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.