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No. 5 N.C. State stays perfect, beats Illinois State 79-61

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — There was a sense of history for No. 5 North Carolina State on Sunday and this version of Wolfpack wants to add to it.With a collection of basketball alums looking on to celebrate the program’s 50th season, Aziaha James scored 16 points and River Baldwin had 10 of her 14 points in the first nine minutes as N.C. State kept its undefeated season rolling by beating Illinois State 79-61.Several dozen former N.C. State players and staff members were honored as part of the reunion weekend.“It feels great to play for N.C. State and play for them,” James said.Mimi Collins added 13 points for N.C. State (9-0), which has won nine straight games to begin a season for the fourth time in coach Wes Moore’s 11 seasons. This is N.C. State’s eighth 9-0 start overall.Memories were flowing through historic Reynolds Coliseum.“You owe a lot of that to Kay Yow and her history here,” Moore said of the legendary coach. “It’s nice to have the eras connect and get to know each other.”Car...

No. 20 Iowa and No. 25 Tennessee will meet in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

No. 20 Iowa (10-3, Big Ten) vs No. 25 Tennessee (8-4, SEC), Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ETLOCATION: Orlando, FloridaTOP PLAYERSIowa: LB Jay Higgins, third in the Bowl Subdivision by averaging 11.9 tackles per game, including 14 in the Big Ten title game loss to top-ranked Michigan.Tennessee: QB Joe Milton III, 2,430 yards passing with 16 touchdowns to go with five rushing TDs.NOTABLE Iowa: The Hawkeyes are ranked 130th out of 133 Bowl Subdivision teams in scoring offense at 16.6 points per game and last in total offense at 238.8 yards per game. Iowa failed to score more than 10 points four times and twice lost in shutouts.Tennessee: Three of the Volunteers’ four losses came against teams ranked inside the top 10 of the AP Top 25 released Sunday: fifth-ranked and College Football Playoff-bound Alabama, sixth-ranked Georgia and ninth-ranked Missouri.LAST TIMETennessee 45, Iowa 28 (Jan. 2, 2015 in the Gator Bowl)BOWL HISTORYIowa: This is Iowa’s 36th bowl appearance and third in the Citr...

Sam LaPorta has career day for Lions, Saints QB Derek Carr hurt as Detroit wins 33-28

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Sam LaPorta had career highs of nine catches for 140 yards, including an early touchdown and a crucial first-down snag in the final minutes, and the Detroit Lions defeated the reeling New Orleans Saints 33-28 on Sunday to post their best record through 12 games since 1962.The Saints lost quarterback Derek Carr in the fourth quarter to back, shoulder and head injuries. Carr was hurt on a penalized hit by Bruce Irvin, who drove the weight of his body into the quarterback.Jared Goff passed for 213 yards and two TDs for the Lions (9-3), who raced to a three-touchdown lead and then held off a valiant comeback bid by the Saints. New Orleans (5-7) fell one game behind first-place Atlanta in the league’s weakest division, the NFC South.After falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter, the Saints pulled as close as 24-21 late in the third. The Saints also had the ball at midfield with a chance to take the lead in the final three minutes, but turned the ball over on dow...

Texas State to make bowl debut against Rice in First Responder Bowl, first series meeting since 1987

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

Texas State (7-5, 4-4 Sun Belt) vs. Rice (6-6, 4-4 American Athletic), Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m. ETLOCATION: DallasTOP PLAYERSTexas State: RB Ismail Mahdi (1,209 yards rushing, 10 TDs); QB T.J. Finley 3,287 yards passing 24 TDs); LB Brian Holloway, (98 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two interceptions).Rice: QB J.T. Daniels (2,443 yards passing, 21 TDs, 63% completion rate); RB Dean Connors (707 yards rushing, 6.7 yards per carry, five TDs); S Plae Wyatt (77 tackles).NOTABLETexas State ranks 10th nationally in total offense (470.8 yards per game), including 22nd in passing (280.8). The Bobcats beat Baylor 42-31 in the opener for their first win over a Power Five school.Rice is 38th nationally in passing (264.2 yards per game) and 35th in red zone offense (89%), converting 40 of 45 chances with 26 TDs.LAST TIMERice won 38-28 in 1987 to even the series 2-2.BOWL HISTORYTexas State is making its first bowl appearance despite being eligible in 2013 and ’14 after joining the Sun Belt Conference.Ri...

Ridder, Falcons do just enough to pull out an ugly 13-8 win over struggling Jets

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt and the Atlanta Falcons took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South by slogging their way to an ugly 13-8 victory over the punchless New York Jets on a dreary, rainy Sunday.The Falcons (6-6) have back-to-back wins for the first time since opening the season with victories over Carolina and Green Bay. Atlanta entered tied atop the division with New Orleans, which lost to Detroit.But this game appealed only to fans of sloppy play, punting and penalty flags. The Jets (4-8) got an early safety but couldn’t get anything going — again — on offense in losing their fifth straight game. New York even pulled quarterback Tim Boyle and replaced him with Trevor Siemian in the fourth quarter to try to provide a spark, but it was more of the same misery in what appeared a half-filled, rain-soaked MetLife Stadium.Siemian and the Jets had a chance to win with 1:53 left but again were ineff...

