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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa defensive tackle Jack Heflin is right where he always wanted to be. The Prophetstown, Illinois, native has turned his childhood aspirations into reality, suiting up this season for the No. 17 Hawkeys after four years at Northern Illinois. The 22-year-old Heflin has 21 tackles and a sack playing a key role in anchoring one of the nation’s top defenses, which takes on Missouri in the Music City Bowl next week.

UNDATED (AP) — Quarterback Justin Fields repeated as offensive player of the year and is joined by three of his teammates on the Associated Press All-Big Ten football team. Lineman Daviyon Nixon of Iowa is the defensive player of the year and is among six Hawkeyes players on the first team in voting by 24 media members. Northwestern redshirt freshman safety Brandon Joseph is newcomer of the year and Indiana’s Tom Allen is coach of the year. Fields is a repeat first-team selection along with Buckeyes offensive lineman Wyatt Davis.

UNDATED (AP) — Many of college basketball’s top teams have one thing in common: They are led by veteran players, which has given them an early edge by providing continuity amid the uncertainty around the game amid the coronavirus pandemic. All teams are coping with constant starts, stops and schedule changes. And those that have the most success, like No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 2 Baylor and No. 4 Iowa, have multiple upperclassmen playing prominent roles in their rotations. Teams led by younger players like unranked Kentucky and No. 20 Duke have had bumpier starts. Wildcats coach John Calipari says veteran teams “have a huge advantage this season.”

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Brad Davison had 15 points and a career-high seven assists, and No. 9 Wisconsin overcame a dreadful start to beat Nebraska 67-53 Tuesday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Micah Potter added 10 points and 11 rebounds and sparked a key 14-0 run late in the first half. Fifth-year senior Aleem Ford celebrated his 24th birthday with 13 points and eight rebounds to help the Badgers earn their ninth straight conference victory and 15th straight home win. The Badgers closed the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season by winning eight straight conference games to share the Big Ten regular-season title with Maryland and Michigan State.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Sonya Morris scored 22 points and Dee Bekelja scored 16 to lead 18th-ranked DePaul past Creighton 90-81. The Blue Demons used a 10-0 run to start the last quarter and turned a 63-60 deficit into a seven-point lead in a less than three-minute span. Despite the fact Creighton made half its 14 field goals in the fourth quarter, DePaul went 14-for-16 shooting. The Blue Demons shot 38 for 63 (60.3%) including 12 of 25 from 3-point range. Creighton true freshman Emma Ronsiek registered career highs with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Ronsiek missed just two of 15 attempts.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Glenwood 49, Lewis Central 46
Harlan 52, Clarinda 49, OT
St. Albert 74, Kuemper Catholic 70

Western Iowa Conference

AHSTW 69, Logan-Magnolia 57
Riverside 62, Missouri Valley 25
Treynor 65, Underwood 48

Rolling Valley Conference

Boyer Valley 75, Paton-Churdan 46
Coon Rapids-Bayard 39, West Harrison 38
Exira-EHK 62, Ar-We-Va 56 OT

Other Scores

ADM 77, Perry 21
Carroll 63, Bondurant Farrar 57
East Mills 36, Bedford 28

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Glenwood 80, Lewis Central 59
Harlan 64, Clarinda 34
St. Albert 59, Kuemper Catholic 57

Western Iowa Conference

Logan-Magnolia 52, AHSTW 42
Riverside 37, Missouri Valley 21
Treynor 39, Underwood 36

Rolling Valley Conference

Coon Rapids-Bayard 58, West Harrison 9
Exira-EHK 79, Ar-We-Va 42
Paton-Churdan 54, Boyer Valley 34

Other Scores

Dallas Center-Grimes 64, Creston 44
East Mills 58, Bedford 31
Waukee 85, CB Abraham Lincoln 29
Winterset 53, North Polk, Alleman 42

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Shanquan Hemphill had 19 points and seven rebounds as Drake won its ninth straight game to open the season, rolling past North Dakota 88-55. Tremell Murphy added 13 points for the Bulldogs and Roman Penn chipped in 10 points. Gertautas Urbonavicius led the Fighting Hawks with 16 points.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Luka Garza scored 22 points, Joe Wieskamp added 17 and No. 4 Iowa beat Purdue 70-55. Garza, who came into the game leading the nation in scoring at 29.3 points per game, scored 10 of the first 16 points for the Hawkeyes, who were coming off a 99-88 loss to No. 1 Gonzaga on Saturday.

