Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — D.J. Carton scored a career-high 20 points, and Greg Elliott and Dawson Garcia combined for 23 of their 28 in the second half to lead Marquette past No. 9 Creighton 89-84. The Golden Eagles came back from a 12-point deficit to take a lead and then held off a couple of late comeback bids by the Bluejays. Mitch Ballock went 8 of 13 on 3-pointers and had a season-high 26 points to lead Creighton. Denzel Mahoney added 21 points. Marquette beat the Bluejays for the first time in four meetings.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It is perhaps a strange argument to make that the Kansas City Chiefs have a problem with complacency. They have won 12 of 13 games after winning their first Super Bowl in five decades last season. Yet the Chiefs, who lead the AFC and are positioned for a first-round playoff bye, also have gotten into a dangerous habit of letting big leads slip away — or, put another way, failing to bury opponents when they have a chance. The latest example came Sunday in Miami, where a 30-10 lead became a grab-the-onside kick situation in the fourth quarter to escape with a 33-27 victory.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Free agent reliever Greg Holland is staying with the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander has signed a one-year contact for $2.75 million. The 35-year-old Holland was 3-0 with six saves and a 1.91 ERA this season for Kansas City. He made 28 appearances and didn't permit a run in his final 13 games Holland is a three-time All-Star who made his major league debut with the Royals in 2010 and spent his first six seasons with them. He later pitched for Colorado, St. Louis, Washington and Arizona before rejoining the Royals in 2020.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Brice Calip and Elle Ruffridge scored 18 points apiece and No. 20 Missouri State scored its last 12 points from the foul line to defeat Missouri 72-58. The Bears led by as many as 18 points in the first half but Mizzou closed within 53-48 entering the fourth. Missouri State missed its last six shots after a Ruffridge basket made it 60-52 with just under seven minutes to go. But Calip made eight free throws to lead a 12-for-12 team effort to secure the win. Ladazhia Williams scored 15 points for the Tigers
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs overcame a 30-yard sack, four turnovers and a 10-point deficit to clinch their fifth consecutive AFC West title by beating Miami 33-27. Mahomes was picked off three times, his first multi-interception game in more than two years, but threw for 393 yards and two scores to help the Chiefs earn their eighth consecutive victory. It was the Chiefs' second consecutive comeback at Hard Rock Stadium, where they won the Super Bowl in February. Kansas City reached 12 wins for the third consecutive season, and has the best 13-game record in franchise history.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Luka Garza scored 23 points and Joe Wieskamp added 20 to help No. 3 Iowa beat Northern Illinois 106-53 on Sunday. Garza, who came into the game leading the nation in scoring at 30.4 points per game, added eight rebounds while playing just 20 minutes as coach Fran McCaffery used his reserves for much of the second half. It was a season high in scoring for Wieskamp, who played just 19 minutes. Iowa had its third game of 100 or more points. Adong Makuoi had 14 points and Anthony Crump had 10 for winless Northern Illinois.
UNDATED (AP) — Minnesota and Wisconsin will try again to keep their rivalry streak alive. The Big Ten announced the undercard to Saturday's conference title game between Ohio State and Northwestern. Wisconsin is set to host Minnesota on Saturday, and Indiana hosts Purdue on Friday night. Rutgers hosts Nebraska in Friday's other game. The rest of the Saturday slate includes Illinois at Penn State, Michigan at Iowa and Michigan State at Maryland. Minnesota and Wisconsin were supposed to play Nov. 28, but the game was canceled because of elevated COVID-19 cases in the Minnesota program. The teams have played every year since 1907.
Update on the latest sports
NFL-RAVENS/BROWNS
Ravens win with wild finish
CLEVELAND (AP) — Lamar Jackson came back in the nick of time to possibly save the Baltimore Ravens' season.
Jackson led two scoring drives after the two-minute warning and Justin Tucker nailed a 55-yard field goal with two seconds left as the Ravens survived a 47-42 win over the Browns at Cleveland.
Jackson had to go to the locker room in the fourth quarter due to cramping. He returned to the field just as backup Trace McSorley was being taken off the field with a left knee injury. One play later, Jackson hit Marquise Brown for a 44-yard TD on 4th-and-5 with 1:51 remaining to put the Ravens on top.