Holmes, Garzon power No. 17 Indiana in 72-34 rout of Stetson

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Mackenzie Holmes had 17 points and Yarden Garzon scored 14 to spark No. 17 Indiana to a 72-34 win over Stetson on Sunday afternoon. The Hoosiers held the Hatters to just 12-of-62 shooting (19.4%) from the field, including just 3 of 24 from beyond the 3-point arc. They held a decisive 46-36 advantage on the boards. The Hatters managed to reach double-digit scoring (11) in the second quarter and were held to just five points in the fourth.Holmes, Garzon and Chloe Moore-McNeil each scored five points to get Indiana off to a 24-9 lead after one quarter and the Hoosiers pushed the lead to 41-20 by intermission. Holmes shot 7 of 9 from the field for Indiana (7-1). Garzon made 6 of 12 shots with four assists. Sara Scalia added 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Sydney Parrish grabbed 10 rebounds to go with her eight points.Jamiya Turner paced Stetson (2-7) with 11 points and six rebounds. Indiana opens Big Ten Conference play Saturday at Rutgers. Stetson pl...

Ohio seeking 2nd straight 10-win season when it faces Georgia Southern in Myrtle Beach Bowl

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

Ohio (9-3, Mid-American) vs. Georgia Southern (6-6, Sun Belt), Dec. 16, 11 a.m. ETLOCATION: Conway, South CarolinaTOP PLAYERSOhio: QB Kurtis Rourke, 2,207 yards passing, 11 touchdowns, five interceptions. Georgia Southern: QB Brin Davis, 3,341 yards passing, 22 touchdowns, 16 interceptions. NOTABLEOhio: The Bobcats have recorded consecutive nine-win regular seasons for the first time in school history. Georgia Southern: The Eagles were bowl eligible by the end of October, but lost their past four games. LAST TIMEThis is the first-ever meeting between Ohio and Georgia Southern. BOWL HISTORYOhio: First appearance in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, 15th bowl game in school history. Georgia Southern: First appearance in Myrtle Beach Bowl, sixth bowl game in school history. ___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollSource

Collins has 191 yards receiving, Ward saves game with interception as Texans beat Broncos 22-17

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Nico Collins had a career-high 191 yards receiving and a fourth-quarter touchdown, and Jimmie Ward intercepted Denver’s Russell Wilson in the end zone with 9 seconds left to left to help the Houston Texans hold on for a 22-17 win over the Broncos on Sunday.Ward leapt in front of intended receiver Lucas Krull to secure the fourth victory in five games for Houston (7-5) and snap a five-game winning streak for Denver (6-6).Wilson was intercepted a season-high three times, all of them after halftime. Derek Stingley Jr. had the first two picks for the Texans. The Broncos had forced 15 turnovers in their winning streak but did not have a takeaway Sunday.Houston rookie C.J. Stroud threw for 274 yards to end a streak of four straight games with at least 300 yards passing. Star rookie receiver Tank Dell injured his ankle in the first half and was carted off the field.Texans rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr., the third overall pick in the draft, had the best game of ...

Arkansas State, Northern Illinois meet in Camellia Bowl in clash of two 6-6 teams

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

Arkansas State (6-6, Sun Belt) vs Northern Illinois (6-6, Mid-American Conference), Dec. 23, noon ET. LOCATION: Montgomery, AlabamaTOP PLAYERSArkansas State: QB Jaylen Raynor, the Sun Belt freshman of the year, has 2,293 yards passing, 15 touchdowns, six interceptions, five rushing TDs.Northern Illinois: RB Antario Brown, first-team All-MAC, has 1,164 yards, 10 touchdowns, 6.2 yards per carry.NOTABLEArkansas State: Bowl eligible for the first time since 2019. Rebounded after getting outscored 110-3 in the first two games against Oklahoma and Memphis. Set Sun Belt record with 77 points in a win over Texas State on Nov. 18.Northern Illinois: Opened with 27-24 overtime win over Boston College, then lost its next four. Has won five of its last seven games. Ranks sixth nationally in pass defense, allowing 163.9 yards per game.LAST TIMENorthern Illinois 38, Arkansas State 20 in GoDaddy.com Bowl (Jan. 8, 2012).BOWL HISTORYArkansas State: Is 8-8-1 in bowl games and making third appearance i...

Ward saves game with interception as Texans beat Broncos 22-17

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:15:22 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Nico Collins had a career-high 191 yards receiving and a fourth-quarter touchdown, and Jimmie Ward intercepted Denver's Russell Wilson in the end zone with 9 seconds left to left to help the Houston Texans hold on for a 22-17 win over the Broncos on Sunday.Ward leapt in front of intended receiver Lucas Krull to secure the fourth victory in five games for Houston (7-5) and snap a five-game winning streak for Denver (6-6). Colorado snow totals for Dec. 2-3 Wilson was intercepted a season-high three times, all of them after halftime. Derek Stingley Jr. had the first two picks for the Texans. The Broncos had forced 15 turnovers in their winning streak but did not have a takeaway Sunday.Houston rookie C.J. Stroud threw for 274 yards to end a streak of four straight games with at least 300 yards passing. Star rookie receiver Tank Dell injured his ankle in the first half and was carted off the field.Texans rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr., the third overall pick in t...