In NFL action, Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs squeaked out a 25-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and their eight consecutive AFC West win. The victory took place at Arrowhead Stadium. Harrison Butker kicked six field goals, which accounted for 18 Chiefs points. The lone touchdown came in the first quarter on a short pass from Patrick Mahomes to Isiah Pacheco. With the Chiefs victory, the Bengals and the Denver Broncos were eliminated from the playoffs. The Broncos lost to the L.A. Chargers, Sunday, 16-9.

Other NFL Scores from December 31st:

Iowa State heads into Big 12 play with a record of 11-2. The Cyclones raced away from an eight point halftime lead to beat New Hampshire 85-70. Keshon Gilbert had a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

ISU opens the Big 12 race at Oklahoma and Gilbert says the Cyclones are ready.

ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger on the start of Big 12 play.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (11-2, 0-0 Big 12) used strong starts to both halves and a triple-double by Keshon Gilbert to knock off New Hampshire (8-5, 0-0 American East), 85-70, Sunday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones opened the first half with a 16-3 run and the second period with a 23-8 flurry to put the Wildcats away in their final non-conference game of the season.

Gilbert was all over the court, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out a career-high 11 assists for the eighth triple-double, and second of the season, in Cyclone history. Tamin Lipsey posted a triple-double earlier this year against DePaul. The Cyclones are the only team in the nation this year and the 12th since 1996-97 to have two different players record a triple-double.

Eight of Gilbert’s 10 points were in the second half, including seven at the beginning of the second half to break open a close game. He also had four steals.

Six different Cyclones were in double-figure scoring, led by Tamin Lipsey’s 16. Milan Momcilovic added 15 points on a couple of 3-pointers, Tre King had 13, Hason Ward – seeing his first action since Nov. 12 – came off the bench to score 10 points and Curtis Jones also chipped in 10.

What’s Next

The Big 12 season slate begins next weekend, as the Cyclones travel to Oklahoma on Saturday (Jan. 6). Tipoff is at 5 p.m. CT on the Big 12 Network/ESPN+.

CORALVILLE, Iowa — Eight Hawkeyes brought home titles at the Soldier Salute on Saturday night at Xtream Arena. Iowa tallied for 251.50 team points to win the 2023 team title.

Iowa won finals matches at every weight class where it had qualifiers, and five Hawkeyes defeated ranked opponents in their title bouts. 

Drake Ayala started Session IV with a, 4-2, decision over seventh ranked Jore Volk (Wyoming) for his fourth career win over a top-10 opponent and second such win this season.

Ayala, who entered the weekend ranked 14th, also defeated No. 20 Patrick McKee (Minnesota), 5-4, in the semifinals.

“Since his first matches at the beginning of the year, there has been a lot of mat time,” said head coach Tom Brands. “Earlier in the year he hadn’t had a lot of mat time. You can see he is getting his belief in, ‘hey, I can get to anybody’s legs’ now. Then it’s about finishing in situations against guys that are roly-poly and flexible.” 

“I think we turned the tables on a guy that a couple years ago we were close to a lot. This time, we got the job done. Now, we have to be a little bit better next time. Have to keep getting better.”

At 141, Real Woods scored an 8-4 decision against #5 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina). Woods improves to 26-9 all-time against ranked foes. 

Other ranked wins included Brody Teske over 32nd ranked Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) and Jared Franek against 17th ranked Cael Swensen (SDSU). Franek earned the first takedown of the match in sudden victory to win, 4-1. 

Unattached freshman Gabe Arnold won the championship at his first Solider Salute in similar fashion, hoisting #24 Lenox Wolak (Columbia) airborne before returning him to the mat for a, 4-1, victory in extra time. 

At 165 pounds Michael Caliendo defeated teammate Patrick Kennedy in an all-Hawkeye final. 

Caleb Rathjen and Zach Glazier were champions at 149 and 197, respectively. Rathjen made his way through a gauntlet that included wins over teammate #8 Victor Voinovich in the semifinal and unattached Anthony Ferrari in the final. 

“Rathjen showed me that he is pretty determined to be the guy,” says Brands. “Not just because he went through the tournament and he is the champion, but because of some of the emphasis.” 

Iowa returns to competition at Nebraska on Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Lincoln. The dual will be televised on BTN.