CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Reed Timmer scored 20 points and Drake held off a Southern Illinois rally for a 70-67 win Sunday. Nick McGlynn added 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Drake, which led by as much as 16 points in the first half but had to scramble as Southern Illinois rallied late in the second period to pull within two points with under a minute left. Drake (8-6, 2-0 Missouri Valley Conference) hit 26 of 61 from the field.

The Salukis (9-6, 1-1) tightened the game with a four-minute, 10-2 burst to trail 67-62 with 1:28 remaining. Armon Fletcher and Marcus Bartley each had 3-pointers in the run, and later Aaron Cook got a 3 with 44 seconds left to trim the gap to 69-67.

Fletcher, who finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds for Southern Illinois, missed two 3-pointers down the stretch, including the game’s final shot at the buzzer. Sean Lloyd Jr. and Bartley added 13 points apiece for the Salukis and Cook had 10.

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

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Allen Lazard tied a Liberty Bowl record with 10 catches and put Iowa State ahead with a remarkable 5-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, and the Cyclones beat No. 19 Memphis 21-20 on the Tigers’ home field. Iowa State held on to win after losing its first fumble this season just as it appeared on the verge of scoring an insurance touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Lazard’s 10 catches went for 142 yards, and he was named the game’s MVP.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Landry Shamet scored 16 points to lead No. 8 Wichita State to a 72-62 win over UConn in the Shockers first American Athletic Conference game. Rashard Kelly, Conner Frankamp and Austin Reaves each added 11 points for Wichita State which has won three straight. Jalen Adams and Terry Larrier each scored 18 points for UConn, which has lost four of its last five games

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pookie Powell scored 28 points with seven rebounds and La Salle rolled to an 83-60 win over Saint Louis in an Atlantic 10 Conference opener. Powell was 12 of 19 from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc for the Explorers. Amar Stukes scored 20 points and Tony Washington and Miles Brookins added 10 points apiece. Saul Phiri led the team with 10 rebounds.

MURRAY, Ky. (AP) — Jonathan Stark scored 27 points and Murray State beat SIU-Edwardsville 87-63 in an Ohio Valley Conference matchup. Stark was 7 of 10 from the field and 5 of 7 from beyond the arc for the Racers (10-3, 2-0) who have won three straight. Shaq Buchanan and Bryon Hawkins added 11 points apiece and Ja Morant had 10.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Emmanuel Nzekwesi scored 21 and grabbed 11 rebounds and R.J. Fuqua added 17 points and eight assists to send Oral Roberts to a 93-74 victory over Omaha in a Summit League opener. Sam Kearns finished with 16 points and five assists for the Golden Eagles (5-11), while Jontray Harris scored 12 and Javan White snagged 12 rebounds to go with nine points.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Allen Lazard tied a Liberty Bowl record with 10 catches and put Iowa State ahead with a remarkable 5-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter Saturday, and the Cyclones beat No. 19 Memphis 21-20 on the Tigers’ home field. Iowa State (8-5) held on to win after losing its first fumble this season just as it appeared on the verge of scoring an insurance touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Lazard ended up with 142 yards receiving in his final college game and was named the Liberty Bowl’s most valuable player. His 10th touchdown catch of the year set Iowa State’s single-season record. His 10 catches matched the highest total in the Liberty Bowl’s 59-game history. Other receivers with 10 catches in a Liberty Bowl were Louisville’s Deion Branch in 2000 and Arkansas’ Bobby Joe Edmonds in 1984.

Iowa State now seeks to go to back-to-back in bowl games, something the Cyclones haven’t done since 2004-05. The Cyclones lose a lot of leadership as they attempt to replace a senior class that includes Lazard and linebacker Joel Lanning, among others. Iowa State begins its 2018 schedule by hosting South Dakota State on Sept. 1.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Iowa State is missing defensive backs Kamari Cotton-Moya and Evrett Edwards for the Liberty Bowl against No. 19 Memphis, today (Saturday).

Iowa State athletic department spokesman Mike Green says Edwards was ineligible for the game and Cotton-Moya was suspended for a violation of team rules. The reason for Edwards’ ineligibility wasn’t specified. Both players are fifth-year seniors, effectively ending their college careers.

Cotton-Moya has recorded 250 career tackles, including 60 this season. He has a team-high three interceptions this season. Edwards has 51 tackles this season.

Their absence hampers an Iowa State defense trying to limit a Memphis team that averages 47.7 points.

