Nov 27, 2020

Sports Headlines for Friday

Posted Nov 27, 2020 11:49 AM

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

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) ā€” Drew Timme scored 25 points, Jalen Suggs had 24 and Corey Kispert added 23 as No. 1 Gonzaga pulled away from No. 6 Kansas for a 102-90 victory. The Bulldogs built a double-digit lead in the first half at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off in Florida. They then saw the Jayhawks tie it twice in the second half before putting them away. Gonzaga went on a 22-7 run to go up 96-78. Suggs scored 17 of his 24 in the second half. Marcus Garrett led Kansas with 22 points and Ochai Agbaji added 17 points. The way these teams played each other, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Gonzaga and Kansas meet again late in the NCAA Tournament, maybe the Final Four.

UNDATED (AP) ā€” Nebraska knows what's coming whenever it plays football against Iowa. The hard part is stopping it. Linebacker JoJo Domann says Iowa is going to try to run the ball down the Huskers' throats on Friday. The Cornhuskers head to Iowa City looking to end a five-game losing streak in the border-state rivalry with the Hawkeyes. Iowa beat Nebraska the last two times on field goals at the end. The Hawks have rushed for no fewer than 225 yards in each of the last four meetings, and their run game is averaging better than 5 yards per carry this season.

UNDATED (AP) ā€” An Iowa State program that has alternately been an underdog and overachiever in its modest football history is on the cusp of going somewhere it's never gone before. Beat No. 20 Texas on Friday, and the 15th-ranked Cyclones are in the Big 12 championship game. Iowa State hasn't won or shared a conference title since 1912, and opportunities to play for titles have been few and far between. Linebacker Jake Hummel said he and his teammates are feeling no anxiety heading into the game. This will be the last home appearance for Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger.

ST. LOUIS (AP) ā€” Cameron Thomas scored 27 points in his collegiate debut, Darius Days set a career high with 24 points and LSU opened its season with a 94-81 victory over SIU Edwardsville. Days converted two three-point plays during a 16-3 run to put LSU up 83-68 with 5:11 remaining, and the Tigers led by double figures the rest of the way. Trendon Watford had 13 points, seven rebounds and nine assists for LSU, and Javonte Smart had 10 points with five assists. Mike Adewunmi finished with 23 points for SIUE.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) ā€” The coronavirus pandemic was considered by many Big Ten coaches the biggest opponent for conference teams coming into this virus-delayed football season, and it certainly has been. With the annual bragging rights game between Minnesota and No. 18 Wisconsin called off this week because of another outbreak, five games have been canceled because of COVID-19-related issues since play began on Oct. 23. And that's just the games. The opening months have seen Purdue coach Jeff Brohm, Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst and Maryland coach Mike Locksley test positive for COVID-19. There are still four weekends to go, including this one.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) ā€” Grant Sherfield hit a 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds remaining to lift Nevada to a 69-66 victory over Nebraska. Sherfield, a Wichita State transfer, tied the game with two free throws with 43 seconds left then made the long 3-pointer following a steal by Desmond Cambridge. Dalano Banton missed a 3-point try as time ran out. Sherfield scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half while Cambridge had 16 of his 18 points in the first half. Banton finished with 18 points, Teddy Allen had 17 points plus five of Nebraska's 12 steals, with Webster adding 13 points for the Cornhuskers.

ST. LOUIS (AP) ā€” Jim Hanifan, the former St. Louis Cardinals coach who returned to the city as offensive line coach to help the Rams win the Super Bowl, has died. He was 87. Hanifan's daughter, Kathy Hinder, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he died Tuesday at Missouri Baptist Hospital. She said the cause of death hasn't been determined, but said it wasn't related to COVID-19. The Cardinals' head coach from 1980-85, Hanifan is best known for his offensive lines as an assistant with St. Louis and Washington. Hanifan went 39ā€“49ā€“1 with the Cardinals, reaching the playoffs in 1982. He won Super Bowls as an assistant with Washington after the 1991 season and the Rams after the 1999 season.

