joseph's	at	(10)Tennessee	6 p.m.			Gardner-Webb	at	(15)Florida St.	7 p.m.			Morehead St.	at	(24)Clemson	12 p.m.	___

Sports Scores from Sunday

NEW ORLEANS, La.—The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the New Orleans Saints, 32-29, to tally their 13th victory of the season on Sunday afternoon, holding off a late Saints' rally to secure a perfect record on the road and their ninth-consecutive win overall.

Kansas City built multiple double-digit leads throughout the contest, but in a matchup between two of the top teams in the NFL, the game came down to the wire before the Chiefs sealed it. Leading by three points following a Saints' score with just under two minutes left, tailback Le'Veon Bell bounced outside for five yards to move the chains and effectively end the game.

It completed a wild game that saw momentum swing both directions, but it certainly didn't start that way. In fact, in a matchup that was billed as a meeting between two of the top offenses in football, it was a defensive battle through the first several possessions of the game.

The two teams combined for three punts through the first three total drives of the contest, and on the Saints' second possession, Chiefs' cornerback L'Jarius Sneed picked off New Orleans' quarterback Drew Brees for his third interception of the year.

Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes made sure to cash in on the takeaway a bit later, finding wide receiver Tyreek Hill for a 5-yard touchdown to put Kansas City on the board first. It marked Hill's fifteenth receiving touchdown of the season, matching Dwayne Bowe for the most receiving scores in a single season in franchise history.

Kansas City was then back in the end zone on their next drive, as Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce on a 1-yard score to put the Chiefs up by double-digits. The score punctuated an impressive series that included conversions on two long third downs, and as the second quarter got underway, Kansas City's point total exceeded what the Saints had in terms of passing yards.

New Orleans managed to narrow the deficit soon after, however, when Brees connected with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders for a gain of 51 yards before quarterback Taysom Hill plunged ahead for a 1-yard score to cut the Chiefs' advantage in half. That was it for the Saints' offense in the first half though, as Kansas City held New Orleans to just 123 total yards through seven possessions while limiting the Saints to just 1-of-7 on third down.

The Saints did tally two points on special teams just before the break when return man Demarcus Robinson fumbled a New Orleans' punt out the back of the end zone - moving New Orleans within five – and they completed the comeback to begin the second half as Brees found tailback Latavius Murray for a 24-yard touchdown to put the Saints in front.

Mahomes then answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive to re-claim the lead on the Chiefs' first drive of the third quarter, firing a perfectly placed dart to wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who made an equally impressive catch for a 5-yard touchdown to put the Chiefs back ahead.

The Chiefs later added to that advantage when Bell took an option pitch from Mahomes and scampered for a 13-yard score – restoring the 14-point advantage for Kansas City - but the Saints cut into that lead midway through the fourth quarter when Brees found tailback Alvin Kamara for a 14-yard touchdown to bring the margin within a single score once again.

Kansas City made it a two-score game on their next possession when Harrison Butker connected on a 22-yard field goal, but New Orleans again inched closer when Brees hit wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 17-yard touchdown on the Saints' next drive.

That made it a three-point lead for Kansas City with two minutes left, setting the stage for Bell's run at the end that sealed it.

Mahomes finished the game with 254 yards and three touchdowns through the air in addition to 37 yards on the ground. Kelce led all receivers with 68 yards to go along with his score. Defensively, the Chiefs held New Orleans to just 1-of-11 on third down.

The win represented Kansas City's eighth victory on the road this season, marking the Chiefs' first perfect record away from Arrowhead Stadium in the Super Bowl Era. It's just Kansas City's second perfect season on the road in franchise history and the first since 1966.

The Chiefs will return to Arrowhead for the final two games of the regular season, beginning with a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.

