Tempe, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - The Washington Huskies and Oklahoma State Cowboys will close out the Jan. 2 slate of bowl games as they clash head-to- head in the 26th annual TicketCity Cactus Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. Washington comes into the contest having won its last two games against Oregon State (37-13) and Washington State (31-13). The Huskies are 8-5 overall, and sport a 4-2 mark on the road. Its the fifth straight season in which Washington has participated in a bowl game, and the 35th in program history. This is the Huskies first-ever appearance in the Cactus Bowl. Oklahoma State suffered through a five-game losing streak toward the end of the regular season, and needed an overtime win over in-state rival Oklahoma (38-35) to qualify for a bowl game. This will be the Cowboys ninth consecutive bowl game appearance, as the Pokes enter this game sporting a 16-9 record in bowl games all-time. Washington and Oklahoma State have faced each other just twice in the all-time series between the sides, with each team winning once. The Huskies took the first matchup in 1980, and the Cowboys defeated Washington in the 1985 season opener at Husky Stadium. Washington brings some of the most versatile players in the nation into this matchup with Oklahoma State. The Huskies have been a strong offensive team this season, averaging 30.8 ppg and 390.2 total offensive ypg in the 13 contests played. Quarterback Cyler Miles has proven to be a strong leader for the Huskies, having passed for 2,129 yards, 16 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 11 games. His 66.7 completion percentage and 144.2 passer efficiency rating are also strong indicators. In the run game, Washington sports some unusual methods. Tailback Dwayne Washington leads the team this season with 655 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, while Miles has added 280 yards and four touchdowns of his own in the run game. But Hornung Award winner and top linebacker Shaq Thompson also gets involved in the run game, having amassed 456 yards and a pair of scores on 61 carries. Miles has spread the ball around heavily in the passing game, as only John Ross (four touchdowns) has more than three receiving scores. Jaydon Mickens leads the team entering the contest with 53 receptions, 535 yards and three touchdowns. Joshua Perkins also has hauled in three scores through the air in 11 games played. Defense has been a strong suit for the Huskies this season, as they sport one of the best linebacking corps in the entire country. The teams defense allows opponents to score just 24.4 ppg this season, and has limited opposing run games to 121.9 rushing ypg. The last time Washington surrendered more than 27 points to an opponent was back on Nov. 8 against a potent UCLA team, which resulted in a 44-30 Huskies loss. John Timu is the one who leads Washington in tackles this season, having registered 96 through 13 games. But strong performances from Danny Shelton (89 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks) and Andrew Hudson (14.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks) have helped boost the Huskies pass rush threat. HauOli Kikaha ranks second nationally in tackles for loss (24) and sacks (18), while Thompson topped the country with four defensive touchdowns. Those strong players will try to get after a tough Oklahoma State offense. I think (Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy) has done a wonderful job of building that program, Washington coach Chris Petersen said. The whole thing - the facilities they have, where theyve come from and what Theyre doing now I think is impressive. Oklahoma States offense wasnt unbelievably potent in 2014, averaging 27.4 ppg and 371.0 offensive ypg. But the Pokes were solid under the leadership of quarterback Daxx Garman, who threw for 2,041 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in nine games played. Garman is listed as questionable however, for the Cactus Bowl after suffering a concussion in the teams final game against Oklahoma. Three different quarterbacks have seen time this season in Garman, Mason Rudolph (four touchdown passes, three interceptions) and J.W. Walsh. Running back Tyreek Hill was dismissed from the team following the regular season. Hill provided a sturdy backup option to Desmond Roland, who led the team on the ground in 2014 with 647 yards, 10 touchdowns and a 64.7 rushing ypg average. Roland and Hill combined to average over 100 ypg rushing, accounting for a large majority of the teams 135.3 yards per outing. David Glidden led Oklahoma State with 40 reception this season, though the junior receiver only hauled in two scores in 12 games. James Washington was the one who topped the Cowboys in receiving touchdowns, making five scoring grabs over the course of the season. Brandon Sheperd (four touchdowns) and Jhajuan Seales (three touchdowns) also had sizeable roles in the receiving game. Defense was an issue for most of the season for Oklahoma State, which allowed opponents to score 32.0 ppg this season. The teams defense struggled mightily to contain any opponent during the stretch of five consecutive losses, surrendering at least 34 points in four of those defeats and at least 42 points in three of them. The Pokes are giving up 437.2 offensive ypg as well, which has slowed them down. Jordan Stearns leads the team with 98 tackles on the season, while Ryan Simmons has built up 93 tackles with 11 tackles for loss in 12 games played. Between