Louisville ends Boise State's streak
MEMPHIS, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Stefan LeFors rallied eighth-ranked Louisville in the second half Friday night to a 44-40 win over No. 10 Boise State in the Liberty Bowl.
Boise State brought an 11-0 record into the contest and opened a 13-point advantage in the second half.
But LeFors threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the highest scoring game in Liberty Bowl history. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 194 yards and guided Louisville to scores on its final four possessions.
Eric Shelton scored the go-ahead touchdown on a one-yard run with 6:50 to play as the Cardinals completed an 11-1 season. Louisville's only loss came against Florida on Oct. 14.
Boise State saw the nation's longest winning streak end at 22 games. Quarterback Jared Zabransky threw for 198 yards.
Louisville turned the ball over four times, leading to 17 Boise State points.
In other bowl action Friday, Minnesota edged Alabama, 20-16; Arizona State rallied past Purdue, 27-23; and Miami defeated Florida, 27-10.
No. 1 Illinois improves to 14-0
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Deron Williams scored 18 points Friday night in leading No. 1 Illinois to a convincing 67-45 win over 17th-ranked and previously unbeaten Cincinnati.
The win gave the Fighting Illini (14-0) the Las Vegas Holiday Classic championship.
Illinois is off to its best start in 16 years. The 1988-89 squad opened the season 17-0.
Dee Brown and Roger Powell both had 13 points for Illinois.
The Bearcats had won thto lead top- ranked Illinois to a 67-45 victory over No. 22 Cincinnati in the championship game of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic at the Valley Athletic Complex.
Cincinnati had won its first 11 games of the season. Jason Maxiell led the Bearcats with 12 points.
The contest was one of the leading attractions of the non-conference portion of the college basketball season and was a rematch from the second round of last year's NCAA Tournament -- a game won by Illinois, 92-68.
BCS games get started on New Year's Day
PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- The first of the Bowl Championship Series games will be played Saturday on what is traditionally the biggest day of the bowl season.
Although the national championship will not be decided until next Tuesday, the Fiesta and Rose Bowls will provide interesting matchups New Year's Day.
Texas, which vaulted past California into the BCS picture at the end of the regular season, will take on Michigan in the Rose Bowl. California's claims that it deserved the Rose Bowl berth were diminished with the Bears' loss to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl.
Unbeaten Utah, the first school from a non-BCS conference to play in a BCS game, will be a heavy favorite against Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.
Also scheduled for Saturday will be Texas A&M vs. Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl, Wisconsin vs. Georgia in the Outback Bowl, Florida State vs. West Virginia in the Gator Bowl and Iowa vs. LSU in the Capital One Bowl.
Spurs stay hot against Clippers
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan and Tony Parker paced San Antonio to its 10th win in 11 games Friday night, a 98-79 decision over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Duncan scored 23 points and Parker had 21 as the Spurs beat the Clippers for the fourth straight time.
Los Angeles was led by Corey Magette with 17. The Clippers have lost eight out of 10.
San Antonio trailed by six in the second period, but forged a tie at halftime and then scored the first seven points of the third quarter.