NEW ORLEANS, La.—The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the New Orleans Saints, 32-29, to tally their 13th victory of the season on Sunday afternoon, holding off a late Saints' rally to secure a perfect record on the road and their ninth-consecutive win overall.Kansas City built multiple double-digit leads throughout the contest, but in a matchup between two of the top teams in the NFL, the game came down to the wire before the Chiefs sealed it. Leading by three points following a Saints' score with just under two minutes left, tailback Le'Veon Bell bounced outside for five yards to move the chains and effectively end the game.It completed a wild game that saw momentum swing both directions, but it certainly didn't start that way. In fact, in a matchup that was billed as a meeting between two of the top offenses in football, it was a defensive battle through the first several possessions of the game.The two teams combined for three punts through the first three total drives of the contest, and on the Saints' second possession, Chiefs' cornerback L'Jarius Sneed picked off New Orleans' quarterback Drew Brees for his third interception of the year.Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes made sure to cash in on the takeaway a bit later, finding wide receiver Tyreek Hill for a 5-yard touchdown to put Kansas City on the board first. It marked Hill's fifteenth receiving touchdown of the season, matching Dwayne Bowe for the most receiving scores in a single season in franchise history.Kansas City was then back in the end zone on their next drive, as Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce on a 1-yard score to put the Chiefs up by double-digits. The score punctuated an impressive series that included conversions on two long third downs, and as the second quarter got underway, Kansas City's point total exceeded what the Saints had in terms of passing yards.New Orleans managed to narrow the deficit soon after, however, when Brees connected with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders for a gain of 51 yards before quarterback Taysom Hill plunged ahead for a 1-yard score to cut the Chiefs' advantage in half. That was it for the Saints' offense in the first half though, as Kansas City held New Orleans to just 123 total yards through seven possessions while limiting the Saints to just 1-of-7 on third down.The Saints did tally two points on special teams just before the break when return man Demarcus Robinson fumbled a New Orleans' punt out the back of the end zone - moving New Orleans within five – and they completed the comeback to begin the second half as Brees found tailback Latavius Murray for a 24-yard touchdown to put the Saints in front.Mahomes then answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive to re-claim the lead on the Chiefs' first drive of the third quarter, firing a perfectly placed dart to wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who made an equally impressive catch for a 5-yard touchdown to put the Chiefs back ahead.The Chiefs later added to that advantage when Bell took an option pitch from Mahomes and scampered for a 13-yard score – restoring the 14-point advantage for Kansas City - but the Saints cut into that lead midway through the fourth quarter when Brees found tailback Alvin Kamara for a 14-yard touchdown to bring the margin within a single score once again.Kansas City made it a two-score game on their next possession when Harrison Butker connected on a 22-yard field goal, but New Orleans again inched closer when Brees hit wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 17-yard touchdown on the Saints' next drive.That made it a three-point lead for Kansas City with two minutes left, setting the stage for Bell's run at the end that sealed it.Mahomes finished the game with 254 yards and three touchdowns through the air in addition to 37 yards on the ground. Kelce led all receivers with 68 yards to go along with his score. Defensively, the Chiefs held New Orleans to just 1-of-11 on third down.The win represented Kansas City's eighth victory on the road this season, marking the Chiefs' first perfect record away from Arrowhead Stadium in the Super Bowl Era. It's just Kansas City's second perfect season on the road in franchise history and the first since 1966.The Chiefs will return to Arrowhead for the final two games of the regular season, beginning with a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.

Chiefs defeat Saints, 32-29, to complete perfect record on the road

No. 6
Oklahoma and No. 10 Iowa State will play in CFP New Year’s Six Bowls to give
the Big 12 two teams in the postseason structure for the fifth season in its
seven years. The Conference is sending at least 60 percent of its teams to bowl
games for the 12th consecutive season and has placed at least six
teams in the postseason for 23 straight years. 

The
Sooners will square off against No. 7 Florida in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on
December 30 while the Cyclones face No. 25 Oregon in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl
on January 2. This
season’s two appearances mark a total of 12 for the Big 12 in CFP bowls. OU
will play in its sixth straight New Year’s Six Bowl while ISU makes its first
appearance.&nbsp; 

The Big 12 bowl season kicks off on December 29 with No. 21
Oklahoma State competing against No. 18 Miami in the Cheez-It Bowl while No. 20
Texas takes on Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Two New Year’s Eve matchups
are on tap as West Virginia plays Tennessee in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and
TCU faces Arkansas in the Mercari Texas Bowl as all of the Big 12’s opponents
are from autonomy conferences. 

&nbsp; No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. No.
18 Miami (ESPN), 4:30 p.m.

