UPI NewsTrack Sports

Raiders humble Bears in Holiday Bowl

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Sonny Cumbie threw for 502 yards and three touchdowns Thursday night as Texas Tech shocked No. 4 California in the Holiday Bowl, 45-31.

The Golden Bears slipped behind Texas in the final BCS ratings, costing California a chance to play in the Rose Bowl.

That did not sit well with California players, but they did not back up their claims that they should have had a BCS bowl bid.

Cumbie threw scoring passes of 10 and 5 yards to Jarrett Hicks and then found Joel Filani with a 60-yarder on the first possession of the third period.

Texas Tech outscored California during the middle two quarters, 31-3.

Johnnie Mack's 11-yard run with 8:33 left in the third gave the 21st-ranked Red Raiders (8-4) a 21-point lead.

Eight teams in Division I-A went through the regular season undefeated or with one loss and California was the first of those teams to play in a bowl game. The Golden Bears finished 10-2.

Cumbie completed 40 of 61 passes while California's Aaron Rodgers was 24 of 42 for 246 yards.

In other bowl action, Boston College rallied past North Carolina, 37-24; and Navy dominated the second half in a 34-19 win over New Mexico.

O'Neal celebrates with big game

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Jermaine O'Neal, his playing status now secure, scored 31 points Thursday night in leading Indiana past New Jersey, 96-83.

O'Neal learned earlier in the day that his suspension reduction had been upheld by a federal judge. O'Neal had originally been suspended 25 games for his part in last month's brawl with Detroit.

He wound up serving just 15 games of the suspension.

Austin Croshere added 17 points and Jeff Foster had 16 as Indiana won its third straight.

Vince Carter made his home debut for New Jersey and scored 25 points. Indiana scored the game's first eight points and never trailed.

Heat wins 13th straight

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Dwayne Wade recorded the first triple-double of his career Thursday night in pushing Miami to its 13th straight victory, 89-78 over Detroit.

The Heat winning streak is a franchise record.

Wade scored 31 points, claimed 10 rebounds and had 10 assists. Shaquille O'Neal added 21 points.

Miami won its seventh consecutive road game and is 18-2 against teams from the Eastern Conference. Udonis Haslem contributed 16 points and Eddie Jones had 11.

The Heat trailed by two going into the final period, but closed the game on an 18-2 run.

Detroit had won its previous three games. Richard Hamilton led the Pistons with 19.

Top-ranked Illinois stays unbeaten

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Luther Head led a first-half surge Thursday night that carried top-ranked Illinois to a 69-51 win over Northwestern State.

The game was part of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.

Head scored 18 points while James Augustine added 12 in keeping Illinois unbeaten. The 13-0 start for the Fighting Illini is their best in 14 years.

Northwestern State (5-7) was led by seven points each from Clifton Lee, Jermaine Spencer and Jermaine Wallace.

After the teams battled to an 18-18 deadlock, Illinois went on a 17-2 run and was not threatened again. Head completed the surge with a three-pointer.

Illinois will meet 17th-ranked Cincinnati Friday night.

Elsewhere in the top 10, No. 4 Wake Forest defeated North Carolina A&T, 98-76; No. 5 North Carolina blasted Cleveland State, 107-64; and No. 8 Syracuse fought off Hofstra, 80-75.

Report: Randy Johnson trade on again

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have worked out a trade that will make Randy Johnson a member of the New York Yankees, Newsday reported Thursday.

The report said Johnson would go to New York for pitchers Javier Vazquez and Brad Halsey, catcher Dioner Navarro and $9 million.

Any trade involving at least $1 million must be approved by Commissioner Bud Selig. The newspaper said the commissioner is expected to give his approval next week.

Johnson, 41, went 16-14 last season with a 2.60 ERA. He led the majors in strikeouts with 290. Johnson also threw a perfect game against Atlanta on May 18 and finished second in the National League Cy Young voting behind Houston's Roger Clemens.

An earlier attempt to trade Johnson to New York fell through when the third team in the proposed deal -- the Los Angeles Dodgers -- backed out.