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National Sports Headlines: Sun., 12/28/2014

Sports

December 28th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Top-ranked Kentucky is 13-0 after Tyler Ulis scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half of a 58-50 win over No. 4 Louisville. Fellow freshmen Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker also contributed to help stake Kentucky to a 50-38 lead with 4:43 left. Towns had 10 points and nine rebounds, while Booker added nine points.

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — No. 15 Arizona State was a 36-31 winner over Duke in the Sun Bowl as Kalen Ballage returned a kickoff 95 yards to set up Demario Richard’s fourth touchdown of the game with under five minutes to go. Ballage’s big return came after 9-4 Duke took a 31-30 lead on receiver Jamison Crowder’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Blakeney with 5:03 left. Richard tied a Sun Bowl record with 24 points for the 10-3 Sun Devils.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Southern California earned a bowl victory despite blowing a 45-27 lead. The Trojans won the Holiday Bowl as Cody Kessler threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-42 triumph over 25th-rated Nebraska. Kessler tossed a 71-yard TD pass to Adoree’ Jackson, who also scored on a 98-yard kickoff return.

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon will miss Sunday’s season finale against Baltimore after being suspended by the team for a violation of team rules. The troubled receiver missed the first 10 games of the season after being suspended by the NFL for repeated drug violations.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils lost their first game since announcing Saturday that Adam Oates, Scott Stevens and GM Lou Lamoriello will serve as co-coaches the rest of the season. Oates ran the club and Lamoriello assisted as the Devils were beaten 3-1 by the Rangers. Lamoriello fired Peter DeBoer on Friday.