TCU Comes Back to Down Stanford in Alamo Bowl
The TCU Horned Frogs love playing in the Alamo Bowl. Just four years after rallying from a 22-point deficit in the same game, TCU came back from an 18-point deficit on Thursday night for a 39-37 win over the Stanford Cardinal. Kenny Hill had four total touchdowns, two passing, one rushing, and even one receiving, as Cole Bunce kicked the game-winning 33-yard field goal with three minutes remaining. Hill did it all for the victorious team, as it was the second time this season that he had a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in a single game. Hill transferred over from Texas A&M, and after one struggling season, has led the team to an 11-3 record. The Cardinal fell to 9-5 on the season, despite Bryce Love's 195 yards rushing and a score and K.J. Costello's three touchdown passes, all of which went to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. The last scoring pass gave Stanford a 37-36 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Costello did have two interceptions, including one to Innis Gaines with 2:01 left to seal the Horned Frogs victory. Love did have to exit the game in the second half due to a cut thumb that would not stop bleeding, but did finish with a Stanford single-season record of 2,118 yards rushing.
Dantonio Earns 100th Win, MSU Earns 10-Win Season
The Michigan State Spartans' 2017 season has proven how impressive of a coach Mark Dantonio is, and what better way to finish it than with a convincing bowl victory. Brian Lewerke threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns in the Spartans' 42-17 rout of the Washington State Cougars in the Holiday Bowl on Thursday night. Felton Davis III had 118 yards receiving and a touchdown, while L.J. Scott ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the most complete game of the season for MSU. The win was the 100th of the career for Dantonio, as he led his team from a dismal 3-9 record a season ago to double digit victories for the eighth time in program history. The Cougars were without Luke Falk, who was seen earlier in the week with a cast on his left wrist. He came out on Thursday for warmups but was then in street clothes for the game. When asked about the quarterback's injury during the postgame press conference, head coach Mike Leach rudely declined to comment. Tyler Hilinski got the start for the Cougars and threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns in the Cougars' fourth loss of the season. That helped the Spartans out-gain the Cougars, 440-296, as they proved that they can be a legitimate contender in the Big Ten Conference next season.
Harden, Rockets Fall Apart in Boston
Everything about how Thursday's game was going looked as if the Houston Rockets' recent skid was coming to an end in Boston. A 26-point lead went away on the road for the Rockets, as consecutive James Harden offensive fouls on inbound plays led to Al Horford's game-winning hook shot with 3.7 seconds left for a 99-98 Boston Celtics win over the Rockets. Marcus Smart drew both fouls on Harden, including the first with 7.3 seconds left that led to the game-winning basket and sent the Rockets to their fourth straight loss. Kyrie Irving scored 26 and Jayson Tatum chipped in 19 to lead what was the largest comeback in the NBA this season. The Celtics' defense also played a big role by allowing just nine Houston field goals in the second half. Smart and Terry Rozier had 13 points apiece, and the hero Horford had nine points and eight rebounds, all to rally from a 24-point halftime deficit. Before his consecutive fouls, Harden put up 34 points and 10 rebounds and Eric Gordon added 25, but the Rockets shot just 25 percent after halftime. They will look to end this skid on Friday night in Washington against the Wizards. The Celtics will be back at it on New Year's Eve against the Brooklyn Nets.
The TCU Horned Frogs love playing in the Alamo Bowl. Just four years after rallying from a 22-point deficit in the same game, TCU came back from an 18-point deficit on Thursday night for a 39-37 win over the Stanford Cardinal. Kenny Hill had four total touchdowns, two passing, one rushing, and even one receiving, as Cole Bunce kicked the game-winning 33-yard field goal with three minutes remaining. Hill did it all for the victorious team, as it was the second time this season that he had a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in a single game. Hill transferred over from Texas A&M, and after one struggling season, has led the team to an 11-3 record. The Cardinal fell to 9-5 on the season, despite Bryce Love's 195 yards rushing and a score and K.J. Costello's three touchdown passes, all of which went to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. The last scoring pass gave Stanford a 37-36 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Costello did have two interceptions, including one to Innis Gaines with 2:01 left to seal the Horned Frogs victory. Love did have to exit the game in the second half due to a cut thumb that would not stop bleeding, but did finish with a Stanford single-season record of 2,118 yards rushing.
Dantonio Earns 100th Win, MSU Earns 10-Win Season
The Michigan State Spartans' 2017 season has proven how impressive of a coach Mark Dantonio is, and what better way to finish it than with a convincing bowl victory. Brian Lewerke threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns in the Spartans' 42-17 rout of the Washington State Cougars in the Holiday Bowl on Thursday night. Felton Davis III had 118 yards receiving and a touchdown, while L.J. Scott ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the most complete game of the season for MSU. The win was the 100th of the career for Dantonio, as he led his team from a dismal 3-9 record a season ago to double digit victories for the eighth time in program history. The Cougars were without Luke Falk, who was seen earlier in the week with a cast on his left wrist. He came out on Thursday for warmups but was then in street clothes for the game. When asked about the quarterback's injury during the postgame press conference, head coach Mike Leach rudely declined to comment. Tyler Hilinski got the start for the Cougars and threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns in the Cougars' fourth loss of the season. That helped the Spartans out-gain the Cougars, 440-296, as they proved that they can be a legitimate contender in the Big Ten Conference next season.
Harden, Rockets Fall Apart in Boston
Everything about how Thursday's game was going looked as if the Houston Rockets' recent skid was coming to an end in Boston. A 26-point lead went away on the road for the Rockets, as consecutive James Harden offensive fouls on inbound plays led to Al Horford's game-winning hook shot with 3.7 seconds left for a 99-98 Boston Celtics win over the Rockets. Marcus Smart drew both fouls on Harden, including the first with 7.3 seconds left that led to the game-winning basket and sent the Rockets to their fourth straight loss. Kyrie Irving scored 26 and Jayson Tatum chipped in 19 to lead what was the largest comeback in the NBA this season. The Celtics' defense also played a big role by allowing just nine Houston field goals in the second half. Smart and Terry Rozier had 13 points apiece, and the hero Horford had nine points and eight rebounds, all to rally from a 24-point halftime deficit. Before his consecutive fouls, Harden put up 34 points and 10 rebounds and Eric Gordon added 25, but the Rockets shot just 25 percent after halftime. They will look to end this skid on Friday night in Washington against the Wizards. The Celtics will be back at it on New Year's Eve against the Brooklyn Nets.
