NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) β Cooper Rush’s two-point conversion attempt pass fell incomplete on the final play, giving Western Kentucky a 49-48 win over Central Michigan in the inaugural Bahamas Bowl. The Chippewas stormed back after trailing 49-14 entering the fourth quarter and pulled to within a point on Titus Davis’ touchdown with no time left. They elected to go for the win and failed.
HONOLULU (AP) β The only major live sporting event tonight is the Hawaii Bowl, pitting a pair of teams that began the season with 0-3 records. Rice comes in sporting a 7-5 record while Fresno State is 6-7 following its loss to Boise State in the Mountain West Conference championship game.
CLEVELAND (AP) β Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (VAR’-eh-zhow) is out for the season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon last night against Minnesota. Tristan Thompson will likely move into a starting role as the Cavaliers likely will be in the trade market for another big man to replace Varejao, who was averaging 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds.
UNDATED (AP) β TCU’s Gary Patterson is The Associated Press college football coach of the year for the second time in five years. He guided the Horned Frogs to an 11-1 mark and joins Alabama’s Nick Saban as the only two-time winner of the award that has been presented since 1998.
CINCINNATI (AP) β Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton was home from practice today after coming down with flu-like symptoms. But the playoff-bound Bengals say they expect Dalton to be fully recovered by the time they go to Pittsburgh for a Sunday night game that will decide the AFC North title.