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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Luka Garza scored 25 points and Iowa cruised past Northern Illinois (7-6) 98-75 for its fifth straight win. From the game’s opening tip, Iowa (9-6) controlled the tempo and jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead in the first three minutes thanks in part to Tyler Cook’s aggressive start.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Junior Dean Wade poured in a career-high 34 points, Kamau Stokes added 23 and Kansas State opened Big 12 play by pounding Iowa State 91-75 for its first win in Ames since 2011. Barry Brown Jr. had 21 points for the Wildcats, who shot 13 of 26 from 3-point range to snap Iowa State’s nine-game winning streak.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — No. 19 Memphis will be playing the Liberty Bowl in familiar territory and amid chilly conditions. Saturday’s forecast calls for highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper teens at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. That stadium serves as Memphis’ home field during the regular season. Iowa State is seeking its third win over a ranked team.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Devonte’ Graham had 23 points and eight assists, converting six 3-point baskets, and No. 11 Kansas defeated Texas 92-86 in the Big 12 opener for both teams. Kansas, which won a conference opener for the 27th consecutive season, converted 17 of 35 3-point attempts, including 11 in the second half.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Tanner Borchardt came off the bench to score a career-high 8 points and grab 10 rebounds, all in the second half, and Nebraska pulled away from Stetson late to take a 71-62 win.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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Iowa State (7-5, 1-0 Big 12) defeated Kansas (9-3, 0-1 Big 12) in its Big 12 opener, 71-69 in an overtime thriller. According to Cyclones.com, at the end of regulation, the score was locked 64-64, with the Cyclones outscoring the Jayhawks 7-5 in the overtime period.

It was a career night for Bridget Carleton as she cashed in her 1,000th career point as a Cyclone. She led all scorers with 30 points in the game, while flirting with a double-double, bringing in nine rebounds.

Carleton scored all seven of Iowa State’s points in overtime. The Chatham, Ontario native gave the Cyclones a 67-64 lead to open the extra period on a beautiful and-one. From there, ISU fended off KU’s comeback efforts, winning the contest 71-69.

The Cyclones have a quick turnaround. They return to Hilton Coliseum on Sunday to face Oklahoma.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Marcus Bartley hit back-to-back a 3-pointers as Southern Illinois fought into the lead early in the second quarter, and Armon Fletcher hit a big 3 inside the final minute as the Salukis had just enough to hold off Northern Iowa 56-53 in the opener of Missouri Valley Conference play Thursday night.

Kavion Pippen led with 14 points, Bartley added 12 and Fletcher eight for Southern Illinois (9-5), which won for the first time in 12 games at Northern Iowa’s McLeod Center and the first win at UNI since 2003.

Trailing 25-22 at halftime, Bartley wrapped two of his four 3-pointers around a Northern Iowa turnover as the Salukis scrapped into a 39-35 lead with 9:38 to play. Southern Illinois never trailed again, but didn’t get any daylight on the Panthers until Fletcher’s 3 made it 55-48 with 58 seconds left.

The lead was just enough as SIU missed five of six free throws in the last 40 seconds. Tywhon Pickford led UNI (8-5) with 13 points. Northern Iowa had played the nation’s second-toughest nonconference schedule.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Graham Woodward and Ore Arogundade hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Drake the lead and Nick McGlynn’s two free throws made it stand up for a 66-64 win over Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference opener on Thursday night.

The game was tied at intermission, 33-33, and neither team could build more than a single-digit lead in the second half. The game was tied, 58-58 with under four minutes to play and Darrell Brown gave Bradley the lead on a jumper with 2:55 to play. Woodward’s trey gave Drake the lead for good at 61-60 and Arogundade pushed it to 64-60. Brown hit two free throws to get within two before McGlynn’s free throws pushed the lead back to four. Luuk van Bree hit a layup with a second left to set the final margin.

Arogundade finished with 15 points to lead Drake (7-7, 1-0). Woodward added 13 points and McGlynn added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Brown had 19 points to lead Bradley (10-4, 0-1).

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee says he will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft. Lee tweeted that the opportunity is best for him and his family. Lee thanked teammates and fans along with former coach Mike Riley, who was fired after the season and replaced by Scott Frost. Lee says the Huskers are in great hands with Frost.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Smith will spend this week helping to groom Patrick Mahomes II to make his NFL debut at quarterback for the Chiefs. The awkward part is Smith might also be helping to groom Mahomes to replace him next season. Smith’s contract becomes pricey and the Chiefs have little salary cap space, which means he could be released after the best season of his career.

DENVER (AP) — Both the Chiefs and the Broncos are turning to young quarterbacks in their season finale Sunday in Denver. The Chiefs want to get a sneak peek at their first-round rookie Patrick Mahomes. The Broncos want to get another look at their 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch. While this will be Mahomes’ NFL debut, Lynch is hoping to make a better impression with his fourth NFL start and second this season.