(By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer) – Iowa State has The Associated Press Big 12 offensive and defensive players of the year and the league’s top coach. The awards come after the Cyclones’ best conference season ever. Running back Breece Hall is the unanimous choice for top offensive player with his league-best 130 yards rushing per game and 19 touchdowns.

FILE – In this Sept. 26, 2020, file photo, Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose (23) defends during an NCAA football game against TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. Rose was selected as the Big 12 defensive player of the year. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade, File)

Linebacker Mike Rose was selected the top defender with his 90 tackles and four interceptions that are both tied for the league lead. Iowa State was 8-1 in Big 12 play in the regular season, a school record for conference wins.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

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

UNDATED (AP) — No. 9 Wisconsin visits No. 12 Michigan State on Friday afternoon to highlight a Christmas Day schedule featuring four Big Ten matchups. Wisconsin has nine straight Big Ten victories but has lost its last eight matchups with Michigan State. The Spartans are trying to bounce back from a surprising 79-65 loss at Northwestern. The Big Ten’s other Christmas Day games include Maryland at Purdue, No. 19 Michigan at Nebraska and No. 4 Iowa at Minnesota.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Antwann Jones and Denzel Mahoney scored 13 points each to lead No. 13 Creighton to a 66-61 win over 22nd-ranked Xavier, handling the Musketeers their first loss of the season. The Bluejays (7-2, 3-1 Big East) used an 8-0 run to start the second half to open up a 44-34 lead. before the Musketeers (8-1, 1-1) cut it to 64-61 with 10 seconds left on Paul Scruggs’ 3-pointer. Adam Kunkel then got a steal and had a chance to tie the game, but his 3-pointer with a second left rimmed out and allowed Creighton to hold on.

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.

(Radio Iowa) – Off to the first 9-0 start in school history Drake opens the Missouri Valley Conference race on Sunday at Indiana State. It will be the first of two games against the Sycamores under the Valley’s format for this season. Drake coach Darian DeVries

Because of the start of conference play the Bulldogs will stay in Des Moines for Christmas.

DeVries says the Bulldogs know the competition will be raised in the Valley.

The fourth ranked Iowa basketball team returns to action with a Christmas evening game at Minnesota. The Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play with a win at home over Purdue. Both teams are
7-1.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery who says the new look Gophers have made strides.

Iowa senior center Luka Garza does not mind playing on Christmas.

Junior guard Joe Wieskamp says he looks forward to the challenge.

(Radio Iowa) – The Fiesta Bowl will be a homecoming of sorts for Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy. The native of Arizona will lead the Cyclones in their first January bowl game when they plat Oregon on January second.

Purdy was a high school rival of Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough (shuck) and they even train together during the off season.

Purdy says they will put their friendship aside for a few hours on January second.

Sophomore running back Breece Hall says it will be a great way to cap the season.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge says she will grant an injunction to stop the University of Iowa from dropping women’s swimming for the 2021-2022 school year. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose announced the decision Tuesday at the end of a two-day hearing on a Title IX complaint filed by four female swimmers. The lawsuit says the university is exacerbating the situation by dropping women’s swimming and diving teams when it already offers fewer opportunities for women than men.

University leaders have said the cuts are needed to help balance a big budget deficit due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW YORK (AP) — On a nine-game winning streak, the Kansas City Chiefs have retained the top spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers switched places after earning wins last Saturday. The AFC East champion Bills moved up a place at No. 2 and the Packers slipped a spot to No. 3.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) waves as he walks off the field after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. The Chiefs won 32-29. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

Despite the loss to the Chiefs last weekend, the Saints stayed at No. 4 and the Tennessee Titans gained three spots to No. 5.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – Monica Czinano scored 19 points and Iowa used a 27-17 third quarter to pull away in a 92-65 win over Western Illinois Tuesday afternoon, in Iowa City.

That’s Iowa coach Lisa Bluder. Freshman Caitlin Clark had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Hawkeyes return to action on New Years Eve by hosting Rutgers.