The city of Denver has submitted an application to bid for the Super Bowl. The Denver Broncos and Visit Denver (the city’s travel and visitor bureau) submitted an application in late August to the NFLs Super Bowl Advisory Committee to bid to host the Super Bowl in 2018, 2019 or 2020. Visit Denver CEO and President Richard Scharf calls it a very preliminary step. Mayor Michael Hancock told the Denver Post he feels the city would be ‘head and shoulders above any other city’ in competition for hosting the big game.

The North Platte Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted Northeastern Junior College for a double-header last night. In the women’s contest, the Lady Knights lost a heartbreaker, 66-65. The Plainswomen hit a shot with five seconds to play to win the game. D’Vontaye Merritt led the Lady Knights with 22 points and 14 rebounds in the defeat. The Lady Knights are now 4-5 on the season. The men’s contest lacked the drama of the women’s game thanks to North Platte’s stifling defense. The Knights led by as many as 23 points in the second half and eased to a 63-43 win over the Plainsmen. Three Knights scored in double figures, led by Ethan Montalvo’s 14 points. Ben Wilson added 13 points and Damon Brown chipped in 11. The victory is the Knights’ fifth straight. They’re now 6-1 overall.

Career nights from Ray Gallegos and Andre Almeida helped the Huskers to a surprising easily 79-63 road win over Wake Forest in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge last night. Gallegos and Almeida each set new career highs with 20 points, and Almeida chipped in 11 rebounds to complete his first career double-double. The Huskers led by as many as 24 points in the second half, thanks in large part to a 51% shooting effort. Nebraska improves to 5-1 on the season with the win, and helped the Big Ten to a 4-2 record on the first night of the Challenge. The margin of victory was Nebraska’s largest on the road since December 2003.

The 21^st ranked Husker women’s basketball team faces a stern early-season test in the women’s version of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge tonight as they host eleventh-ranked Maryland. The visiting Terrapins went 31-5 last year and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. They are 3-1 so far this season. The Huskers are 5-1 and looking to maintain a perfect record at the Devaney Center. In the previous meeting between these two schools, Maryland topped Nebraska in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Tipoff in Lincoln is set for 7 PM. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

The Husker football team has lost one defensive tackle to injury for Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game, but expect to get another back from the injured list. Baker Steinkuhler’s knee injury will keep him out against Wisconsin, but Thad Randle, who missed last Friday’s victory over Iowa with an undisclosed injury, has been practicing this week and the coaching staff expects him to be ready to play. Randle will start alongside Chase Rome in the middle for the Big Red, as they try and slow Montee Ball of the Badgers on the ground.

Five Husker volleyball players were given postseason honors from the Big Ten Conference yesterday. Seniors Lauren Cook, Hannah Werth, and Gina Mancuso were named first-team All-Big Ten performers. Mancuso was a unanimous selection. She and Cook made their second-straight all-conference teams, while Werth was all-conference for a third straight year. Meghan Haggerty was named to the league’s All-Freshman team, and Alison McNeal was the team’s Sportsmanship Award honoree.

 

Nets outlast Knicks…A Thunderous rout…Wizards still winless

UNDATED (AP) — The Nets moved closer to the Knicks this fall, and the two teams couldn’t be any closer in the NBA’s Atlantic Division standings.

The Nets have pulled even with New York for the division lead by downing the Knicks 96-89 in overtime at Brooklyn. Jerry Stackhouse drained the tiebreaking three-pointer with 3:31 remaining as the Nets outscored the Knicks 12-5 in the extra session.

Brook Lopez had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who improved to 9-4 with their third straight win. Deron Williams added 16 points and 14 assists as the Nets improved to 7-1 in their new home

It was the first meeting between the two clubs since the Nets left New Jersey. The game originally was supposed to be the season opener for both teams but was postponed due to Superstorm Sandy.

Also in the NBA, Kevin Durant scored 18 points and Oklahoma City opened a 40-point halftime lead in a 114-69 blowout of the Charlotte Bobcats. The Thunder led 64-24 at the break, the fifth-largest halftime lead in the NBA’s shot clock era and the biggest since Golden State built a 88-41 edge on Sacramento in Nov. 1991.

Greivis Vasquez had 25 points and 10 assists as New Orleans ended a seven-game losing streak, beating the Clippers 105-98 in Los Angeles. The Hornets blanketed Blake Griffin, who made only one of nine shots in 35 minutes. Griffin finished with a career-low four points and six rebounds before fouling out with 2:36 left.

The Bulls blew a 27-point lead at home and lost 93-92 to Milwaukee. Ersan Ilyasova scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half and fueled a 31-4 run. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter when Milwaukee outscored Chicago 30-12.

Memphis was an 84-78 winner against Cleveland behind 19 points apiece from Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies closed the game on a 13-4 run to improve to a league-best 10-2.

The Washington Wizards were 118-92 losers to San Antonio to become the 12th team in NBA history to open a season 0-12. Boris Diaw scored 16 points, and Tiago Splitter added 15 and 12 rebounds as the Spurs improved to 12-3 with their fourth consecutive win.

