NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Last Night
(23) Ohio State 80, Michigan State 69
(24) Iowa 82, Michigan 71
(23) Ohio State 80, Michigan State 69 – Branham leads No. 23 Ohio State past Michigan State 80-69
Malaki Branham scored 22 points and No. 23 Ohio State snapped a two-game losing streak with an 80-69 win over Michigan State. Branham scored 15 of his points in the second half and finished 9 of 16 from the floor. The Buckeyes made their first five shots in the opening 2:47 and sped to a 13-0 lead. Michigan State rallied and closed within two points with just over eight minutes left in the first half. Gabe Brown led Michigan State with 13 points and Marcus Bingham Jr. added 11.
(24) Iowa 82, Michigan 71 – No. 24 Iowa beats Michigan 82-71 for 5th straight victory
Keegan Murray scored 15 of his 23 points in the first half to help No. 24 Iowa build a big lead, and the streaking Hawkeyes went on to beat Michigan 82-71. The Hawkeyes led 47-30 at halftime and coasted to their fifth straight victory and eighth win in nine games. The Wolverines are the only team to beat Iowa since mid-February. Michigan had no shot to win the rematch because it simply could not slow down Iowa’s dynamic and balanced offense.
Tonight
Ball State at Western Michigan, 6:00 p.m.
Eastern Michigan at Miami-OH, 7:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Akron, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday
Michigan at (23) Ohio State, 12:30 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:00
Maryland at Michigan State, 4:30 p.m. Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM 3:30
MLB, union meet for 1 1/2 hours, discuss next step in talks
Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem and chief union negotiator Bruce Meyer met for 1 1/2 hours and discussed the major issues in the stalled talks to reach a deal that would end Major League Baseball’s lockout. Union general counsel Ian Penny and MLB Executive Vice President Morgan Sword also participated in the session. The players’ association executive board was to held a conference call later in the day. There was no known decision on the timing of the next negotiating session. Baseball’s ninth work stoppage was in its 92nd day, the sport’s first labor conflict since 1995 to cause canceled games.
NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 – OT
Blackhawks 4, Oilers 3 – OT – DeBrincat scores in OT as Blackhawks beat Keith, Oilers 4-3
Alex DeBrincat scored 2:23 into overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat Duncan Keith and the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist for Chicago, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves. Dominik Kubalik and Sam Lafferty also scored. With Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl in the penalty box for tripping Caleb Jones in overtime, Kane set up DeBrincat for the winning one-timer. It was DeBrincat’s 30th goal of the season. It was Keith’s first game back in Chicago since he was traded to Edmonton in July. The 38-year-old defenseman won three Stanley Cup titles during 16 seasons with the Blackhawks.
Tonight
Detroit at Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday
Chicago at Philadelphia, 3:00 p.m.
Detroit at Florida, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday
Tampa Bay at Chicago, 7:00 p.m.
NHL – ‘Slap Shot’ organist finds new career with expansion Kraken
Rod Masters may be the most famous organist to ever appear on the big screen in a sports movie, and now nearly a half-century after “Slap Shot” made him famous, he’s the first organist for the expansion Seattle Kraken. Masters’ name never appeared anywhere in the credits of “Slap Shot,” the iconic 1977 sports movie starring Paul Newman. But anyone who has seen the movie knows Masters as the organist who was plunked in the head by a wayward puck and abruptly asked by Newman’s character to never play “Lady of Spain” ever again.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Atlanta Hawks 130, Chicago Bulls 124
Detroit Pistons 108, Toronto Raptors 106
Hawks 130, Bulls 124 – Hawks surge late, Young scores 39 points in win over Bulls
Bogdan Bogdanovic’s 3-pointer with 1:41 left gave Atlanta the lead and Trae Young scored 39 points in the Hawks’ 130-124 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. After Bogdanovic’s 3 made it 119-118, Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan’s had a turnover, and Young padded the advantage with two 3s in the final 1:12. Young had 13 assists and made 7 of 10 3s and all 10 of his free throws. Bogdanovic had 20 points. Chicago, fighting for the Eastern Conference lead, suffered its third consecutive loss. DeRozan and Zach LaVine each had 22 points for the Bulls. Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Pistons 108, Raptors 106 – Cunningham has 22 points as Pistons hold off Raptors 108-106
Cade Cunningham had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Jerami Grant scored 26 and the Detroit Pistons held on to beat Toronto 108-106 for their sixth straight victory over the Raptors. Saddiq Bey scored 23 points, Hamidou Diallo had 11 and Isaiah Stewart added 10 as the Pistons gave coach Dwane Casey another win against the team that fired him in May 2018. Scottie Barnes had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Pascal Siakam scored 28 points, Precious Achiuwa had 18 and Gary Trent Jr. 14 for the Raptors, who have lost three of five.
