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Navy caps a big day for service academies

HOUSTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Quarterback Ricky Dobbs accounted for four touchdowns Thursday, leading Navy to a 35-13 decision over Missouri at the Texas Bowl in Houston.

The junior from Douglasville, Ga., overcame two lost fumbles by rushing for 166 yards on 30 carries with three touchdowns and passing for 130 yards and one touchdown.

Marcus Curry scored once on 12 carries for 108 yards and added a touchdown on five receptions for 97 yards for the Midshipmen (10-4), who ended the season by winning four of five.

They had a 41- to 19-minute advantage in time of possession.

Missouri's Blaine Gabbert passed for 290 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Grant Ressel kicked two field goals, Danario Alexander caught six passes for 137 yards, and Derrick Washington gained 62 yards on 11 carries for the Tigers (8-5), who had won three in a row.

The Navy victory capped off a big day in bowl games for the service academies. Earlier in the day, the Air Force blasted Houston 47-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Oklahoma edged Stanford 31-27 in the Sun Bowl and Iowa State fought off Minnesota 14-13 in the Insight Bowl.

Memphis suffers rare home loss

MEMPHIS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Wayne Chism's 15 points and nine rebounds Thursday led 14th-ranked Tennessee to a 66-59 win over Memphis, ending the Tigers' 23-game home winning streak.

Memphis led 13-7 on Doneal Mack's free throw with 12:21 left in the first half but UT scored 24 of the half's last 35 points to build a 31-24 halftime advantage.

Mack's 3-pointer drew Memphis within 53-48 with 5:14 remaining but UT never trailed in the late stages.

J.P. Prince scored 12 with five rebounds and three assists, while Tyler Smith added 11 points with five rebounds and three assists for the Volunteers (10-2), who have won two in a row.

Mack paced Memphis with 15 points.

Elliot Williams scored 13 with three assists, and Wesley Witherspoon had 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Tigers (9-3), who shot just 31.4 percent to Tennessee's 35.8 percent.

Montreal closes out successful road trip

SUNRISE, Fla., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Goals by Marc-Andre Bergeron and Benoit Pouliot early in the third period Thursday vaulted Montreal to a 5-4 win over Florida.

The Canadiens ended a seven-game road trip with a 6-1 record and handed the Panthers their third consecutive loss.

Bergeron broke a 3-3 tie with a power-play goal 1:52 into the third and Pouliot scored on a tip-in less than 3 minutes later.

Radek Dvorak brought the Panthers within a goal on a wrist shot with 13:57 to play, but Jaroslav Halak was perfect the rest of the way while making 32 saves. Tomas Vokoun surrendered all five goals on 42 shots.

Montreal's Mike Cammalleri scored his 20th goal on the power play 3:18 into the second to create a 2-2 tie.

The only loss the Canadiens suffered on their long trip was a 4-2 setback to Ottawa on Monday.

Rockets fight off Mavericks rally

HOUSTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Aaron Brooks hit six shots from long range among his 30 points Thursday and Houston fought off a Dallas rally to down the Mavericks 97-94.

Dallas came back from a 14-point deficit in the third period to take a one-point advantage with 4:52 remaining.

The Rockets surged back in front by six, but two foul shots by Josh Howard and a technical free throw by Dirk Nowitzki brought the Mavericks within three in the final minute.

Nowitzki's foul shot, coming with 44 seconds remaining, was the last point scored in the game. Jason Kidd missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it with 2 seconds to go.

Houston won its second in a row and Dallas had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Carl Landry added 15 points for the Rockets. Jason Terry led the Mavericks with 20 while Shawn Marion and Howard had 16 each.

Nowtizki, who averages 25 points a game, managed just 11 while making 3-of-12 from the field.