Detroit won for the fourth time in 15 games as Brandon Knight scored 16 of his 26 points in the first half of the Pistons’ 108-101 win over Portland. The Trail Blazers wasted 32 points from LaMarcus Aldridge.

Newton lifts Panthers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Carolina Panthers are the latest team to embarrass the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Cam Newton threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others as the Panthers handed the Eagles their seventh straight loss, 30-22. Newton was 18-of-26 for 306 yards, and he also ran 14 times for 52 yards. He closed the scoring by running for a two-yard TD with 4:40 remaining.

Philadelphia’s Bryce Brown set a club rookie record with 178 yards rushing, including TD runs of 65 and 5 yards. But he also lost two fumbles and was stopped on fourth-and-one at the Carolina 40 to end a fourth-quarter drive.

Both teams are 3-8.

No word on Niners starting QB

UNDATED (AP) — San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh says he’ll announce his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against St. Louis by mid-week so players don’t have to face constant questions about the situation. Colin Kaepernick has looked impressive in leading the 49ers to victories the past two weeks in place of the injured Alex Smith, leading to questions about which of the two is now the starter.

The NFC West-leading Niners are 8-2-1, second best in the conference behind 10-1 Atlanta.

Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt is sticking with rookie Ryan Lindley at quarterback, at least until Kevin Kolb is healthy enough to play. Lindley threw three interceptions in the loss to the Rams Sunday, and two were returned for touchdowns. It was the Cardinals’ seventh loss in a row. For the first time since he was hurt five games ago, Kolb was able to practice on a limited basis last week.

No suspension for Lions Suh

UNDATED (AP) — The NFL has decided not to suspend Detroit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for his actions against Houston quarterback Matt Schaub in a Thanksgiving Day game.

League spokesman Greg Aiello announced the decision Monday on his Twitter account, adding the “incident’ will be reviewed for a potential fine.

Suh’s left cleat connected with Schaub’s groin area after he threw a pass. The defensive tackle was on his chest after being taken down by an offensive lineman and extended his left foot to hit Schaub below the belt.

A person familiar with the decision says the NFL will not be suspending Saints starting defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley for his kick to the back of offensive lineman Alex Boone’s helmet in the final minutes of San Francisco’s victory over New Orleans on Sunday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because the league has not announced any punishment yet and a fine is still possible later in the week.

Bunkley was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected with 1:05 left for kicking Boone after the Saints had blocked a field goal.

Tonight at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium, the North Platte Community College Knights and Lady Knights host Northeastern Junior College for a basketball doubleheader. The Lady Knights are hoping to get back over the .500 mark against the always-tough Plainswomen. The men’s game is the first Region IX test of the season for the Knights, who are off to a 5-1 start on the season. The women’s game tips at 5:30 with the men’s game scheduled for 7:30. ESPN Radio 1410 will have all the action, starting with pregame coverage at 5:15.

Fifteen Husker football players earned All-Big Ten Conference honors, as announced last night. The lone unanimous first-team all Big-Ten pick was senior guard Spencer Long. Junior Taylor Martinez was the coaches’ first-team pick at quarterback, while the media tabbed senior safety Damien Stafford, senior defensive end Eric Martin and senior kicker Brett Maher for their first team. Maher also took home the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year honor for the second straight season, sharing the award with Northwestern’s Jeff Budzien. Unanimous second-team all-conference honors went to sophomore wide receiver Kenny Bell and junior tackle Jeremiah Sirles. On the coaches’ second team were Stafford, Martin, Maher, sophomore I-back Ameer Abdullah, senior linebacker Will Compton, and senior defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler.

Nebraska Honorees:

Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year: Brett Maher (co-recipient with Northwestern’s Jeff Budzien)

First-Team All-Big Ten: OG Spencer Long (Media and Coaches); QB Taylor Martinez (Coaches); PK Brett Maher (Media); DE Eric Martin (Media); S Daimion Stafford (Media)

Second-Team All-Big Ten: WR Kenny Bell (Media and Coaches); OT Jeremiah Sirles (Media and Coaches); IB Ameer Abdullah (Coaches); PK/P Brett Maher (Coaches); DE Eric Martin (Coaches); DT Baker Steinkuhler (Coaches); LB Will Compton (Coaches); S Daimion Stafford (Coaches)

Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten: Coaches—TE Ben Cotton, CB Ciante Evans, C Justin Jackson, S P.J. Smith; Media—Abdullah, Compton, Cotton, Evans, Jackson, Maher (punter), TE Kyler Reed, Smith, Steinkuhler.

The Husker men’s basketball team takes part in their second Big Ten/ACC Challenge tonight, as they travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to take on Wake Forest. Nebraska fell 55-53 to the Demon Deacons in Lincoln in their Challenge debut last season. The Huskers are 4-1 on the season, but are coming off their first defeat, a 74-60 loss to Kent State at the Devaney Center on Saturday night. The Deacons are off to a 3-2 start. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:15.