&nbsp; No. 20 Texas vs. Colorado (ESPN), 8:00 p.m.

&nbsp; No. 6 Oklahoma vs. No. 7
Florida (ESPN), 7:00 p.m.

&nbsp;West Virginia vs. Tennessee (ESPN), 3:00 p.m.

&nbsp;TCU vs. Arkansas (ESPN), 7:00 p.m.

Playstation Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.&nbsp;

No. 10 Iowa State vs. No. 25
Oregon (ESPN), 3:00 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608516387397.png" alt="big 12 bowl match ups.png" />
 <figcaption>big 12 bowl match ups.png</figcaption>
 </figure>No. 6
Oklahoma and No. 10 Iowa State will play in CFP New Year’s Six Bowls to give
the Big 12 two teams in the postseason structure for the fifth season in its
seven years. The Conference is sending at least 60 percent of its teams to bowl
games for the 12th consecutive season and has placed at least six
teams in the postseason for 23 straight years. The
Sooners will square off against No. 7 Florida in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on
December 30 while the Cyclones face No. 25 Oregon in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl
on January 2. This
season’s two appearances mark a total of 12 for the Big 12 in CFP bowls. OU
will play in its sixth straight New Year’s Six Bowl while ISU makes its first
appearance.&nbsp; The Big 12 bowl season kicks off on December 29 with No. 21
Oklahoma State competing against No. 18 Miami in the Cheez-It Bowl while No. 20
Texas takes on Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Two New Year’s Eve matchups
are on tap as West Virginia plays Tennessee in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and
TCU faces Arkansas in the Mercari Texas Bowl as all of the Big 12’s opponents
are from autonomy conferences. 2020-21
Big 12 Bowl ScheduleTuesday, December 29Cheez-It Bowl, Orlando, Fla.&nbsp; No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. No.
18 Miami (ESPN), 4:30 p.m. Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio, Texas&nbsp; No. 20 Texas vs. Colorado (ESPN), 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 30Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Texas&nbsp; No. 6 Oklahoma vs. No. 7
Florida (ESPN), 7:00 p.m.Thursday, December 31AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tenn.&nbsp;West Virginia vs. Tennessee (ESPN), 3:00 p.m. Mercari Texas Bowl, Houston, Texas&nbsp;TCU vs. Arkansas (ESPN), 7:00 p.m. Saturday, January 2Playstation Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.&nbsp; No. 10 Iowa State vs. No. 25
Oregon (ESPN), 3:00 p.m. CFP rankings listed. All times listed as Central.

Big 12 announces bowl matchups

NEW OLEANS, La.—A rite of December in the NFL, along with Christmas, Hanukkah and meaningless games for the Jets, Bengals and Lions, is the release of playoff scenarios. Those scenarios become less complicated as the league gets deeper into the month. Suffice to note that eight of the top teams can clinch something this weekend. The real spotlight, of course, is on two of the clubs already headed to the playoffs: defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City at New Orleans.

NEW OLEANS, La.—A rite of December in the NFL, along with Christmas, Hanukkah and meaningless games for the Jets, Bengals and Lions, is the release of playoff scenarios. Those scenarios become less complicated as the league gets deeper into the month. Suffice to note that eight of the top teams can clinch something this weekend. The real spotlight, of course, is on two of the clubs already headed to the playoffs: defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City at New Orleans.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zt0F91Kobc4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

🎥 🏈 A winner: Chiefs vs Saints, with Brees back to face Mahomes

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — No. 12 Oklahoma has won its sixth Big 12 football championship in a row. Spencer Rattler threw a touchdown and ran for another one as the Sooners held on to beat No. 8 Iowa State 27-21 in the title game. That impressive title streak still probably won't be enough to get the 8-2 Sooners back in the College Football Playoff for the fourth year in a row. They have won seven games in a row since losing at Iowa State on October 3. Big 12 rushing leader Breece Hall ran for two touchdowns for the 8-3 Cyclones but was held to a season-low 79 yards. &nbsp;

