La. Tech pitches shutout in the Independence Bowl
SHREVEPORT, La. — J'Mar Smith threw a touchdown pass and had a late scoring run to help Louisiana Tech beat Miami 14-0 on Thursday night in the only shutout in the Independence Bowl's 44-game history.
Louisiana Tech (10-3) hit double-digit victories for the first time since 1984 and ran its postseason winning streak to six. Miami (6-7) completed its second losing season in 12 years.
Smith connected with Israel Tucker on a 26-yard touchdown strike on a screen pass in the second quarter, capping a 13-play, 91-yard drive. Smith added an 8-yard scoring run with 1:15 left.
PITT BEATS E. MICHIGAN
DETROIT — Kenny Pickett threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Taysir Mack with 47 seconds left and Pittsburgh held on to beat Eastern Michigan 34-30 in the Quick Lane Bowl on Thursday night.
After taking its first lead of the game, Pittsburgh (8-5) then forced Eastern Michigan (6-7) to turn it over on downs from its 40. That sealed Pitt's first bowl victory in five appearances under coach Pat Narduzzi.
The Eagles came up just short in a closely contested game just as they did in three previous bowls under coach Chris Creighton.
Eastern Michigan quarterback Mike Glass was ejected with 10 seconds left after throwing punches at two players. Eagles cornerback Kevin McGill was ejected earlier for unsportsmanlike conduct.
DONCIC RETURNS TO MAVS
Luka Doncic returned to the Dallas lineup after missing four games to injury and scored 24 points to help the host Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs 102-98.
Doncic finished with 10 rebounds and eight assists and barely missed adding to his NBA-leading total of eight triple doubles. He last had played on Dec. 14 against Miami, when he sprained his right ankle.
MAN HELD IN STABBING
A Tennessee man was being held without bond Thursday in the stabbing deaths outside a Nashville bar of two men, including a Long Island University quarterback whose brother is a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
Michael Mosley, 23, was charged with two counts of criminal homicide and one count of attempted criminal homicide in the deaths of Clayton Beathard, 22, and Paul Trapeni III, 21, and the wounding of a third man in an altercation that took place shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday, according to Nashville police.
After a dayslong search, Mosley was captured on Christmas Day. He was found alone in a vacant house outside of Nashville.