Iowa center Luka Garza (55) is fouled by Purdue guard Brandon Newman, right, after grabbing a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Garza has scored 20 or more points in 17 consecutive Big Ten games, the longest streak in the conference since Ohio State’s Dennis Hopson had 16 in 1987. Garza was 7 of 14 from the field, including 4 of 8 in 3-pointers. Garza and Wieskamp added nine rebounds each.

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State running back/kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu was named the 2020 Big 12 Football Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, announced today by the league office.

Nwangwu is the first Cyclone football player to pick up the award.

The redshirt senior from Frisco, Texas had a fantastic final season as a Cyclone, ranking seventh nationally (minimum 10 returns) in kickoff return average at 29.1. He has five returns of 30+ yards on the year, including two over 65 yards that aided ISU comeback victories over Oklahoma and Baylor.

Nwangwu’s career 26.85 kickoff return average is No. 1 in Iowa State history and is ninth nationally among active FBS players.

The senior has also been a terrific backup to the nation’s leading rusher Breece Hall. Nwangwu has rushed for 284 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

Nwangwu is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection. He earned his degree from Iowa State, maintaining a 3.76 GPA in Mechanical Engineering.

Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year
The Big 12 Conference established its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2012-13. A recipient is named in each conference-sponsored sport. Every Big 12 institution nominates one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league head coaches for that sport, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing), have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team’s scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.

NEW YORK – Iowa State junior Charlie Kolar is one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award as one of the nation’s best tight ends, announced today by the Friends of John Mackey.

The John Mackey Award will determine its winner live during The Home Depot College Football Awards, Jan. 7 on ESPN.

Kolar joins Kyle Pitts (Florida) and Jalen Wydermyer (Texas A&M) as finalists.

It’s been another fantastic season for the All-American and two-time All-Big 12 First Team tight end.

A native of Norman, Okla., Kolar leads all Big 12 tight ends and ranks in the top-five nationally among tight ends in receptions (39), receiving yards (538) and touchdown catches (6) in 10 games played.

Kolar has caught a TD pass in five of his last six games and recorded a career-high 131 receiving yards in the win against Texas.

Kolar, who has the fourth-longest reception streak in school history at 23 games, has the most career catches (101) and career touchdown catches (16) by a tight end in school history. His 1,372 career receiving yards by a tight end is six yards shy of the school mark.

Kolar has been All-Big 12 QB Brock Purdy’s favorite target. The 6-6, 257-pounder has hooked up with Purdy in 15 of his career TD grabs. With his outstanding hands and precise routes, Kolar has registered a first down in 31 of his 39 catches and has been on the receiving end of 12 3^rd/4^th down conversions.

Kolar is the leader of the best tight end unit in the nation. Kolar, Chase Allen, Dylan Soehner and Easton Dean have a combined 72 receptions and 975 receiving yards, ranking first and second nationally, respectively, in the country.

ISU will play in its first-ever New Year’s Six Bowl against Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 2).

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa sophomore center Tyler Linderbaum has been named one of three finalists for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s premier center in college football.

Linderbaum joins Austin Blythe (2015) and Bruce Nelson (2002) as Iowa’s third finalist in school history.

The center with the most first team votes on three All-America teams (Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, and Football Writers Association of America) will determine the winner of the Rimington Trophy. The winner of the Rimington Trophy will be announced during The Home Depot College Football Award show Jan. 7, 2020 on ESPN. 

Linderbaum, a Solon, Iowa, native, was named first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus on Monday. He has started every game at center over the past two seasons.

In eight games this season, Linderbaum helped anchor an Iowa offense that ranks second in the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed, first downs, and fourth down conversions and scoring offense, and third in red zone offense.