But the Browns weren't done, tying it on Baker Mayfield's 22-yards scoring strike to Kareem Hunt just 47 seconds late. Tucker's long kick put Baltimore ahead for good before Cleveland lateraled the ensuing kickoff into a game-ending safety.
Jackson finished with 162 yards passing and carried nine times for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
The outcome keeps the 9-4 Browns two games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the AFC North. The Ravens are another game back at 8-5.
NFL-NEWS
Hurts will start at quarterback again
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts will spend a second week as the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback after helping them earn a stunning 24-21 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
The rookie was productive in place of Carson Wentz, rushing for 106 yards and passing for 167 yards and a touchdown. With Hurts at the helm, the Eagles built a 17-0 halftime lead and ended the Saints' nine-game winning streak.
Hurts has appeared in 12 games this season, running for 188 yards on 35 carries and throwing for 309 yards, two TDs and one interception.
Checking out other NFL news:
— Broncos kicker Brandon McManus says he's going on the reserve/COVID-19 list because he's been in close contact with someone outside the team facility who has the novel coronavirus. McManus will self-isolate at a hotel and says he hopes to play Saturday against the Buffalo Bills.
MLB-INDIANS-NAME CHANGE
Owner says Cleveland could still play 2021 as Indians
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians are changing their name. They just don't know to what or when.
Owner Paul Dolan told the Associated Press in an interview Monday that the team will continue to be called Indians until a new name is chosen. That process is in its early stages and it's possible the team will play their entire 2021 season as the Indians.
After months of discussions with a variety of groups, including Native Americans who have long protested against the team's use of a moniker and symbols that many deem racist, the American League team is dropping the name it has been known by since 1915.
Cleveland's move follows a similar decision earlier this year by the NFL's Washington Football Team, previously known as the Redskins.
MLB-NEWS
Red sox sign Renfroe to one-year deal
UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have signed outfielder Hunter Renfroe to a one-year deal.
Renfroe has batted .228 with 97 home runs and 226 RBIs over five seasons with San Diego and Tampa Bay. The former first-round pick hit 25 or more homers in three straight seasons for the Padres. But he struggled with the Rays in the pandemic-shortened season this year, batting .156 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in 42 games. He homered twice in the postseason this year.
Elsewhere around the majors:
— Free agent reliever Greg Holland is staying with the Royals after signing a one-year contract worth $2.75 million. The 35-year-old Holland was 3-0 with six saves and a 1.91 ERA in 28 appearances for Kansas City this year. The right-hander didn't permit a run in his final 13 games, covering 13 1-3 innings.
— Dusty Baker isn't sure if he'd like to manage the Houston Astros beyond the upcoming season. The 71-year-old Baker was hired in January to replace AJ Hinch, who was fired by the team after he and general manager Jeff Luhnow (LOO'-now) were suspended for one year by Major League Baseball for their roles in Houston's sign-stealing scandal. The Astros picked Baker's 2021 contract option before he helped the team reach the AL Championship Series.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Washington pulls out of Pac-12 championship
UNDATED (AP) — Washington is out and Oregon is in as Southern California's opponent for the Pac-12 football championship game on Friday.
The Huskies have pulled out due to COVID-19 issues in the Huskies program. The school has determined the Huskies didn't have at least 53 scholarship players available and did not meet the minimum number of scholarship athletes at specific positions.
Washington coach Jimmy Lake said his team did not expect to have any offensive lineman - scholarship players or walk-ons - available to play this week because of positive tests and contact tracing.
Also in college football:
— Vanderbilt has hired Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea as its new head coach. Lea has helped the Fighting Irish go 10-0 this season and rank eighth in the nation in yards allowed per play. The Nashville native and former Commodores fullback will try to revive a program that is 0-9 this season.
— Vanderbilt's season finale at No. 10 Georgia has been canceled with the Commodores falling below both the number of scholarship players available and position requirements. Vanderbilt was a 42-17 loser against Tennessee on Saturday after deciding to play despite having only 49 scholarship athletes available. Interim coach Todd Fitch had hoped to get some players back this week, but COVID-19 issues, contact tracing and opt-outs left Vanderbilt thin.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Marquette rallies past Creighton...Rutgers whips Maryland
UNDATED (AP) — Marquette won its Big East Conference opener by downing the nation's No. 9 team.
