HONOLULU (AP) — Paul Jesperson scored 18 points, Wes Washpun had 16 and Jeremy Morgan added 14 to help Northern Iowa beat Washington State 63-59 in a consolation semifinal of the Diamond Head Classic late Wednesday night.

The Panthers (8-4) avoided their first back-to-back losses of the season despite being outrebounded 31-20. They bounced back from a 16-point loss to tournament-host Hawaii in Tuesday’s opening round.

Washpun, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference player of the week, had team-highs of five rebounds and four assists for Northern Iowa, which made 19 of its 23 free throws. Jesperson, Morgan and Klint Carlson combined to make 14 of 14 from the charity stripe.

Josh Hawkinson scored 14 points, Ike Iroegbu 12 and Derrien King 10 for Washington State (7-4), which was just 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. There were 10 ties and 19 lead changes in Honolulu.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali broke his right thumb last Sunday in Baltimore and had surgery this week, though the Pro Bowl selection has not been ruled out for their game against Cleveland.

Trainer Rick Burkholder said Wednesday that Hali had swelling when he came to the practice facility on Monday. An examination revealed a displaced fracture, and Hali had three small screws inserted.

Hali is wearing a splint but could be available for Sunday’s game against the Browns. The Chiefs are already without All-Pro pass rusher Justin Houston, who has been sidelined by a hyperextended knee.

In some positive injury news, wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas was expected back at practice. He has been out the past three games after sustaining a concussion against San Diego on Nov. 29.

The Iowa Hawkeyes had some time off before resuming practice in Iowa City for the Rose Bowl game against Stanford. For some players, like quarterback C.J. Beathard, it was a welcome break. “It’s been a good time to kind of relax and kind of look back on the season…look back at what we accomplished this season, we did a lot of good things this season. It’s a tribute to the guys and how hard they worked this season. We are excited for this Rose Bowl game, we are excited to get out there to Pasadena,” Beathard says.

Beathard has had nagging injuries throughout the season and says the rest has helped. Beathard says the first week off was like rest week for him, but now they have turned their focus to Stanford. The quarterback says the healing process continues. He says he is still recovering and getting better each and every day. Iowa leaves for California Thursday, and Beathard says the focus on the football game will get stronger, even with all the other things going on.

“A lot of activities and distractions out there…those are the goods things that’s a result of having a good season and a result of going to the Rose Bowl,” Beathard says. “You’ve got to enjoy that, you’ve got to embrace it, but we’ve also got to stay focused and maintain the task at hand.” Senior runningback Jordan Canzeri got injured again in the Big Ten title game, but is confident he can play in Pasadena.

“It’s been great, my ankle feels great, I am definitely ready to go, and I will be. I have a lot of work to put in before then, but I’ll be ready,” Canzeri says. Finishing his Hawkeye career on the field in a bowl game — not the sideline — has been motivation. “An experience like this is something you don’t want to just let go,” Canzeri says. “It was extra motivation in rehab, and I am just glad that I am ready now.”

Iowa fought to get respect all season long despite a 12-0 regular season record. Canzeri says that’s till the case as they play in the bowl game. “We just within ourselves have that internal motivation to win this game — so it doesn’t matter what people say negatively or positively,” according to Canzeri. “For us, we know that we just want to end this season on a positive note with a win. We want to build on the rich legacy of this program and build on the season that we’ve had with a win, so that’s just the most important thing right now.” Senior wide receiver Tevaun Smith says the older members of the team know the importance of preparing for the game.

He says they can have fun and it will be exciting for players,”But the older guys know what we have at stake and are going to work hard out in California and be ready for Stanford.” Smith says they understand the history of the Rose Bowl, but that doesn’t change how they get ready. “We recognize it’s the granddaddy of them all, but then again, it’s just like any game. We are going to come in and we are not going to practice any different, we are going to do the same thing we do during the season and work hard,” Smith says.

Iowa faces Stanford in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.

(Radio Iowa)

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Thousands of Iowa football fans will be heading to California next week and they can expect tight security at the Rose Bowl game and parade. Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez talked about the increased enforcement for the 127th Rose Parade at a news conference Tuesday. “We’ll have more than two dozen undercover officers who will be patrolling the parade route and more than two dozen bomb-dog teams,” Sanchez said. Dozens of security cameras will be in place as well, according to Sanchez. More than 700,000 people are expected to line the route of the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day morning. The Rose Bowl, featuring Iowa versus Stanford, will kickoff later that afternoon.

Homeland Security Special Agent Mark Selby said they’ll be deploying an “unprecedented volume of resources and technologies” for both the parade and game. “In the wake of the tragedy two weeks ago in San Bernadino, I really don’t think anybody needs to be reminded of the necessity and the vital importance of security,” Selby said. “But I think it’s important to realize these preparations started more than a year ago.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will patrol the game and parade from the sky. Fans attending the game will be provided with clear bags for their personal belongings as they enter the stadium. The University of Iowa received over 54,000 ticket requests from fans hoping to attend the game. The Iowa Hawkeyes last played in the Rose Bowl in 1991.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Peter Jok scored 21 points on a career-high five 3-pointers to lead Iowa to an 85-63 win over Tennessee Tech on Tuesday. Freshman Nicholas Baer added 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting off the bench and Mike Gesell had 10 assists for the Hawkeyes (9-3). Torrance Rowe scored 15 points and Hakeem Rogers had 13 points and six rebounds for Tennessee Tech (8-5).

BOYS BASKETBALL
Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 84, Lawton-Bronson 61
Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 64, Harlan 57
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 48, West Harrison, Mondamin 39
Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 48, South Central Calhoun 37
Paton-Churdan 47, Coon Rapids-Bayard 32
Woodward Academy 64, West Central Valley, Stuart 39
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Charter Oak-Ute 82, Woodbine 53
Harlan 65, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 35
Interstate 35,Truro 53, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 47
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 54, Atlantic 47
Nishnabotna 45, East Mills 37
Nodaway Valley 48, Martensdale-St. Marys 32
Panorama, Panora 61, Woodward-Granger 27
Paton-Churdan 57, Coon Rapids-Bayard 46
South Central Calhoun 55, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 43

HONOLULU (AP) — Aaron Valdes scored 15 points and Hawaii remained perfect, 8-0, on its home court by beating Northern Iowa, 68-52 in a first-round game of the Diamond Head Classic Tuesday night. Hawaii (8-1) advances to play No. 3 Oklahoma in the second of two semifinal games Wednesday.

Valdes hit a 3-pointer with 1:47 left in the first half to give the Rainbow Warriors a 32-25 lead and Isaac Fleming added two free throws to make 34-25 at intermission. Sai Tummala hit the second of two free throws to spark a 10-0 run that pushed Hawaii’s lead to 21 points, 68-47 after Stefan Jovanovic hit a layup off a feed from Fleming with 4:27 left.

Tummala added 12 points for Hawaii and Fleming added 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and six steals. Jovanovic added 11 points, nine boards and four blocks. Jeremy Morgan had 13 points to lead Northern Iowa (7-4).