WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jamarius Burton scored 16 points to lead No. 23 Wichita State past No. 21 Memphis 76-67. Erik Stevenson had 12 points for the Shockers, and Tyson Etienne added 11. Precious Achiuwa had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis. Wichita State led by as many as 19 points, but Memphis closed back within six in the final minutes. Wichita State shot just 32.8% for the game, more than 10 points lower than its season mark.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs picked Patrick Mahomes over Deshaun Watson in the NFL draft a couple of years ago and the decision has worked out quite well for them. And it's one that has worked out well for the Houston Texans, too. They chose Watson a mere two picks later. Now, two of the league's bright young quarterbacks will share the field on Sunday when the Texans visit the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs. It's a rematch of a Week 6 game won by the Texans in comeback fashion.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs quietly have been among the best in the NFL at rushing the passer, particularly late in the season. That could prove pivotal in the divisional round of the playoffs when they host Houston on Sunday. The Texans allowed seven sacks and 12 quarterback hits to the Buffalo Bills in their comeback win in last weekend's wild-card round. And the Chiefs defense is far healthier and probably more talented than the bunch that failed to take down Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson in a Week 6 loss at Arrowhead Stadium.
National Headlines
UNDATED (AP) — The top-ranked team in the Southeastern Conference matches up with the league's most heralded pro prospect Saturday when No. 5 Auburn hosts Anthony Edwards and the Georgia Bulldogs. That shapes up as the most attractive game in the second weekend of league competition. Georgia is coming off a home loss to No. 14 Kentucky. Auburn eked out a narrow victory over Vanderbilt and is one of only two unbeaten Division I teams. Florida has bounced back from a tough start to the season and will try to continue its recent surge when it visits Missouri.
UNDATED (AP) — Six bowl games this season saw their lowest attendance in history. Even though many bowls are played in half-empty stadiums, they aren't going away. The number of bowls will go from 39 this season to 42 next season. Average announced attendance for non-New Year's Six bowls was 34,500. Even though stadiums often don't fill, the games are attractive because they bring in valuable television viewers. The Football Bowl Association plans to form a task force to look at ways to grow attendance.
UNDATED (AP) — Mississippi State has hired Washington State's Mike Leach as its new head football coach, replacing Joe Moorhead. Leach took over a program that had been mired in the Pac-12 basement and went to five straight bowl games, including a school-record 11 victories in 2018. He finished 55-47 in eight seasons with the Cougars and is 139-90 as a college coach for both Washington State and Texas Tech.
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is listed as questionable for Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game against the 49ers in Santa Clara. Thielen suffered a left ankle injury during practice yesterday and declined to specify the nature or severity of the injury. Thielen played in only eight full games during the regular season, limited by a hamstring injury he aggravated twice.
UNDATED (AP) — Some of the attendance problems that have hit college football during the regular season has shown up in the postseason. The Associated Press analyzed attendance numbers for 33 second- and third-tier Bowl Subdivision bowl games. AP found that 23 of those were played at venues where the announced attendance was less than 75% of capacity. Of those 23, eight were under 50%. Six bowl games had their smallest crowds on record. Those were the New Mexico, Cure, Camellia, Pinstripe, First Responder and Famous Idaho Potato bowls.
Thursday Scores
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Gonzaga 94 San Diego 50
Final (8)Michigan St. 74 Minnesota 58
Final OT (9)Oregon 74 (24)Arizona 73
Final 2OT (19)Michigan 84 Purdue 78
Final (23)Wichita St. 76 (21)Memphis 67
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Philadelphia 109 Boston 98
Final OT Cleveland 115 Detroit 112
Final Minnesota 116 Portland 102
Final Oklahoma City 113 Houston 92