Greg Elliott and Dawson Garcia combined for 23 of their 28 in the second half to lead Marquette past No. 9 Creighton 89-84. Elliott and Garcia scored 14 points apiece for the Golden Eagles, who came back from a 12-point deficit to take a lead before holding off a couple of late comeback bids by the Bluejays.
Marquette took control by holding Creighton to one field goal over five minutes while using a 19-7 spurt to create a 75-63 cushion with 5 1/2 minutes left.
D.J. Carton scored a career-high 20 points to help the Golden Eagles pin Creighton with its second loss.
Mitch Ballock went 8 of 13 on 3-pointers and had a season-high 26 points to lead Creighton.
Also on the top-25 schedule:
— Ron Harper Jr. poured in 19 of his 27 points after halftime to lead 19th-ranked Rutgers to a 74-60 win at Maryland. Harper shot 10-for-17 from the floor, including 5-for-8 from 3-point range, while providing five rebounds and four assists. The Scarlet Knights led by just two until Myles Johnson supplied a pair of dunks during a 10-0 run that made it 50-38 with 11:24 remaining.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-FLORIDA-JOHNSON
Johnson responding to commands
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The University of Florida says forward Keyontae Johnson was "following simple commands" Monday after being transferred from Tallahassee Memorial to UF Health in Gainesville.
School officials added that Johnson is undergoing further tests and remains in critical but stable condition two days after he collapsed on the court during a game at Florida State. The SEC's preseason player of the year crumpled to the floor coming out of a timeout and received emergency medical attention.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Wisconsin and Louisville reschedule
UNDATED (AP) — No. 12 Wisconsin and No. 23 Louisville have rescheduled their Big Ten/ACC Challenge men's basketball matchup.
The two teams will face off Saturday at noon at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin initially was supposed to host Louisville on Dec. 9, but that game got postponed after Louisville announced it was pausing team-related activities due to a positive COVID-19 test and contact tracing measures within its program.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-POLL
Gonzaga and Baylor on top
UNDATED (AP) — Gonzaga and Baylor top the latest AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll.
Iowa, Michigan State and Kansas round out the top five. West Virginia and Tennessee climbed into the top 10.
No. 16 Missouri, No. 24 Clemson and No. 25 Michigan were new additions to the poll. No. 21 Duke took the biggest tumble by falling 11 spots. No. 13 Illinois also slid seven spots to fall out of the top 10.
The Big Ten has a national-best seven teams in the poll. Virginia Tech, Richmond and Arizona State fell out of the Top 25.
Meanwhile, DePaul has called off two more men's basketball games because of positive COVID-19 tests, pushing back the start of the season until at least next week. DePaul has canceled or postponed 10 games. The Blue Demons were scheduled to open Nov. 25 against Western Illinois at home.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-WOMEN'S NCAA
Women's NCAA tournament to have single site
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA plans to host the entire women's basketball NCAA Tournament in a single geographic area and San Antonio is the likely host site.
The move was made to help mitigate the risks of COVID-19. The move matches that of the men's tournament, which is expected to be played in its entirety in Indianapolis.
The women's Final Four was already set for San Antonio. The NCAA has begun preliminary talks with the Texas city to hold the entire 64-team tournament in the area.
NBA-NEWS
Harden practices with Rockets
UNDATED (AP) — James Harden is practicing with the Houston Rockets, and coach Stephen Silas says he'll make his preseason debut Tuesday night.
What the first-year coach wasn't able to answer were questions about whether the superstar wants to be in Houston as talk swirls that he wants to be traded. Harden missed Houston's first two preseason games as he went through the NBA's COVID-19 testing protocols.
In other NBA news:
— The Pistons have waived guard LiAngelo Ball and forwards Louis King and Anthony Lamb. Ball is the brother of Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball and Hornets lottery pick LaMelo Ball. LiAngelo Ball entered the 2018 NBA draft and was not selected.
GOLF-US WOMEN'S OPEN
Kim ties comeback record to win Women's Open
HOUSTON (AP) — A Lim Kim made a U.S. Women's Open debut she won't forget.
The 25-year-old South Korean birdied her last three holes and tied the record for the largest comeback to win the biggest event in women's golf. That makes nine South Korean winners in the last 13 years at the U.S Women's Open.
Kim won by one shot over Amy Olson and Jin Young Ko in frigid weather at Champions Golf Club in Houston. The Women's Open concluded Monday because of rain.