The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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(By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer) – The game of the weekend in the Big Ten, and nation, pits No. 3 Iowa against top-ranked Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference. The game is set for Saturday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Iowa and Gonzaga are the top two teams in the Kenpom.com offensive rankings. Iowa’s Luka Garza will go against Drew Timme in a matchup of the nation’s top two big men. The Zags haven’t played since Dec. 2 because of COVID-19 issues.

Iowa center Luka Garza reacts after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 105-77. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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

UNDATED (AP) — The game of the weekend in the Big Ten, and nation, pits No. 3 Iowa against top-ranked Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference. The game is set for Saturday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Iowa and Gonzaga are the top two teams in the Kenpom.com offensive rankings. Iowa’s Luka Garza will go against Drew Timme in a matchup of the nation’s top two big men. The Zags haven’t played since Dec. 2 because of COVID-19 issues.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — McKinley Wright IV had 17 points and eight assists and Colorado never trailed in its 91-49 win over Omaha. Wright made 6 of 8 from the field, grabbed five rebounds and did not commit a turnover. Freshman Jabari Walker had season highs with 15 points and nine rebounds, Dallas Walton scored 14 points and D’Shawn Schwartz added 11 for Colorado (4-1). The Buffaloes made six of their first seven shots to take a 15-4 lead when Wright hit a 3-pointer less than four minutes into the game and a 14-0 run made it 32-9 with 8:48 left in the first half. La’Mel Robinson led Omaha (2-6) with 11 points.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The full value of Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu isn’t realized until you see him interacting with teammates in the locker room, on the practice field and during pre-game stretching. It’s at that point you notice his upbeat personality, his never-good-enough attitude and his raw desire to be the best at his position, which seems to spread like a contagion to everybody else on the team. That said, he’s fairly good at intercepting passes and sacking the quarterback, too.

UNDATED (AP) — The Buffalo Bills can clinch the AFC East for the first time since 1995 with a win on Saturday or a loss by the Dolphins on Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers can wrap up the AFC North with a victory on Monday night or a loss by Cleveland on Sunday night. And the New Orleans can clinch the NFC South with a victory against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs or a Tampa Bay loss at Atlanta.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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The recent blast of arctic air is growing ice on lakes and ponds over much of Iowa. Anglers are ready to get out for the popular early ice fishing season. “Many of us can’t wait to get out on the ice each winter,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of fisheries for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Ice fishing is a fun, inexpensive activity for anglers of all ages to get outdoors and avoid cabin fever.” The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.

“Check ice thickness as you make your way to your favorite fishing spot,” Larscheid said. “Ice conditions change constantly and its thickness can vary across the lake. Trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don’t go out.” Early ice offers an excellent chance for success.  If fish are finicky, cut a series of holes and spend 15 minutes at each hole. Use small baits and light line.

Safety tips on the ice

• No ice is 100 percent safe.
• New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
• Don’t go out alone – if the worst should happen, someone will be there to call for help or to help rescue.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will return.
• Check ice thickness as you go out – there could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed.
• Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
• The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
• Bring along these basic items to help keep you safe: hand warmers, ice cleats to help prevent falls, ice picks (wear around your neck) to help you crawl out of the water if you fall in, a life jacket, a floating safety rope, a whistle to call for help, a basic first aid kit and extra dry clothes including a pair of gloves.

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

AMES, Iowa (AP) — DaJuan Gordon scored 15 points, making all 11 free throws, Kansas State made seven of eight from the line in the last 41 seconds, turning aside a late Iowa State surge 74-65 in a Big 12 Conference opener. Gordon also grabbed 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Kansas State started three true freshman in a Big 12 game for the first time and the trio came through. Davion Bradford scored 14 points, Nijel Pack and Selton Miguel each added eight points with three steals. Rasir Bolton paced the Cyclones with 19 points. Tyler Harris added 10.

UNDATED (AP) — Two of the seven Big Ten Champions Week games have been canceled because of COVID-19 outbreaks. The Old Oaken Bucket game between Indiana and Purdue set for Friday was canceled for the second time in two weeks and the third time this season. Michigan’s game at No. 18 Iowa on Saturday also was canceled. That’s the third straight Wolverines game called off. Athletic director Warde Manuel says more than 50 players are unavailable because of positive tests and contact tracing requirements.

UNDATED (AP) — Iowa State football fans are celebrating an unprecedented season. The eighth-ranked Cyclones finished first in the Big 12 regular season and will play No. 12 Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday. Fifth-year coach Matt Campbell is considered nothing short of a miracle worker for turning around a program that once was a consistent loser. The 41-year-old Campbell played and coached at Division III powerhouse Mount Union College in Ohio. He and his staff have excelled at developing under-recruited players with potential.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are still on top in the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills each moved up two spots to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. And the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers each slipped two places No. 4 and No. 5 after losses on Sunday. The Saints host the Chiefs this Sunday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska linebacker Collin Miller has announced his retirement from football after a spinal injury ended his season last month. Miller said a neurologist who works with the Cornhuskers recommended he give up the game for health reasons. The senior from Fishers, Indiana, appeared in 40 games and started his final 16. He made 27 tackles in four games this season. Miller suffered a spinal concussion making a tackle against Illinois on Nov. 21. The condition is characterized by a temporary sensory impairment and motor weakness and typically resolves in one to three days.

