KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A man who has performed as the Kansas City Chiefs’ mascot since 1989 is recovering in a hospital after being injured while practicing a skit for Sunday’s game against San Diego.  Chiefs spokesman Ted Crews confirmed Monday that Dan Meers, who performs as KC Wolf, was injured Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Crews declined to say what Meers was doing when he was hurt, the extent of his injuries or the hospital where he was taken.

According to the website mascothalloffame.com, Meers formerly performed as the St. Louis Cardinals’ mascot “Fredbird,” and before that was “Truman Tiger,” the University of Missouri’s mascot.  Crews says Meers’ prognosis is good and he is expected to make a full recovery.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Abraham Lincoln 43, Atlantic 24

Creston 58, Orient-Macksburg 18

Earlham 72, Iowa Christian Academy 29

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — Nate Buss came off the bench to score 23 points and grab 12 rebounds, both career highs, to lead Northern Iowa to a 65-50 win over La Salle and a third-place finish in the Paradise Jam tournament. The Panthers, who lost to Maryland in the semifinals Sunday night, led by three after a half, but went on a 12-2 run early in the first half. La Salle fell to Providence in the other semifinal.

La Salle (3-4) did not score for more than six minutes at a stretch twice in the second half – during Northern Iowa’s run and again from the 7:12 mark of the half until Steve Zack converted a pair of free throws with :59 left.

Seth Tuttle had 15 points for Northern Iowa (3-3). Zack finished with 13 points to lead the Explorers, with 10 points from Tyrone Garland

AMES, Iowa (AP) — DeAndre Kane had 20 points and eight rebounds, and 17th-ranked Iowa State trounced Missouri-Kansas City 110-51 Monday night for its fifth straight win. Sherron Dorsey-Walker added 17 points for the Cyclones, who used a 27-0 run midway through the first half to put away the Kangaroos.

Iowa State, which was hosting a game as a ranked team for the first time in eight years, held UMKC scoreless for 7½ minutes and led 52-17 at halftime. The Cyclones also finished with their most points under fourth-year coach Fred Hoiberg.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self wants fans to quit yelling “Chiefs” at the end of the national anthem before games that the Jayhawks play at historic Allen Fieldhouse. Fans of the nearby NFL franchise traditionally bellow “Chiefs” rather than “brave,” the final word in the national anthem, before games played at Arrowhead Stadium. But for some reason, many do the same thing before games played in other area venues. Among them are Allen Fieldhouse and Kauffman Stadium, the home of the Royals.

Self said Monday that “out of respect for what it really stands for and the men and women that have sacrificed so much, I think that we should stay true to what it is.” Other local coaches have made similar pleas over the years.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali had an MRI exam on his sprained left ankle that came back better than expected Monday, while fellow linebacker Justin Houston had an MRI exam on his left elbow postponed because of swelling. Coach Andy Reid wouldn’t say whether his top two pass rushers, both of them Pro Bowl picks a year ago, would be available for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Hali rolled over his ankle in the first half of Sunday’s 41-38 loss to the San Diego Chargers. He was walking on crutches in the locker room after the game, but Reid said that he was feeling better on Monday. It’s possible he could play vs Denver. Houston appears to be more doubtful after a subluxation of his elbow.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals factored in Jhonny Peralta’s drug suspension when they negotiated a four-year deal worth more than $50 million with the free agent shortstop. General manager John Mozeliak said Monday that Peralta had admitted wrongdoing and served his penalty, and that the Cardinals weren’t about to appoint themselves “morale police.” Mozeliak said the club was confident this was an isolated circumstance.

The 31-year-old Peralta was suspended for 50 games last summer following Major League Baseball’s investigation of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic, which was accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. He underwent a physical on Sunday but did not attend the introductory news conference.

St. Louis also explored a trade but wasn’t willing to part with several prospects.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Iowa Hawkeye women overcame a cold shooting game to post a 67-60 win at UNI. The Hawks connected on only 33 percent from the field, including three of 18 from three point range, and made only 24 of 38 free throws. UNI center Jen Keitel was limited to five points and no rebounds before fouling out with three minutes to go.

Samantha Logic had 17 points and ten rebounds to lead the Hawkeyes who improve to 5-1 on the season. Amber Sorensen had 15 to lkead the Panthers as they fall to 2-3.

(Learfield Sports/Radio Iowa)