CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Nate Buss scored 16 points to lead a hot-shooting Northern Iowa team over Virginia Commonwealth 77-68 on Saturday. Northern Iowa (5-5) shot 53.1 percent from the field and held off VCU (8-3) down the stretch. The Panthers led 27-20 at half and never trailed in the second half. VCU tied the game at 44 midway through the second half, but Northern Iowa responded with a 7-0 run, sparked by a Buss 3-pointer.

VCU trailed 63-60 with 3:10 left before Wes Washpun was fouled and hit two free throws for Northern Iowa. The Panthers made 8 of 10 free throws in the final 2 minutes to maintain the lead. Jeremy Morgan had 13 points for Northern Iowa and Deon Mitchell added 11. Treveon Graham and Jordan Burgess each scored 18 for VCU.

The Rams lost in December for the first time since 2010, snapping a streak of 17 straight December wins.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs wide receiver Dexter McCluster has been ruled out for Sunday’s game in Oakland after developing an infection in a small cut on his ankle. The Chiefs were wary that McCluster may have developed MRSA, but trainer Rick Burkholder said tests came back negative for the serious strain of staph infection. McCluster has been receiving antibiotics to treat the infection.

McCluster, who’s returned two punts for touchdowns this season, had been listed as questionable for the Raiders. A team spokesman said Saturday he will not make the trip. He sustained the cut last week in the mud and snow at Washington. The Chiefs had already ruled out left tackle Branden Albert with a hyperextended knee, tight end Anthony Fasano with a concussion and linebacker Justin Houston with a dislocated elbow.

BOYS BASKETBALL

A-H-S-T, Avoca 66, Audubon 25

Ar-We-Va, Westside 68, Paton-Churdan 29

Bedford 59, Mount Ayr 38

Boyer Valley, Dunlap 50, Coon Rapids-Bayard 47

Carroll 70, ADM, Adel 48

Creston 43, Atlantic 39

Earlham 70, Ogden 46

East Mills 74, Essex 40

Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 53, Charter Oak-Ute 39

Grandview Park Baptist, Des Moines 77, Orient-Macksburg 39

Griswold 58, Missouri Valley 56

Guthrie Center 41, Panorama, Panora 39

Harlan 67, Denison-Schleswig 27

Heartland Christian 77, South Page, College Springs 46

IKM-Manning 71, Tri-Center, Neola 39

Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 53, Lewis Central 39

Lawton-Bronson 73, Westwood, Sloan 35

Madrid 69, West Central Valley, Stuart 59

Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 67, River Valley, Correctionville 51

Nishnabotna 50, Fremont Mills, Tabor 47

Nodaway Valley 74, Southwest Valley 49

OA-BCIG 81, West Monona, Onawa 64

Sergeant Bluff-Luton 75, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 60

Shenandoah 81, Clarinda 65

Sidney 53, Stanton 48, OT

St. Albert, Council Bluffs 69, Red Oak 58

Treynor 56, Underwood 46

West Harrison, Mondamin 70, Adair-Casey 62

Woodbine 52, CAM, Anita 44

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Adair-Casey 62, West Harrison, Mondamin 39

ADM, Adel 84, Carroll 8

Bedford 49, Mount Ayr 43

Coon Rapids-Bayard 53, Boyer Valley, Dunlap 40

Creston 40, Atlantic 34

Earlham 63, Ogden 57

East Mills 43, Essex 42

Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 52, Charter Oak-Ute 26

Grandview Park Baptist, Des Moines 72, Orient-Macksburg 19

Harlan 62, Denison-Schleswig 22

Lenox 67, East Union, Afton 60, OT

Lewis Central 51, Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 44

Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 56, River Valley, Correctionville 28

Missouri Valley 48, Griswold 27

Nodaway Valley 48, Southwest Valley 33

OA-BCIG 51, West Monona, Onawa 39

Omaha Roncalli, Neb. 53, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 23

Red Oak 61, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 28

Riverside, Oakland 52, Logan-Magnolia 28

Sergeant Bluff-Luton 54, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 33

Shenandoah 65, Clarinda 46

Stanton 57, Sidney 17

Treynor 63, Underwood 24

Tri-Center, Neola 72, IKM-Manning 68

West Central Valley, Stuart 51, Madrid 27

Woodbine 52, CAM, Anita 47