@ GLENWOOD

Creston/O-M 64, Glenwood 12
Creston/O-M 63, Treynor 9
Creston/O-M 58, Abraham Lincoln 15
Glenwood 48, Abraham Lincoln 30
Glenwood 46, Treynor 30
Treynor 36, Abraham Lincoln 36

@ LOGAN-MAGNOLIA

Logan-Magnolia 70, Red Oak 6
Logan-Magnolia 48, Riverside 24
Logan-Magnolia 58, St. Albert 24
Riverside 63, Red Oak 18
Riverside 58, St. Albert 18
Red Oak 42, St. Albert 36

@ SERGEANT BLUFF-LUTON

Sergeant Bluff-Luton 60, Denison-Schleswig 13
Sheldon/South O’Brien 51, Denison-Schleswig 18
Westwood 59, Denison-Schleswig 24

@ MILLARD SOUTH

Millard South 68, Lewis Central 5

@ ACGC

East Mills 36, ACGC 33
Pleasantville 42, East Mills 27

@ NODAWAY VALLEY

Missouri Valley 42, Underwood 37
Missouri Valley 81, Griswold 0
Missouri Valley 68, Nodaway Valley 9
Nodaway Valley 54, Griswold 18
Underwood 43, Nodaway Valley 24

@ EAST SAC COUNTY

East Sac County 36, Audubon 27
East Sac County 48, Woodbine 34
South Central Calhoun 60, Audubon 24
South Central Calhoun 65, Woodbine 15
Audubon 36, Woodbine 36

@ BELLEVUE WEST

Bellevue West 74, Thomas Jefferson 0

BOYS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Kuemper Catholic 56, Atlantic 53
Creston 71, Shenandoah 37
Norwalk 61, Lewis Central 40

Western Iowa Conference

AHSTW 76, Treynor 73
Underwood 53, Riverside 35
Logan-Magnolia vs. Missouri Valley
Audubon vs. Tri-Center

Rolling Valley Conference

Ar-We-Va 50, Coon Rapids-Bayard 44
Boyer Valley 62, Woodbine 54
Glidden-Ralston 55, CAM 52
West Harrison 75, Paton-Churdan 56

Corner Conference

Sidney 73, Fremont-Mills 54

Pride of Iowa Conference

Central Decatur 80, Southeast Warren 55
Lenox 54, Southwest Valley 49
Nodaway Valley Bedford
Wayne 65, East Union 58

Other Scores

CB Abraham Lincoln 46, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 39
CB Thomas Jefferson vs. LeMars
Van Meter 54, Panorama 45

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Atlantic 60, Kuemper Catholic 48
Creston 56, Shenandoah 23
Lewis Central 46, Norwalk 44

Western Iowa Conference

Audubon 65, Tri-Center 36
Logan-Magnolia 73, Missouri Valley 29
Treynor 50, AHSTW 35
Underwood 49, Riverside 11

Rolling Valley Conference

CAM 60, Glidden-Ralston 29
Coon Rapids-Bayard 50, Ar-We-Va 35
Paton-Churdan 62, West Harrison 38
Boyer Valley vs. Woodbine

Corner Conference

Sidney 56, Fremont-Mills 38

Pride of Iowa Conference

Central Decatur 55, Southeast Warren 54
Lenox 45, Southwest Valley 38
Nodaway Valley 64, Bedford 29
Wayne 69, East Union 49

Other Scores

ACGC 53, Earlham 29
CB Abraham Lincoln 55, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 46
LeMars 46, CB Thomas Jefferson 19
Van Meter 42, Panorama 38

The Kuemper Catholic Knights boys basketball team grabbed a lead in the second quarter and held on the rest of the way for a 56-53 win over the Atlantic Trojans on Tuesday night. The Knights got 19 points from John Mayhall, 16 of those in the first half to give them the edge. Kuemper led by 6 at half and built the lead to as much as 15 in the second half. Atlantic gave themselves a chance late fighting back within as close as 2 but couldn’t get over the hump.

Atlantic tried to fight through a night where they lost their top scorer on the first offensive possessions and an off shooting night from their second leading scorer. Skyler Handlos hurt his ankle on the first offensive possession for the Trojans and did not return. Dayton Templeton didn’t score until a three make in the fourth quarter. Ethan Williams stepped up for Atlantic with 16 points and Garrett Reynolds scored 11. The Trojans fall to 1-2 on the season and they’ll travel to Lewis Central Friday. We’ll have that game on KJAN and KJANTV.

Kuemper Catholic also got 14 points from Mitchell Badding and 10 from Blake Pottebaum. The Knights improved to 2-2 and will next take on Ballard on Saturday.

The Atlantic girls basketball team got back to .500 on the season with a 60-48 home win over Kuemper Catholic. The Trojans were led by 19 points from Haley Rasmussen and 13 from Maycie Waters.

Waters dropped in 8 in the opening quarter to help Atlantic grab a 19-10 lead by the end of the first. The Trojans got up by 17 at halftime and had a 15 point edge heading into the final quarter. Kuemper would trim the lead down to single digits in the fourth but Atlantic made enough plays down the stretch to keep them at bay.

Atlantic improves to 3-3 with the win and will travel to Lewis Central for their next game on Friday. We’ll have that game on KJAN and KJANTV.

Kuemper falls to 0-5 on the season and are set to face South Hardin on Saturday.