The 15th-ranked University of Iowa football team will face Missouri in the 2020 TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (CT) from Nissan Stadium and the game will be televised on ESPN.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon has been named one of three finalists for the 2020 Outland Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Tuesday. The Outland Trophy is presented to the nation’s best interior lineman on offense or defense.

Nixon is the only defensive lineman out of the three finalists. In the last 20 years, only seven defensive linemen have won the Outland Trophy. The Outland Trophy winner will be announced Jan. 7, 2021 live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.

Tristan Wirfs was a semifinalist for the award last season. Four Hawkeyes have won the Outland Trophy in school history: Brandon Scherff (2014), Robert Gallery (2003), Alex Karras (1957), and Cal Jones (1955). Only three programs in the nation have more Outland Trophy recipients than the Hawkeyes.

Nixon, a Kenosha, Wisconsin, native, was named the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten last week. He leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss (33), tied for the conference lead in sacks (5.5), and has the most tackles by a Big Ten defensive lineman (41).

Nixon has also registered one interception, one PBU, and one forced fumble. Nixon returned his first career interception 71 yards for his first career touchdown in Iowa’s 41-21 win at Penn State.

Nixon has helped lead an Iowa defense that ranks second in the conference and 11th in the nation in total defense, third in the Big Ten and seventh in the nation in scoring defense (16.0), third in the Big Ten and 11th nationally in rush defense (107.6), and fifth in the conference in passing defense (206.1).

Nixon is the only player in the nation to be named a finalist/semifinalist for the Outland Trophy, Bednarik Award, and Nagruski Trophy.

Iowa’s defense has played 22 straight games without surrendering 25 points – the longest streak in the nation among Power 5 teams.

The 15th-ranked University of Iowa football team will face Missouri in the 2020 TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (CT) from Nissan Stadium and the game will be televised on ESPN.

Iowa State running back Breece Hall runs the ball against West Virginia during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)

DALLAS – Iowa State sophomore running back Breece Hall has recorded one of the greatest individual seasons in school history in 2020.

The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year received another incredible honor today as one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.

The Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation’s best running back, will determine its winner live during The Home Depot College Football Awards, Jan. 7 on ESPN.

Hall joins Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne as finalists.

A native of Wichita, Kan., Hall has made a swift rise to one of the nation’s elite running backs in 2020 by leading the nation in rushing yards (1,436) and 100-yard rushing games (8).

With 75+ rushing yards and at least one rush TD in all 11 games season, Hall has been the most consistent running back in the nation. His 11-game streak with a rushing TD is the longest active streak in the nation and the best string in the history of Cyclone football.

The versatile back is among the nation’s leaders in rushing TDs (19- 2nd nationally), overall TDs (21- 3rd nationally) and scoring (126- 3rd nationally).

Hall’s 21 touchdowns and 126 points scored both equal school marks.

Hall, who is averaging 130.5 rushing yards per game, has caught 21 passes for 170 yards and two TDs to help him average 146.0 yards from scrimmage per game.

Hall has also proven to be one of the most elusive and explosive backs nationally. He leads the nation in yards after contact (861), and is second in the nation in first down rushes (69) and third nationally in 20-yard rushes (14).

He has lost just one fumble in 475 career touches.

In the Big 12, Hall was the best in virtually every statistical category. He averaged 139.3 yards per game and had 16 touchdowns in nine league games. Hall has 12 100-yard rushing games in his career with 11 vs. Big 12 teams, including one against every team in the league.

Statistics alone makes Hall’s season incredible, but perhaps his biggest accomplishment on the year is his impact on winning. The Cyclones, currently ranked 10th nationally in the CFP poll, claimed first place in the Big 12 regular-season standings and a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history.

ISU will play in its first-ever New Year’s Six Bowl against Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 2).

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen reports, beginning Wednesday (12/23) at 10:00 am, the Sunnyside Park Roads will be closed for the winter. The main road to the Park House will remain open as well as the rest of the park. The Parks Dept. thanks you for your cooperation, and hope you get out and enjoy the parks over the winter months.