Sports Radio 1400 WSJM @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Thursday, March 03, 2016
NCAA Basketball – Men’s
Last Night
(2) Michigan State 97, Rutgers 66
(7) Miami-FL 68, Notre Dame 50
#2 Michigan State 97, Rutgers 66 – Bryn Forbes leads No. 2 Michigan State over Rutgers
Bryn Forbes scored a career-high 33 points, hitting a conference record 11 3-pointers, and No. 2 Michigan State woke up in the second half to rout Rutgers 97-66 on Wednesday night, handing the Scarlet Knights their 17th straight loss. Eron Harris added 15 points, Denzel Valentine 14 for Spartans (25-5, 12-5 Big Ten), who made 16 3-pointers in winning their fifth straight game and ninth in 10. Matt Costello had 10 points and matched his career-best with 15 rebounds. Forbes’ 11th 3-pointer was banked home and it broke the single-game record of 10 set by John Diebler of Ohio State against Penn State in 2011. If Michigan State beats Ohio State on Saturday in its regular-season finale it will earn a double bye in the conference’s upcoming tournament and the No. 2 seed. Corey Sanders, who was returning from a four-game suspension, had 19 points for Rutgers (6-23, 0-17).
#7 Miami 68, Notre Dame 50 – Rodriguez scores 19, No. 7 Miami beats Notre Dame 68-50
Angel Rodriguez matched his season high with 19 points, Sheldon McClellan added 17 and No. 7 Miami jumped to an early 18-point lead and beat Notre Dame 68-50 victory Wednesday night to move back into a tie with North Carolina for first-place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes (24-5, 13-4) held the Fighting Irish (19-10, 10-7) to a season-low 34 percent shooting as Notre Dame struggled offensively for the fourth straight game, losing three of those. The Hurricanes also had an 39-16 advantage in rebounds and a 32-24 edge in points in the paint. Zach Auguste led the Irish with 18 points and 11 rebounds and Bonzie Colson add 11 points. The Hurricanes jumped to a 21-3 lead early and never let the Irish get any closer than seven points.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Orlando Magic 102, Chicago Bulls 89
San Antonio Spurs 97, Detroit Pistons 81
Magic 102, Bulls 89 – Vucevic scores 24 as Magic overwhelm Bulls, 102-89
Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points, rookie Mario Hezonja added a career-high 21, and the Orlando Magic beat the Chicago Bulls 102-89 on Wednesday night. Victor Oladipo scored 17 points and Aaron Gordon had 13 points and 15 rebounds as Orlando coasted to an easy win. Elfrid Payton had nine points and 12 assists. Derrick Rose led Chicago with 16 points, all in the first half. Pau Gasol had 12 points and Doug McDermott was the only other Bulls player in double figures with 11. Both teams were on the second game of back-to-backs and it looked it. Orlando hit only 40.2 percent, while Chicago shot just 38.4 percent from the field.
Spurs 97, Pistons 81 – Spurs clinch postseason berth with 29th straight home win
Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons 97-81 on Wednesday night to clinch their 19th straight playoff berth. San Antonio (51-9) won its 29th straight home game to open the season in its first game following a month-long road trip brought on by the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. San Antonio joins Golden State as the only teams to clinch spots in the postseason. Leonard and Aldridge excelled against a Detroit team thinned by injuries to forwards Anthony Tolliver and Stanley Johnson. Aldridge added 10 rebounds and Leonard had six rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has won six straight. Detroit center Andre Drummond had nine points and 14 rebounds, ending his career-high and the league’s season-high of consecutive double-doubles at 13 straight. Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris had 16 points each for the Pistons.
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Chicago Blackhawks 5, Detroit Red Wings 2
Blackhawks 5, Red Wings 2 – Kane’s goal and 2 assists help Blackhawks rout Red Wings 5-2
Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist 1:24 apart on power plays in the second period and Artemi Panarin scored twice, helping the Chicago Blackhawks rout the Detroit Red Wings 5-2 on Wednesday night. Kane assisted Panarin on a 5-on-3 goal and scored with a one-man advantage to give Chicago a 3-0 lead. Kane finished with three points, extending his NHL-leading total to 88 to match his career high set during the 2009-10 season. Corey Crawford didn’t give up a goal until midway through the third period when Brad Richards scored. Andrew Ladd restored the three-goal lead in the third period in his second game back with the Blackhawks. Panarin scored his second goal 35 seconds later from the top of the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Kane. Brent Seabrook also scored for Chicago. Gustav Nyquist had Detroit’s other goal.
Tonight
Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins, 7:00 p.m.
