Here is the latest SEC sports news from The Associated Press
By AP
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Johni Broome had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Dylan Cardwell had 12 points and 11 rebounds and No. 2 Auburn overcame a slow start to beat Monmouth 87-58. After an eight-day break between games, Auburn (12-1) struggled early and trailed Monmouth (2-11) for nearly seven minutes in the first half. Chaney Johnson then scored eight of his 12 points in quick succession to help the Tigers take control. By halftime, the Tigers led 46-28, and the rout was on. Abdi Bashir Jr. led Monmouth with 15 points.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Blake Craig kicked two field goals in the fourth quarter, his second a 56-yarder with 4:36 left as No. 23 Missouri rallied to beat Iowa 27-24 in the Music City Bowl. Missouri trailed 24-14 when the Tigers started the comeback, scoring the final 13 points for the win. Brady Cook threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Joshua Manning also ran for a TD to key the comeback. Marquis Johnson added 122 yards receiving and a TD catch. Missouri (10-3) posted the program’s eighth 10-win season. Iowa lost its second straight bowl, denying coach Kirk Ferentz a chance to move up the Big Ten ranks.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Riley Kugel scored 22 points and Josh Hubbard added 16 to lead No. 17 Mississippi State to an 87-73 victory over Bethune-Cookman. Mississippi State struggled to put away Bethune-Cookman until reeling off a 16-4 run midway through the second half. Kugel was 10 of 13 from the floor and had four rebounds before fouling out late. RJ Melendez and Claudell Harris each had 12 points for the Bulldogs, with Harris scoring all his points in the second half. Trey Thomas and Brayon Freeman each scored 21 points for Bethune-Cookman, and Reggie Ward Jr. added 14. Thomas was ejected in the second half after getting called for his second technical foul.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland each scored 22 points and No. 23 Arkansas put away Oakland 92-62 in its final non-conference game. Thiero made 8 of 12 shots and had six rebounds and six assists for the Razorbacks, who shot 60.3% overall. Fland, who had 21 points in the second half, hit five 3-pointers and finished with six assists. Arkansas led 42-39 at halftime before scoring 50 second-half points on 63.3% shooting. Oakland shot 25.8% after halftime. The Golden Grizzlies received 18 points and nine rebounds from Tuburu Naivalurua.
UNDATED (AP) — Tennessee remains at No. 1 after a quiet holiday week in the AP Top 25. The Volunteers received 41 first-place votes from a 61-person media panel in the Associated Press men’s college poll. No. 2 Auburn had 20 first-place votes, with Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounding out the top five. The Tigers gained ground on Tennessee’s No. 1 spot last week and did it again this week despite not playing, picking up eight additional first-place votes. The top 13 teams remained unchanged following a week in which 12 ranked teams didn’t play. No. 15 UCLA had the biggest jump, moving up seven places after outlasting No. 19 Gonzaga. Memphis was the only team to move into this week’s poll after beating Mississippi. San Diego State dropped out.
UNDATED (AP) — UConn coach Geno Auriemma has moved into a tie with Tara VanDerveer for the most appearances with a single team in the women’s AP Top 25. Auriemma has now led UConn to 627 appearances in the poll in his 40 years at the school, matching VanDerveer’s mark at Stanford before her retirement. UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remain the top three teams in the poll this week.
ATLANTA (AP) — There is no question Quinn Ewers is firmly established as the Texas starting quarterback for the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Even so, backup Arch Manning could play an important role. Manning had success in two games as a fill-in starter early in the season and has been effective in a backup role, especially as a runner. Quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee says Manning is more than just a running quarterback. Meanwhile, Ewers used diplomacy after Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt said he plans to prove he’s the best quarterback on the field.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Tamar Bates scored 16 points, Mark Mitchell added 14 and Missouri closes its nonconference schedule with an 82-65 win over Alabama State. Trent Pierce and Tony Perkins added 12 points. D’Ante Bass scored 14 points for the Hornets. Pierce drilled a 3-pointer 19 seconds into the game and Missouri never trailed. Marques Warrick hit a 3-pointer to put the Tigers up 22-11 midway through the first half and a couple minutes later they pulled away, going up 42-22 when T.O. Barrett made three free throws. The Hornets had the last basket of the half to trail 42-24. Bates had two quick baskets as Missouri scored the first six points of the second half and the Hornets never got closer than 18 until the last minute. Missouri starts SEC play at No. 2 Auburn on Saturday.
