COLLEGE FOOTBALL-BAHAMAS BOWL
Kickoff in Nassau
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) β Western Kentucky and Central Michigan match 7-5 records when they meet in the inaugural Bahamas Bowl today.
The Hilltoppers boast one of the nation’s top passers in Brandon Doughty. He leads the nation with 4,344 passing yards and 44 touchdowns, spearheading an offense that averaged 44 points per game in the regular season β sixth-best in the nation. The Hilltoppers were the nation’s only team to reach the 66-point mark twice.
Western Kentucky has needed that kind of production from the offense because the defense is giving up an average of 39.2 points per game.
Central Michigan quarterback Cooper Rush has a touchdown pass in eight straight games, while receiver Titus Davis has 33 touchdown catches in 44 college games.
The game will be played at Nassau’s Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, a 15,000-seat facility that was a gift from China to the Bahamas. It was officially opened in 2012.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-HAWAII BOWL
Rice, Fresno State meet
HONOLULU (AP) β Two teams that started the season 0-3 got rewarded with a trip to the Hawaii Bowl. Rice and Fresno State meet today trying to put a better ending onto the season. Only 19 other FBS teams out of 496 dating to 1980 have started 0-3 and played in a bowl game that year.
The 7-5 Owls are playing in a bowl game for a school record third straight year.
Fresno State has the distinction of being the only bowl team this season with a losing record. They dropped to 6-7 with a loss to Boise State in the Mountain West championship game. The Bulldogs have lost their last five bowl games.
NBA-SCHEDULE
NBA has Christmas Eve off
UNDATED (AP) β The NBA takes a one-day holiday break before showcasing five games on Christmas Day.
Golden State finds itself a surprising league leader with a 23-4 mark despite a shocking loss to the struggling Lakers last night. The Warriors visit the Clippers tomorrow.
The longest current winning streak in the league belongs to Southeast Division leading Atlanta which has won five in a row.
Houston’s James Harden tops the league in scoring with a 27-point average.
NHL-SCHEDULE
NHL takes break
UNDATED (AP) β NHL teams have put away the skates for a three-day holiday break starting today.
Anaheim tops the league with 51 points and enjoys an eight-point lead over San Jose at the top of the Pacific Division.
Philadelphia’s Jakob Voracek has nine points in the last five games to take over the league scoring lead with 46 points. That’s four better than Dallas’ Tyler Seguin (SAY’-gihn) who’s 25 goals is tops in the league.
Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne (PEH’-kuh RIH’-nuh) has a league-leading 22 wins.