MLB – Major League Baseball – Spring Training
Yesterday
Detroit Tigers (ss) 10, Pittsburgh Pirates 3
New York Yankees 10, Detroit Tigers (ss) 9
Tigers (ss) 10, Pirates 3 – Harbaugh helps coach Tigers to 10-3 rout of Pirates
With University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh moonlighting as their first base coach, a split squad of Detroit Tigers scored four runs in the first inning Wednesday and beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-3. Wearing a gray Tigers road uniform with No. 4 stitched on the jersey, Harbaugh coached the first three innings. After being replaced by Alan Trammell, Harbaugh watched the game from the dugout. Michigan is working out this week at IMG Academy in Bradenton. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, who’s from Michigan and grew up as a Wolverines fan, met with Harbaugh and several football players before the game. Harbaugh then greeted Hurdle when they presented the lineup cards to the umpires at home plate. Jose Iglesias and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each hit an RBI double off Pirates starter Jeff Locke. Saltalamacchia hit a solo home run in the sixth.
Yankees 10, Tigers (ss) 9 – Teixeira plays for first time since injury, Yanks top Tigers
Mark Teixeira went 0 for 1 and walked in his first game since missing the final month last season with a right shin injury and the New York Yankees beat a Detroit Tigers split squad 10-9 Wednesday. Teixeira fouled off a pitch on Aug. 17 and the Yankees first baseman still felt pain during three at-bats the following week. An MRI on Sept. 11 discovered a fracture, ending his season. Mike Pelfrey struck out two over three hitless innings for the Tigers. The 32-year old right-hander agreed to a $16 million, two-year contract in December after spending the previous three seasons with Minnesota. Bryan Holaday hit a grand slam during a five-run second off Yankees starter Luis Severino, who allowed five runs in 1 1-3 innings. Teixeira, who turns 36 in April and is in the final season of a $180 million, eight-year contract, hit a second-inning grounder and walked in the fourth. He played four innings at first base.
Today
Detroit Tigers vs. Atlanta Braves, 1:05 p.m. (Kissimmee, FL)
Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 3:05 p.m. (Glendale, AZ)
Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers (ss), 3:05 p.m. (Phoenix, AZ)
MCCAA – Junior College Basketball – Women’s NJCAA Tournament – District G
Today
#2 Lake Michigan College vs. #3 Grand Rapids Community College, 1:00 p.m.
-Game at Delta College, University Center, MI
MCCAA – Junior College Basketball – Men’s NJCAA Tournament – District 9
Last Night
#3 Lake Michigan College 73, #6 Kalamazoo Valley Community College 67
-LMC will face #2 seed Muskegon C.C., Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Delta College, University Center, MI
NFL – Ravens lock up Flacco through 2021
The Baltimore Ravens have created more cap space by giving their quarterback a new package. Joe Flacco is now signed through 2021 after agreeing to a reworked contract that includes a three-year extension. Flacco received an NFL-record $40 million signing bonus to extend the six-year, $120.6 million contract he received in 2013 after earning Super Bowl MVP honors. The pact includes $44 million in guaranteed money, including the signing bonus and his $4 million base salary in 2016. Flacco was on track last season to set several club records, but torn ligaments in his left knee in Week 11 sidelined him and ended a consecutive-games streak of 122.
NASCAR – Truex crew chief shelved this weekend
NASCAR has suspended the crew chief for driver Martin Truex Jr. for one Sprint Cup race and fined him $50,000 for a rules violation at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Cole Pearn will sit out this weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a roof flap violation on the No. 78 found during pre-race technical inspection.
Skiing – Season ends for hard charging American
Four-time overall World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn has been forced to end her 2016 season because of injury. It turns out Vonn took part in a World Cup race on Sunday with not one but three hairline fractures in her left knee. The overall World Cup leader suffered the injuries on Saturday in a super-G race but still took part in a race on Sunday wearing knee braces. This is just the latest setback for the dominating Vonn. She won nine races this season after a hampered preparation. She missed the season-opening race in October after a 10-week layoff because of a broken ankle bone, a year after coming back from the injuries that kept her away from the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Golf – Former No. 1 says he is getting better
Tiger Woods has released a statement saying he continues to feel better after back surgery but adds he is not sure when he’ll be able to return to competitive golf. The winner of 14 major tournaments says he has been chipping and putting at home in Florida as his recovery progresses. Woods has not played in a tournament since August and has not won since August 2013. He has battled injuries for the past several years, and he underwent the second and third surgeries on his back late last year.
Golf – Change in putting for McIlroy
Rory McIlroy says he is changing his putting technique by going to a cross-handed grip for this week’s Cadillac Championship. In making the announcement he said he typically practices that way to make sure he keeps the right hand from influencing the putting stroke. After missing the cut in the Honda Classic, McIlroy says he felt his drills were actually better than his tournament stroke and he decided to change.