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Jalen Suggs scored 18 of his career-high 27 points in the first half and No. 1 Gonzaga held off a late rally to beat No. 3 Iowa 99-88. This was the Bulldogs first game since pausing activities in early December because of the coronavirus. Gonzaga showed little rust from not playing a game since Dec. 2. Suggs, the West Coast Conference freshman player of the week last week, entered the game against Iowa averaging 13.3 points per game. Luka Garza led Iowa with 30 points and 10 rebounds on 13 of 18 shooting.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — MaCio Teague had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Davion Mitchell scored 20 points and No. 2 Baylor beat Kansas State 100-69. Jared Butler had 14 points and 13 assists for his first career double-double with the Bears, and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua scored 13 points. Antonio Gordon led the Wildcats with 23 points on 9-of-9 shooting, and Selton Miguel scored 14 points. This was the first game for Baylor in a week after the school paused team activity due to COVID-19 protocols. &nbsp;

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Will Rogers threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mississippi State to a 51-32 victory over Missouri. After weeks of floundering offensively, Mississippi State finally got many of their young weapons working in tandem. The Bulldogs racked up 446 yards of total offense in the game, including a season-high 151 yards on the ground. Missouri logged 342 yards of total offense, but many of them after the outcome of the game was already decided, and they turned the ball over four times. Conner Bazelak threw for 225 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Larry Rountree led all rushers with 121 yards and two touchdowns.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Myah Selland scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals and South Dakota State defeated its third ranked team this season, upending No. 20 Missouri State 60-52. The Jackrabbits beat Iowa State and Gonzaga and jumped into the Top 25 before losing their last two games to Kansas State and Northern Iowa. Paiton Burckhard added 13 points for South Dakota State, which took the lead by scoring nine-straight points in the first quarter and turning that into a 14-2 run. The lead was 31-22 at the half. Brice Calip scored 13 points for Missouri State.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Gaige Prim had a career-high 26 points as Missouri State romped past Northwestern State 94-67. Carvell Teasett led the Demons with 14 points.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Josiah Allick scored 24 points in the first game and 20 in the in second as UMKC swept Kansas Christian in a rare basketball doubleheader, by scores of 98-42 and 95-36. The odd scheduling was a result of UMKC losing two games during the week to COVID-19 concerns. The games were thought to be the first doubleheader in modern Division I history, according to UMKC. The teams took a break of several hours between games. Vince Smith hit 16 points for Kansas Christian in the opener and 16 more in the nightcap.

Big wins for Ohio State, Clemson, A&amp;M 

UNDATED (AP) — Top-ranked Alabama, third-ranked Ohio State and No. 4 Clemson have staked their claims for a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Now, second-ranked Notre Dame has to hope it's not overtaken by Texas A&amp;M when the CFP selection committee releases its four choices on Sunday.

Najee Harris scored five touchdowns and Alabama advanced to the CFP with a perfect record, holding off No. 11 Florida in a 52-46 shootout for the SEC championship. Harris' record-setting performance will send coach Nick Saban to the playoff in search of his seventh national title.

After falling behind 35-17 by halftime, the Gators made a game of it with a pair of third-quarter scores. And Florida fought to the bitter end, adding two more TDs in the fourth quarter before finally running out of time.

Trey Sermon ran for a school-record 331 yards and two second-half touchdowns as the Buckeyes rallied for a 22-10 win over No. 15 Northwestern in the Big Ten championship game. Northwestern took a 7-3 lead on its first possession and stayed ahead until Sermon scored on a 9-yard run with less than three minutes to go in the third quarter. Sermon sealed the win with a 3-yard TD run late in the fourth. Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey was 24 of 37 with 224 yards but turned the ball over three times in the second half.

Clemson avenged an early-season loss to Notre Dame by blasting the Irish, 34-10 in the ACC title game. Trevor Lawrence had 412 yards of offense and three touchdowns, including long scoring passes to Amari Rodgers and E.J. Williams in the first half. Lawrence also ran 14 times for 90 yards, with a 34-yard touchdown scamper. Travis Etienne ran for 124 yards and a score for the Tigers, who were without Lawrence in their last meeting with the Irish due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Fifth-ranked Texas A&amp;M closed its case for inclusion in the CFP with a 34-13 victory over Tennessee. Kellen Mond threw for 281 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 59 yards and a score. Isaiah Spiller ran for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Ainias Smith scored once rushing and once receiving. 