Simmons, Josh Furman (12 tackles for loss, six sacks) and Emmanuel Ogbah (17 tackles for loss, 11 sacks), the Cowboys have some strong pieces there. But with just one fumble recovery all season long, Oklahoma State has been exceptionally poor at forcing turnovers. Still, the team is looking to overwhelm Washington Friday. We are extremely happy to be going to the TicketCity Cactus Bowl, said Gundy. We should have awesome weather and its a great bowl site. This will be a tremendous trip for our team and Im really happy for our seniors. Discount Salomon Shoes . -- Tiago Splitter tipped in a rebound with 2. Salomon Shoes Clearance Australia . He was still a kid, going into his senior year of high school. Thursday, the point guard stood in front of a couple dozen members of the media and spoke with poise about how much hed grown since then, and how hes ready for the next level. http://www.wholesalesalomonaustralia.com/.ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience. Wholesale Salomon Australia .com) - The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have finalized their agreed-upon trade that sends former National League MVP Jimmy Rollins to the West Coast for a pair of minor league pitching prospects. Salomon Shoes Online Australia . -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Homer Bailey went seven innings, singled and scored, and knocked down a liner coming right at his head. Quite a lot went into ending this losing streak. Bailey pitched seven innings to end his slide against Cleveland, and Billy Hamilton had an RBI triple and scored a run Thursday night, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-0 victory over the intrastate rival Indians. The Reds won three of four in the annual series, splitting two games in Cleveland and sweeping a pair at Great American Ball Park. Bailey (9-5) had lost his last three starts against the Indians. After pitching out of trouble in the first, he settled in and allowed four hits while fanning eight. He also singled and scored. "He pitched a really great game," manager Bryan Price said. "He scuffled early with his command, but he came back strong and gave us a great chance to win." Bailey overcame an unsettling moment in the fifth inning, when Jose Ramirez lined a pitch directly at his face. The right-hander turned away and knocked down the ball with his glove, recovered and threw to first from his knees. Three times, Bailey shook his head as he regained his composure. "Ive been bit harder by bedbugs," he said. "I saw it pretty late. I almost caught it in my arm. It glanced off my glove a little bit." Hamilton had a hand in two of the four runs off left-hander T.J. House (1-3), who made his 11th career start. House gave up eight hits while pitching into the seventh and remained winless on the road, falling to 0-3 in seven games. The Reds have gone 8-12 since the All-Star break, leaving them stranded in fourth place in the NL Central with a 59-56 record. The Indians are 10-11 since the break, leaving them 57-58 overall. Hamilton singled in the first and scored on first baseman Carlos Santanas throwing error. Ryan Ludwicks RBI single made it 2-0. Bailey singled and scored on Hamiltons triple in the second inning. Hamilton rounded third too far and was caught in a rundown for the final out of the inning, leaving it 3-0. Kristopher Negron added an RBI single in the sixth. E-3, E-3, E-3 The first baasemen combined for three errors.ddddddddddddClevelands Santana also dropped a popup, and Cincinnatis Todd Frazier dropped a throw from Bailey. ALL-OHIO WRAPUP The Indians lead the intrastate series 45-44. They have lost eight straight games in Cincinnati, with their last win at Great American Ball Park coming on July 2, 2011. The home team has won 14 of last 15 games in the series. STATS Cleveland is 9-9 in interleague play this season, only 3-7 on the road without the designated hitter. The Indians have lost 10 of their last 13 in NL ballparks. ... The Reds are 6-9 against AL teams this season. ... C Yan Gomes extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the second-longest by an Indian this season behind Michael Brantleys 15-game streak. ... Reds C Brayan Pena has an 11-game hitting streak, one shy of his career high from 2009. ... Negron was voted the series most valuable player. He went 7 for 13 with a homer. TRAINERS ROOM Indians: Right-hander C.C. Lee was called up from Triple-A Columbus. Lee pitched two scoreless innings against Cincinnati and is 0-0 with a 3.68 ERA in 16 games over four stints with Cleveland this year. Starter Danny Salazar was optioned to Columbus, where hell make one start before the Indians consider bringing him back. Reds: Theres still no estimate for when second baseman Brandon Phillips will be able to resume hitting. He tore a ligament in his left thumb on July 9. The Reds hope to have him back by the end of the month. UP NEXT Indians: The Indians open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium, where they are 3-8 since the new ballpark opened. Theyve lost five in a row there. Trevor Bauer (4-6) makes his first career start at Yankee Stadium. Manager Terry Francona said reliever Carlos Carrasco would start Sunday in New York, taking Salazars spot. Reds: The Reds open a weekend series against Miami, with Mike Leake (9-9) facing Nathan Eovaldi (5-6). Leake is 3-0 in three career starts against the Marlins with a 1.93 ERA. The Reds will induct Ken Griffey Jr., Ron Oester, Dave Parker and the late Jake Beckley into their Hall of Fame before the game on Saturday. ' ' '