Olympics – Rio 2016 – Bad ticket sales for Rio
With five months to go before the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian organizers are struggling to sell tickets for South America’s first games. Rio organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada said only about 47 percent of the 7.5 million tickets on offer have been sold so far. For the 2012 London Olympics, British organizers sold 8.2 million out of 8.5 million tickets.
AHL – American Hockey League
Last Night
Grand Rapids Griffins 2, Rockford IceHogs 1 – OT
ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
Last Night
Toledo Walleye 3, Florida Everblades 2
NBADL – NBA Developmental League
Last Night
Grand Rapids Drive 139, Rio Grande Valley Vipers 130 – 2 OT
-Devin Ebanks (GR) 41 points
MHSAA – Boys Basketball (regular season)
Last Night
Edwardsburg 76, Otsego 64
Tonight
St. Joseph at Portage Northern, 7:00
Portage Central at Lakeshore, 7:00 p.m.
Buchanan at Niles, 7:30 p.m.
Dowagiac at South Haven, 7:15 p.m. WCSY-FM (Wolverine Conference Championship)
Three Rivers at Paw Paw, 7:15 p.m. (Wolverine Conference 3rd place game)
Sturgis at Plainwell, 7:15 p.m. (Wolverine Conference 5th place game)
Vicksburg at Otsego, 7:15 p.m. (Wolverine Conference 7th place game)
Edwardsburg at Allegan, 7:15 p.m. (Wolverine Conference 9th place game)
Mendon at Berrien Springs, 7:30 p.m.
Dream Academy at New Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at Brandywine, 7:30 p.m.
Kalamazoo Heritage Christian at Michigan Lutheran, 7:30 p.m.
River Valley at White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m.
Delton Kellogg at Watervliet, 7:15 p.m.
Coloma at Bangor, 7:15 p.m.
Decatur at Bloomingdale, 7:15 p.m.
Gobles at Hartford, 7:15 p.m.
Eau Claire at Lawrence, 7:15 p.m.
Kalamazoo Christian at Lawton, 7:15 p.m.
Marcellus at Martin, 7:15 p.m.
Fennville at Saugatuck, 7:15 p.m.
MHSAA – Girls Basketball Districts – District Semifinals
Last Night
Class A Niles
Kalamazoo Central 55, Mattawan 38
St. Joseph 44, Portage Central 32
Despite a slow start for both teams, St. Joe never trailed in a 44-32 win over Portage Central. St. Joe took a 20-14 lead into the half. Anna Fischer had a game high 17 points for the Bears, including 3 triples. Shelby Madison had 11 points despite playing limited minutes with fould trouble. Broghan Gamble had 15 for the Mustangs. St. Joseph advances to the district championship game Friday night against Kalamazoo Central at Niles at 7 PM.
Class B at Dowagiac
Benton Harbor 75, Dowagiac 26
Benton Harbor ran out to a 12 point lead after one quarter on their way to a 75-26 win over Dowagiac. Kysre Gondrezick led the Tigers with a game high 39 points, Jawana Young added 20. The Chieftains got 13 points from Amiyah Smith
Lakeshore 65, Berrien Springs 29
Lakeshore had four players score in double figures in a 65-26 win over Berrien Springs. Morgan Kaiser paced the Lancers with a game high 17 points, Sarah Dubbert (DOO’-bert), Taylor Wagner, and Morgan Shewmaker each added 14. The Shamrocks got 10 points from Precious Napier.
Class B at Coldwater
Edwardsburg 49, Vicksburg 36
Coldwater 45, Three Rivers 33
Class B at Marshall
Harper Creek 61, Parchment 48
Marshall 58, Comstock 38
Class B at Allegan
Otsego 64, South Haven 29
Allegan 55, Hopkins 38
Class C at New Buffalo
Watervliet 41, Cassopolis 38
Brandywine 73, New Buffalo 42
Class C at White Pigeon
Constantine 45, White Pigeon 40
Schoolcraft 55, Decatur 21
Class C at Bangor
Gobles 48, Kal. Christian 22
Hartford 44, Kal. Hackett 42 – OT
Class D at Lawrence
Lawrence 50, River Valley 33
Michigan Lutheran 70, Countryside Academy 39
Four players scored in double figures as Michigan Lutheran advances to the district championship with a 70-39 win over Countryside Academy. Emily Witkowski had a game high 20 points to lead the Titans. Sarah Jackemeyer scored 11, Lutheran also got 10 points apiece from Makenzie Zabel and Erika Rosenbaum. Lutheran will face Lawrence Friday.