Warner passes for game's only TD, Lynch kicks 4 field goals and Fresno State wins Arizona Bowl

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — E.J. Warner threw for 214 yards and a touchdown, Dylan Lynch kicked four field goals and Fresno State defeated Miami of Ohio 18-3 in the Arizona Bowl on Saturday night.

On defense, Fresno State kept Miami out of the red zone the whole game, except for the RedHawks' opening possession when they reached the 15-yard line before Dom Dzioban kicked a 33-yard field goal for their only points of the game.

The Bulldogs, one of 15 teams in FBS to keep their opponents under an average of 300 yards per game (293.5), allowed 192 yards.

After Miami's early field goal, Lynch made three of his 3-pointers in the second quarter, leading to a 9-3 halftime lead. That advantage held into the fourth quarter when Warner hit Richie Anderson III with a 2-yard touchdown pass. Looking for a 14-point lead, the Bulldogs went for two on the conversion, but Warner's pass failed, leaving the score at 15-3.

Lynch added his fourth field goal, in five attempts, with 2:56 remaining. The 37-yarder was his long for the game as the other three were all from less than 30 yards.

Fresno State, playing in its fifth consecutive bowl game, got the win for first-year coach Matt Entz. Miami, which also played in its fifth-straight bowl game, lost in its repeat appearance in the Arizona Bowl. The RedHawks defeated Colorado State 43-17 last year.

Warner completed 16 of 23 passes and was not intercepted. Josiah Freeman had 143 yards receiving on seven catches for Fresno State (9-4).

Freshman Thomas Gotkowski was 6-of-22 passing for 72 yards for Miami (7-7). He threw one interception.

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Snoop Dogg tries to make the catch on a kick off in the first half of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl NCAA college football game between Fresno State and Miami, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Miami quarterback Thomas Gotkowski (13) throws downfield against Fresno State in the first half of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Fresno State running back Brandon Ramirez (31) runs the ball against Miami in the first half of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

CHICAGO (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo returned Saturday night from the right calf strain that kept the two-time MVP from playing in the Milwaukee Bucks’ previous eight games.

Antetokounmpo was in the starting lineup for the Bucks’ game against the Chicago Bulls, after the team upgraded him after originally listing him as questionable on the injury report.

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said before the game the nine-time All-Star won’t be thrown back into the grind right away.

“He’ll be on a minutes restriction,” Rivers said.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since injuring his calf less than three minutes into the Bucks’ 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3. The injury came on Antetokounmpo’s fourth game back after a left adductor strain caused him to miss four games.

“Maybe it was a mistake of me coming back a little bit earlier, because once I come back, now you’re overcompensating,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load or play a lot of games in a short period of time. Again, I think all of the things that I was thinking and trying to come back led to the incident that I had with my soleus.”

The Bucks have gone 2-6 in the eight games Antetokounmpo has missed because of the calf issue. So far this season, the Bucks are 9-8 with Antetokounmpo and 3-11 without him.

Antetokounmpo, who turned 31 on Dec. 6, has averaged 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season.

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FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts after suffering an injury during the first half an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen, File)