Tonight
Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m.
Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Yesterday
2022 Big Ten Women’s Tournament – Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN (Tournament seeds in superscipt)
8 Michigan State 73, 9 Purdue 69
Michigan State 73, Purdue 69 – Clouden, Michigan State women edge Purdue in Big Ten tourney
Nina Clouden scored 23 points, including the clinching free throws with 2.5 seconds left, and Michigan State edged Purdue 73-69 in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament. Clouden, the leading free-throw shooter in the league, was 10 of 11 from the line but the miss was one of four the eighth-seeded Spartans missed in the last 31 seconds, keeping the ninth-seeded Boilermakers in the game. Michigan State plays top-seeded Ohio State in the quarterfinals. A Jeanae Terry 3-pointer and Abbey Ellis’ layup with five seconds to go put the pressure on Clouden, an 88% free throw shooter. Ellis and Madison Layden scored 17 points each for the Boilermakers.
Today
2022 Big Ten Women’s Tournament – Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN (Tournament seeds in superscipt)
1 Ohio State vs. 8 Michigan State, 11:30 a.m.
3 Michigan vs. 6 Nebraska, 9:00 p.m.
2022 ACC Women’s Tournament – Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC (Tournament seeds in superscipt)
3 Notre Dame vs. 6 Georgia Tech, 8:00 p.m.
NFL – NFL suspends all COVID protocols, cites ‘encouraging trends’
The NFL has suspended all aspects of its COVID-19 protocols, citing recent trends showing that the spread of the coronavirus is declining. In an agreement with the players’ association, the league sent a memo to the 32 teams in which it mentioned “encouraging trends regarding the prevalence and severity of COVID-19, the evolving guidance from the CDC, changes to state law and the counsel of our respective experts” as reasons for the move. Regardless of vaccination status, players and staff no longer must wear face coverings at team facilities, though each club can require it individually. Social distancing signs no longer are required. The league is eliminating mandatory testing of players and staff, regardless of vaccination status.
Russia/Ukraine – Athletes force a change in ban of Russians at Paralympics
Athletes around the world cheered when leaders of the Paralympics booted Russia from the Games. The tipping point to the rapid turn of events Thursday was “a very, very volatile environment” in the athletes village in Beijing at the Paralympics, according to the head of that organization. The International Paralympic Committee was faced with the very real possibility that athletes might simply pick up and go home before their Games start Friday. To prevent that, it made an abrupt about-face and chose to ban the Russian and Belarusian Paralympic teams that, previously, were being allowed to compete under a neutral flag.
Russia/Ukraine – As war rages, Paralympics opening in Beijing without Russia
The 2022 Winter Paralympics are set to open in Beijing, with the Russian athletes sent home and the Ukrainian team escaping a war zone to get here. The head of the Ukrainian delegation says “it’s a miracle that we have made it to the Paralympics.” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, shortly after the Winter Olympics wrapped up in Beijing, is roiling the world. And the world of sports is no exception. Paralympics organizers initially announced that Russians and Belarusians would be allowed to compete in Beijing. But they reversed course one day before the opening and expelled athletes from both countries.