Top-ranked Alabama is taking on No. 11 Florida in the SEC title game.

— Sixth-ranked Cincinnati took the American Conference championship by downing No. 20 Tulsa, 27-24 on Cole Smith's made a 34-yard field goal as time expired. Desmond Ridder passed for 269 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score to help the Bearcats move to 9-0. Tulsa tied it with 3:41 remaining on Zach Smith's 13-yard touchdown pass to JuanCarlos Santana. 

— Spencer Rattler threw a touchdown and ran for another one as 12th-ranked Oklahoma won its sixth consecutive Big 12 title, 27-21 over No. 8 Iowa State. Rattler scored on a nine-yard keeper to give the Sooners a 24-7 lead just before halftime. Big 12 rushing leader Breece Hall ran for two touchdowns for the 8-3 Cyclones but was held to a season-low 79 yards. 

— Nick Starkel completed 32 of 52 passes for 453 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 25 San Jose State to its first Mountain West Conference championship, 34-20 over Boise State. Starkel broke former Fresno State star Derek Carr's title-game record of 404 yards passing set in 2013 in a victory over Utah State. The Spartans are 7-0 after losing all 14 previous meetings with the Broncos. 

AP source: Rose Bowl denied exemption to allow fans for CFP

UNDATED (AP) — The College Football Playoff semifinal scheduled to be played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1 is moving to the Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Arlington, Texas. 

College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock says that the CFP management committee and Tournament of Roses mutually agreed to relocate the game because of the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Southern California. 

The Rose Bowl was denied a special exemption from the state of California to allow a few hundred fans to attend the College Football Playoff semifinal Jan. 1, putting the game staying in Pasadena in serious doubt. 

— No. 13 Southern California has become the sixth Pac-12 team to opt out of a bowl game, citing a recommendation from team doctors and discussions with players. The Trojans would have been at risk of falling under the conference's minimum number of 53 available scholarship players because of positive tests for COVID-19 and injuries after playing their third game in 13 days. Coach Clay Helton also cited a desire by players to see family and friends during the holidays after being sequestered during the season.

— Bret Bielema (BEE'-leh-muh) is back in the Big Ten after being named the new head coach at Illinois. Bielema led Wisconsin to three conference championships and a 68-24 record in seven seasons with the Badgers before a disappointing run at Arkansas. He has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL, first with the Patriots and then the Giants.

UNDATED (AP) — Josh Allen has led the Buffalo Bills to their first AFC East title in a quarter-century.

Allen threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the Bills hammered the Broncos, 48-19 in Denver. 

The 11-3 Bills scored twice in a 17-second span of the third quarter to ice their fourth straight victory that officially ended the Patriots' 11-year reign atop the division. Allen threw for 359 yards, hitting Stefon Diggs 11 times for 147 yards before a foot injury in the fourth quarter. Cole Beasley had eight receptions for 112 yards.

In Saturday's other NFL game, Aaron Jones rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown as the Packers hung on to beat the Panthers, 24-16. Aaron Rodgers threw for a season-low 143 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for a score to help the 11-3 Packers earn their fourth straight win. 