Update on the latest sports

NFL-SCHEDULE

Washington, Texans enjoy road routs

UNDATED (AP) ā€” The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions encountered some rather rude guests on Thanksgiving Day.

Antonio Gibson ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns as Washington demolished the Cowboys, 41-16. Dallas trailed just 20-16 until Gibson ripped off scoring runs of 23 and 37 yards in the fourth quarter. His final TD came just seven seconds before Montez Sweat picked off Andy Dalton and returned it 15 yards for a score with 3:24 to play.

Alex Smith was 19 of 26 for 149 yards, one TD and an interception for Washington, which took over first place in the NFC East despite a 4-7 record.

The Cowboys accumulated just 60 yards rushing, with Ezekiel Elliott gaining 32 yards on 10 carries. Dalton completed 25 of his 35 passes for 215 yards and a TD for the 3-8 Cowboys.

In Detroit, Deshaun Watson threw for four touchdowns and the Texans improved to 3-1 since their bye week by outscoring the Lions, 41-25. Watson's favorite target was Will Fuller, who had six receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns for the 4-7 Texans.

Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt had a pick-6 in the first quarter. On Detroit's next snap, Jonathan Williams fumbled and Houston took advantage with Watson's 2-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Prosise to go ahead 13-6.

Watson was 17 of 25 for 318 yards and no interceptions. He faired better than Matthew Stafford, who was 28 of 42 for 295 yards and a TD.

Adrian Peterson had a pair of scoring runs for the Lions, who dropped to 4-7.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NFL

Ravens' Jackson among latest COVID-19 positives

UNDATED (AP) ā€” Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has tested positive for COVID-19, according to multiple media outlets.

Last year's NFL MVP is the biggest star to become infected by the virus.

The Baltimore Sun and ESPN both cite unidentified sources in reporting that Jackson was among four more Ravens players to test positive Thursday. Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, joining running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins and defensive tackle Brandon Williams.

Baltimore was supposed to play the unbeaten Steelers Thursday night, but the game was postponed until Sunday. The latest round of positive tests could jeopardize the game being played this weekend.

In other virus-related NFL news:

ā€” Larry Fitzgerald and fellow Arizona Cardinals receiver Trent Sherfield have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list three days ahead of their road game against the New England Patriots. The 37-year-old Fitzgerald is in his 17th NFL season and hasn't missed a regular-season game since 2014. He's started all 10 games this season and has 43 catches for 336 yards.

ā€” The Browns have placed defensive end Porter Gustin on the COVID-19 list, further weakening a group already without star Myles Garrett. Gustin became the third Browns player to be put on the list in the past three days as Cleveland continues to be one of the NFL teams hit hardest by the virus. Gustin, Garrett, fullback Andy Janovich, linebacker Sione Takitaki and defensive end Joe Jackson will miss Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

ā€” The Falcons worked virtually on Thanksgiving after two non-coaching members of the staff tested positive for COVID-19. The Falcons called off practice Thursday and halted all activities at their training center in suburban Flowery Branch, marking the third time this season the team has taken such a step. Positive tests forced the team to work virtually before an Oct. 18 game at Minnesota and a Nov. 8 game against Denver.

ā€” Broncos No. 3 quarterback Jeff Driskel has been placed on the COVID-19 list. It's not known whether it's due to a virus infection or being in close contact with an infected individual.

NFL-INJURIES

Rams' leading tackler placed on IR

UNDATED (AP) ā€” The Los Angeles Rams have placed leading tackler Micah Kiser on injured reserve. The Rams' starting middle linebacker will be sidelined for at least three weeks following Thursday's move.

Coach Sean McVay says Kiser injured his knee late in the Rams' 27-24 victory at Tampa Bay on Monday night. He has 77 tackles, along with three passes defensed and a forced fumble. The Rams host San Francisco on Sunday.

In other NFL injury news:

ā€” Packers reserve defensive lineman Montravius Adams is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a toe injury. The injury prevented Adams from playing Sunday in a 34-31 overtime loss at Indianapolis. Adams also missed the Packers' season-opening victory at Minnesota with a toe injury, and coach Matt LaFleur said it's the same toe that's bothering the lineman now.