Russia/Ukraine – Russia ready again for urgent court case over World Cup ban
Russia’s expulsion from international soccer ahead of World Cup playoffs is heading toward yet another urgent case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. And Russian sports have had some success in the court. The Russian Football Union is ready to file a formal appeal against the governing bodies of world and European soccer. FIFA and UEFA jointly decided this week to kick Russia’s national and club teams out of international competitions. It’s just 20 days until Russia’s men’s national team is to scheduled to play Poland. That gives the CAS longer than it had last month to judge the case of 15-year-old skater Kamila Valieva at the Beijing Olympics. The Russians won that verdict.
Tennis – French Open – Djokovic could play at Roland Garrod
France is easing its vaccination rules later this month, which could pave the way for Novak Djokovic to compete at this year’s French Open. French Prime Minister Jean Castex says people will no longer have to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to access venues such as sports stadiums and restaurants from March 14. That means the unvaccinated Djokovic could be allowed to compete at Roland Garros in May unless the restrictions are tightened again.
Minor Leagues – Minor league baseball, hockey teams seeking COVID-19 relief
Over a hundred minor league baseball and more than a dozen minor league hockey teams are hoping to get COVID-19 relief from the U.S. government to offset millions of dollars of losses from the pandemic. Minor league sports teams and their facilities were left out of the first round of small business subsidies. Most had to rely on Paycheck Protection Program loans to keep staffs together. An influx of funds from a bill that could go through Congress as soon as next week would allow teams to hire more people, pay back debts and dig out of the hole they are in after the past two years.
MCCAA – Junior College Basketball
Today
Men’s Basketball – Great Lakes District A Semifinals
Muskegon Community College 60, Lake Michigan College 57 at Ballenger Fieldhouse, Flint, MI
Lansing Community College 115, Ancilla College 108 at Ballenger Fieldhouse, Flint, MI
District Championship Game – MCC vs. LCC, Saturday 12:00 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
Non-Conference
Lakeshore 48, Brandywine 43
Benton Harbor 88, Wyoming 72
Berrien Springs 58, Coloma 20
Lawrence 47, Marcellus 28
White Pigeon 69, Constantine 53
Gobles 42, Decatur 40
Kalamazoo Christian 49, Comstock 38
Battle Creek Pennfield 82, Lawton 50
Schoolcraft 55, Portage Northern 43
Coldwater 77, Portage Central 58
Marshall 61, Battle Creek Lakeview 56
Byron Center Zion Christian 47, Martin 40
Fruitport Calvary 54, Saugatuck 48
BCS Conference
Countryside Academy 90, Michigan Lutheran 54
Lake Michigan Catholic 46, Howardsville Chr. 43 – OT
River Valley 73, Eau Claire 61
New Buffalo 70, Bridgman 44
Parchment 59, Buchanan 40
South Haven 84, Covert 35
Wolverine Conference
Otsego 52, Edwardsburg 37
Plainwell 49, Dowagiac 47
Vicksburg 66, Three Rivers 57
Sturgis 49, Paw Paw 29
Niles 63, Allegan 43
Tonight
Girls Basketball – District Championships
Division 1 at St. Joseph
Mattawan vs. Lakeshore, 7:00 p.m.
Division 1 at Battle Creek Central
Battle Creek Lakeview vs. Gull Lake, 7:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Berrien Springs
Dowagiac vs. South Haven, 7:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Edwardsburg
Edwardsburg vs. Vicksburg, 7:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Paw Paw
Otsego vs. Paw Paw, 7:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Watervliet
Buchanan vs. Watervliet, 7:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Decatur
Hartford vs. Bloomingdale, 7:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft vs. Kalamazoo Christian, 7:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Eau Claire
Michigan Lutheran vs. River Valley, 7:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Martin
Martin vs. Climax-Scotts, 7:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Athens
Athens vs Mendon, 7:00 p.m.