<h2>Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press</h2>ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — No. 12 Oklahoma has won its sixth Big 12 football championship in a row. Spencer Rattler threw a touchdown and ran for another one as the Sooners held on to beat No. 8 Iowa State 27-21 in the title game. That impressive title streak still probably won't be enough to get the 8-2 Sooners back in the College Football Playoff for the fourth year in a row. They have won seven games in a row since losing at Iowa State on October 3. Big 12 rushing leader Breece Hall ran for two touchdowns for the 8-3 Cyclones but was held to a season-low 79 yards. &nbsp;SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Jalen Suggs scored 18 of his career-high 27 points in the first half and No. 1 Gonzaga held off a late rally to beat No. 3 Iowa 99-88. This was the Bulldogs first game since pausing activities in early December because of the coronavirus. Gonzaga showed little rust from not playing a game since Dec. 2. Suggs, the West Coast Conference freshman player of the week last week, entered the game against Iowa averaging 13.3 points per game. Luka Garza led Iowa with 30 points and 10 rebounds on 13 of 18 shooting.MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — MaCio Teague had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Davion Mitchell scored 20 points and No. 2 Baylor beat Kansas State 100-69. Jared Butler had 14 points and 13 assists for his first career double-double with the Bears, and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua scored 13 points. Antonio Gordon led the Wildcats with 23 points on 9-of-9 shooting, and Selton Miguel scored 14 points. This was the first game for Baylor in a week after the school paused team activity due to COVID-19 protocols. &nbsp;STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Will Rogers threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mississippi State to a 51-32 victory over Missouri. After weeks of floundering offensively, Mississippi State finally got many of their young weapons working in tandem. The Bulldogs racked up 446 yards of total offense in the game, including a season-high 151 yards on the ground. Missouri logged 342 yards of total offense, but many of them after the outcome of the game was already decided, and they turned the ball over four times. Conner Bazelak threw for 225 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Larry Rountree led all rushers with 121 yards and two touchdowns.SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Myah Selland scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals and South Dakota State defeated its third ranked team this season, upending No. 20 Missouri State 60-52. The Jackrabbits beat Iowa State and Gonzaga and jumped into the Top 25 before losing their last two games to Kansas State and Northern Iowa. Paiton Burckhard added 13 points for South Dakota State, which took the lead by scoring nine-straight points in the first quarter and turning that into a 14-2 run. The lead was 31-22 at the half. Brice Calip scored 13 points for Missouri State.SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Gaige Prim had a career-high 26 points as Missouri State romped past Northwestern State 94-67. Carvell Teasett led the Demons with 14 points.KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Josiah Allick scored 24 points in the first game and 20 in the in second as UMKC swept Kansas Christian in a rare basketball doubleheader, by scores of 98-42 and 95-36. The odd scheduling was a result of UMKC losing two games during the week to COVID-19 concerns. The games were thought to be the first doubleheader in modern Division I history, according to UMKC. The teams took a break of several hours between games. Vince Smith hit 16 points for Kansas Christian in the opener and 16 more in the nightcap.<h2>Update on the latest sports</h2>T25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL-SCHEDULEBig wins for Ohio State, Clemson, A&amp;M UNDATED (AP) — Top-ranked Alabama, third-ranked Ohio State and No. 4 Clemson have staked their claims for a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Now, second-ranked Notre Dame has to hope it's not overtaken by Texas A&amp;M when the CFP selection committee releases its four choices on Sunday.Najee Harris scored five touchdowns and Alabama advanced to the CFP with a perfect record, holding off No. 11 Florida in a 52-46 shootout for the SEC championship. Harris' record-setting performance will send coach Nick Saban to the playoff in search of his seventh national title.After falling behind 35-17 by halftime, the Gators made a game of it with a pair of third-quarter scores. And Florida fought to the bitter end, adding two more TDs in the fourth quarter before finally running out of time.Trey Sermon ran for a school-record 331 yards and two second-half touchdowns as the Buckeyes rallied for a 22-10 win over No. 15 Northwestern in the Big Ten championship game. Northwestern took a 7-3 lead on its first possession and stayed ahead until Sermon scored on a 9-yard run with less than three minutes to go in the third quarter. Sermon sealed the win with a 3-yard TD run late in the fourth. Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey was 24 of 37 with 224 yards but turned the ball over three times in the second half.Clemson avenged an early-season loss to Notre Dame by blasting the Irish, 34-10 in the ACC title game. Trevor Lawrence had 412 yards of offense and three touchdowns, including long scoring passes to Amari Rodgers and E.J. Williams in the first half. Lawrence also ran 14 times for 90 yards, with a 34-yard touchdown scamper. Travis Etienne ran for 124 yards and a score for the Tigers, who were without Lawrence in their last meeting with the Irish due to a positive COVID-19 test.Fifth-ranked Texas A&amp;M closed its case for inclusion in the CFP with a 34-13 victory over Tennessee. Kellen Mond threw for 281 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 59 yards and a score. Isaiah Spiller ran for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Ainias Smith scored once rushing and once receiving. Top-ranked Alabama is taking on No. 11 Florida in the SEC title game.In other top-25 games Saturday: — Sixth-ranked Cincinnati took the American Conference championship by downing No. 20 Tulsa, 27-24 on Cole Smith's made a 34-yard field goal as time expired. Desmond Ridder passed for 269 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score to help the Bearcats move to 9-0. Tulsa tied it with 3:41 remaining on Zach Smith's 13-yard touchdown pass to JuanCarlos Santana. — Spencer Rattler threw a touchdown and ran for another one as 12th-ranked Oklahoma won its sixth consecutive Big 12 title, 27-21 over No. 8 Iowa State. Rattler scored on a nine-yard keeper to give the Sooners a 24-7 lead just before halftime. Big 12 rushing leader Breece Hall ran for two touchdowns for the 8-3 Cyclones but was held to a season-low 79 yards. — Nick Starkel completed 32 of 52 passes for 453 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 25 San Jose State to its first Mountain West Conference championship, 34-20 over Boise State. Starkel broke former Fresno State star Derek Carr's title-game record of 404 yards passing set in 2013 in a victory over Utah State. The Spartans are 7-0 after losing all 14 previous meetings with the Broncos. COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NEWSAP source: Rose Bowl denied exemption to allow fans for CFPUNDATED (AP) — The College Football Playoff semifinal scheduled to be played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1 is moving to the Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Arlington, Texas. College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock says that the CFP management committee and Tournament of Roses mutually agreed to relocate the game because of the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Southern California. The Rose Bowl was denied a special exemption from the state of California to allow a few hundred fans to attend the College Football Playoff semifinal Jan. 1, putting the game staying in Pasadena in serious doubt. Also in college football:— No. 13 Southern California has become the sixth Pac-12 team to opt out of a bowl game, citing a recommendation from team doctors and discussions with players. The Trojans would have been at risk of falling under the conference's minimum number of 53 available scholarship players because of positive tests for COVID-19 and injuries after playing their third game in 13 days. Coach Clay Helton also cited a desire by players to see family and friends during the holidays after being sequestered during the season.— Bret Bielema (BEE'-leh-muh) is back in the Big Ten after being named the new head coach at Illinois. Bielema led Wisconsin to three conference championships and a 68-24 record in seven seasons with the Badgers before a disappointing run at Arkansas. He has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL, first with the Patriots and then the Giants.NFL-SCHEDULEBills end division title droughtUNDATED (AP) — Josh Allen has led the Buffalo Bills to their first AFC East title in a quarter-century.Allen threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the Bills hammered the Broncos, 48-19 in Denver. The 11-3 Bills scored twice in a 17-second span of the third quarter to ice their fourth straight victory that officially ended the Patriots' 11-year reign atop the division. Allen threw for 359 yards, hitting Stefon Diggs 11 times for 147 yards before a foot injury in the fourth quarter. Cole Beasley had eight receptions for 112 yards.In Saturday's other NFL game, Aaron Jones rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown as the Packers hung on to beat the Panthers, 24-16. Aaron Rodgers threw for a season-low 143 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for a score to help the 11-3 Packers earn their fourth straight win. The Packers built a 21-3 halftime lead by scoring on their first three possessions.NFL-NEWSGiants lose another coach for Browns gameUNDATED (AP) — The Giants have taken another coronavirus hit. Offensive assistant coach Stephen Brown has tested positive, with the team facing the Browns tomorrow. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and cornerback James Bradberry were already out due to COVID issues. In other NFL news: — The 49ers will finish out the regular season practicing and playing home games in Arizona after a ban on contact sports in their home county was extended into January. The Niners relocated to Arizona at the beginning of December due to COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara County. — The Jets activated kicker Sam Ficken from injured reserve and he is expected to play Sunday at Los Angeles against the Rams. Ficken missed the last three games with a groin injury. T25 MEN'S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULEGonzaga tops IowaUNDATED (AP) — Gonzaga has won a men's basketball matchup of top-3 teams.Top-ranked Gonzaga remains unbeaten following a 99-88 win over No. 3 Iowa.Jalen Suggs scored 18 of his career-high 27 points while the Bulldogs were building a 51-37 halftime lead. Suggs finished 7 of 10 from 3-point range.The Zags led by 20 with 13 minutes to play. The Hawkeyes got within nine with under two minutes left before Gonzaga hung on.Luka Garza led Iowa with 30 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 13 of 18. Joe Wieskamp (WEES'-kamp) added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Hawkeyes.In other top-25 action: — Macio Teague had 23 points and 10 rebounds as second-ranked Baylor slammed Kansas State, 100-69. Jared Butler had 14 points and 13 assists as the Bears easily won their first game since the school paused team activity due a week ago due to COVID-19 protocols. — Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored 25 points and Caleb Daniels had 19 in seventh-ranked Villanova's 88-68 romp over Saint Joseph's. Robinson-Earl played with a protective mask after breaking his nose in Wednesday's win against Butler. The game was scheduled after Virginia had to cancel its meeting with the Wildcats at Madison Square Garden.— Micah Potter scored 20 points and Aleem Ford added 12 to lead 12th-ranked Wisconsin to an 85-48 assault on No. 23 Louisville in the rescheduled ACC/Big Ten Challenge game. It was the Badgers' largest margin of victory ever against a ranked team, and the Cardinals' most lopsided loss since 1956.— Brandon Mahan scored 26 of his career-high 32 points in the second half and freshman Isaiah Adams added 22 in UCF's 86-74 upset of 15th-ranked Florida State. Mahan shot 10 of 13 from the floor and 10 of 10 from the line as UCF stopped the Seminoles' 27-game home winning streak. — Duane Washington Jr. hit two free throws in the final minute and finished with 14 points to guide No. 20 Ohio State past UCLA, 77-70. Zed Key had 11 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes, who trailed by six with 12 1/2 minutes left.— Armando Bacot scored 11 of his team-high 14 points in the second half and No. 22 North Carolina rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Kentucky 75-63. Kentucky has lost five in a row for the first time since John Calipari took over the program in 2009. NBA-WIZARDS-BRYANT FINEDNBA fines BryantNEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant $45,000 for repeatedly making inappropriate contact with an official.The league says Bryant was aggressively attempting to confront Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin, who had committed a Flagrant Foul 1 against Bryant on the play. Bryant received a technical foul as part of the incident, which occurred with 8:42 remaining in the third quarter of Washington's 97-86 preseason loss to Detroit on Thursday night.MLB-PAYROLLMLB payrolls plummetNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball payrolls plunged to $1.75 billion during the pandemic-shortened season from $4.22 billion.The World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers led with $98.6 million, the smallest for the top spender in 20 years.Base wages for 40-man rosters tumbled to $1.54 billion, according to information sent from Major League Baseball to teams on Friday night and obtained by The Associated Press. That was down from $3.99 billion in 2019.The Yankees, at $83.6 million, were No. 2 for the second straight season. The Mets were third at $83.4 million in their final season of ownership by the Wilpon and Katz families, up from 12th.In other major league news:— Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani agreed to defer half his $6 million salary with the Giants. DeSclafani will receive four payments of $750,000 each in 2022 on Jan. 15, Jan. 31, Feb. 15 and March 1. He went 1-2 with a 7.22 ERA in 33 2/3 innings over nine games with Cincinnati last season, starting seven times.LPGA-TOURSei Young Kim takes 1-shot lead in LPGA Tour finaleNAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Sei Young Kim is in now position to defend her title in the CME Group Tour Championship, take player of the year honors, win the money title and possibly even move to No. 1 in the world. Kim fired a 5-under 67 that leaves her 13 under through 54 holes and one stroke ahead of current No. 1 women's golfer Jim Young Ko. Georgia Hall was third at 10 under after a 68.Kim will take over as No. 1 with a victory if Ko finishes 10th or worse.GOLF-PNC CHAMPIONSHIPTiger's son makes TV debut and looks just like he's at homeUNDATED (AP) — The 11-year-old son of Tiger Woods more than held his own in the PNC Championship. Charlie Woods is the youngest competitor in the 25-year history that pairs major players with family members. Charlie Woods made eagle using his own ball in the scramble format and walked in a birdie putt. Woods says he has seen this all before when he plays with his son at home. They had a crowd of about 250 people. It was on national TV. And none of it seemed to bother Charlie Woods. They were at 10-under 62, four shots behind Matt Kuchar and son.