ā€” Tua Tagovailoa's (TOO'-ah tuhng-ah-vy-LOH'-ahz) sore thumb has improved, and Dolphins coach Brian Flores is expressing optimism his rookie quarterback will be able to play Sunday against the Jets. Tagovailoa hurt the thumb on his throwing hand in practice and was limited in practice Thursday for the second day in a row. Tagovailoa was sacked six times before being pulled in the fourth quarter of the Dolphins' loss last week at Denver.

ā€” Sam Darnold was a full participant at practice Thursday, putting the Jets quarterback on track to start Sunday against the Dolphins. Darnold missed the 0-10 Jets' past two games with a shoulder injury, his second since October.

T25 BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE

No. 1 Gonzaga pulls away from No. 6 Kansas

UNDATED (AP) ā€” Gonzaga quickly demonstrated why it sits atop The Associated Press men's basketball poll.

The Zags opened their season by pulling out a 102-90 win over No. 6 Kansas. Three Bulldogs scored more than 20 points, led by 25 from Drew Timme. Jalen Suggs delivered 24 points, one more than Corey Kispert.

Kansas erased a 14-point deficit and tied it twice in the second half. Gonzaga put it away with a 22-7 run that gave the Zags a 96-78 lead. Suggs provided 17 points in the second half.

The Bulldogs outscored the Jayhawks, 30-14 in the paint and were 5-for-10 from 3-point range.

Marcus Garrett led the Jayhawks with 22 points.

In other Top 25 hoops action:

ā€” Eighth-ranked Illinois built a 30-point halftime lead and cruised to a wire-to-wire win over Chicago State, 97-38. Ayo Dosunmu (EYE'-oh doh-SOO'-moo) followed his career-high 28-point performance in the season opener on Wednesday by scoring 22 against the Cougars. Adam Miller finished with 15 points and Kofi Cockburn added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois.

ā€” No. 15 West Virginia missed its first 10 shots yet still built a 13-0 lead in a 78-66 victory against VCU. Derek Culver had 23 points and 15 rebounds to help the Mountaineers advance to the Bad Boys Mowers Crossover Classic final against Western Kentucky. Sean McNeil furnished 16 points and Oscar Tshiebwe (SHEEB'-way) added 11 with 16 rebounds.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-SCHEDULE

Trojans-Buffaloes canceled

UNDATED (AP) ā€” You can chop another game off this weekend's college football schedule.

No. 19 Southern California's scheduled home game Saturday against unbeaten Colorado has been canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests for the Trojans. The Pac-12 said USC didn't have the minimum number of scholarship players available at a specific position group. This is a result of at least two positive COVID-19 cases and the resulting isolation of additional players under contact tracing protocols.

Colorado immediately booked a replacement game against San Diego State in Boulder on Saturday afternoon. San Diego State had an opening after its game at Fresno State was canceled.

SOCCER-MARADONA-FUNERAL

Tens of thousands bid farewell Maradona in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES (AP) ā€” Tens of thousands of fans have filed past the coffin of Diego Maradona, Argentina's most iconic soccer star.

Thursday's ceremonies at the Argentine presidential mansion mixed head-of-state-like honors with the chaos of a rowdy stadium. Fans singing soccer anthems formed a line more than 20 blocks long. Some clashed with police when officers tried to cut off the crowd as time for viewing drew short.

Maradona died on Wednesday of a heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he had been recovering from a brain operation on Nov. 3.

TOKYO-TEST EVENTS

Tokyo Olympic organizers plan to host 18 test events

TOKYO (AP) ā€” The Tokyo Olympics are getting a kickstart. Local organizers have announced a series of 18 test events set to start in March.

The Tokyo Olympics are to open on July 23, 2021, after being postponed eight months ago by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least four of the test events will involve athletes from abroad. They include swimming, gymnastics, diving and volleyball. Officials say none of the test events will allow fans from abroad but some events will welcome an unspecified number of fans from Japan. The announcement came the same day that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported a one-day record of 570 new coronavirus infections in the capital.