Weekday Morning Sports – Thursday 2/19/15

sportsreport

Sports Radio 1400 WSJM     @wsjmsports     wsjmsports.com     Thursday, February 19, 2015

NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Detroit Red Wings 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 – Shootout

Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2 – SO – Red Wings beat Blackhawks 3-2 in shootout to complete season sweep
Tomas Tatar scored in regulation and in the shootout, leading Jimmy Howard and the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Gustav Nyquist also scored in the tiebreaker for Detroit, which won for just the third time in 11 shootouts this season, but second against Chicago. Darren Helm had a goal and an assist, and Howard made 32 saves through overtime. Jonathan Toews gave Chicago the lead with a goal in the first round of the shootout, but Patrick Kane’s backhander went off the crossbar, and Patrick Sharp was stopped by Howard on the final attempt. Brandon Saad and Kris Versteeg scored in regulation for Chicago, and Corey Crawford had 26 saves. The Blackhawks dropped to 2-0-3 on their season-high, eight-game homestand.

NCAA Basketball – Men’s
Last Night
Western Michigan 80, Ohio 69
Central Michigan 68, Northern Illinois 66
Buffalo 78, Eastern Michigan 63

WMU 80, Ohio 69 – Richie hits key basket as W. Michigan stymies Ohio 80-69
Austin Richie finished with 19 points, including a key jump shot to cool off an Ohio rally late in the game as Western Michigan held on to defeat the Bobcats 80-69 on Wednesday night.  Western Michigan (16-10, 7-6 Mid-American) shot 52 percent from the field and closed out the final 5 ½ minutes on a 15-2 clip after Ohio (9-15, 4-9) had fought into a short-lived 67-65 lead.  Richie, who is back after missing six games to a slow-healing upper-body injury, finished two points shy of his season high. Connar Tava added 15 points, and David Brown and Kellen McCormick had 12 each for the Broncos.  Western Michigan led 38-36 at halftime and Ohio kept it close in the second half, forging four ties. Ryan Taylor drained a 3-pointer to put the Bobcats ahead 67-65. Javarez Willis led the Bobcats with 21 points and Maurice Ndour added 12.

CMU 68, NIU 66 – Central Michigan tops Northern Illinois, 68-66
Branden Dawson had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Michigan State finished a regular-season sweep of rival Michigan, beating the Wolverines 80-67 on Tuesday. The Spartans (18-8, 9-4 Big Ten) shot 62

Buffalo 78, EMU 63 – Moss scores 15, leads Buffalo over Eastern Michigan 78-63
Justin Moss scored 15 points and grabbed nine boards, leading four in double figures as Buffalo beat Eastern Michigan 78-63 on Wednesday night. Buffalo (16-9, 7-6 Mid-American) snapped a three-game losing skid and is in fourth place, two games back of MAC East Division leaders Bowling Green and Kent State.

NCAA Basketball – Women’s
Last Night
Michigan 68, Indiana 52
Ball State 73, Central Michigan 64
Eastern Michigan 73, Ohio 61

Tonight
(4) Notre Dame at Georgia Tech, 7:00 p.m.

MCCAA – Junior College Basketball – Women’s
Last Night
Kalamazoo Valley Community College 62, Lake Michigan College 60

KVCC 62, LMC 60 – Kalamazoo Valley rallies to beat LMC 62-60
Kalamazoo Valley came back to nip Lake Michigan College 62-60.  The Lady Red Hawks let a 12 point lead slip away as they drop the season series to the Cougars.  Sabrina Trujillo (troo-HEE’-oh) led LMC with a game high 20 points, Nicole Decker added 16.  The loss drops LMC to 10-3 in the MCCAA West and 18-8 overall.

MCCAA – Junior College Basketball – Men’s
Last Night
Lake Michigan College 71, Kalamazoo Valley Community College 61

LMC 71, KVCC 61 – Red Hawks maintain hold of first place
Labradford Sebree (SEE’-bree) scored a game high 23 points to lead Lake Michigan College to a 71-61 win over Kalamazoo Valley Community College.  Alec Brown added 14 for the Red Hawks and Michael Bush finished with 13.  The win keeps LMC in sole possession of first place in the MCCAA West at 10-3 in the league and 19-7 overall.

NCAA Football – Sebastian to play at Notre Dame after graduating from Cal
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly says safety Avery Sebastian, who played three seasons at California, will play for the Irish next season. The 5-10, 195-pound Sebastian, who graduated from Cal in December, played in seven games last season, starting one, and finished with 21 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. Kelly described Sebastian as a versatile player who would help “right away.” Kelly said on signing day the Irish were hoping to find someone to add depth at safety. It is the second straight season the Irish have added a graduate student. Cornerback Cody Riggs started 11 games for the Irish last season after playing at Florida.

NCAA – West Virginia placed on probation
The NCAA has placed West Virginia’s athletic department on two years’ probation for recruiting violations involving illegal text messages and phone calls in 14 sports. An NCAA Division I infractions committee determined coaches in 14 sports sent impermissible texts and made phone calls to prospects and parents between June 2010 and February 2013. Most of the infractions occurred in women’s gymnastics, football, women’s basketball and women’s soccer. WVU athletic director Shane Lyons says he’s disappointed by the violations, which were self-reported to the NCAA.

MLB – Miguel Cabrera cleared for hitting and throwing
The Detroit Tigers say Miguel Cabrera has been cleared for hitting and throwing by doctors and could be ready for opening day as he recovers from surgery on his right foot. The Detroit first baseman had surgery in late October to remove bone spurs in his ankle and repair a stress fracture in the arch of his foot. Dr. Robert Anderson says in a statement released by the team that Cabrera shows “a good progression of healing.” He will begin light running. There is no definite timetable for his full recovery. Cabrera dealt with ankle problems last season, which ended with the team eliminated from the AL Division Series by Baltimore.

MLB – Federal judge to rule on Wrigley Field signs
A federal judge is to rule on a request by owners of rooftop clubs overlooking Chicago’s Wrigley Field to temporarily halt installation of signs that would block their view of the playing field. During a Wednesday hearing, lawyers for the two rooftop businesses said the Cubs’ plans violate both a 2004 revenue-sharing agreement they signed with the rooftop owners and federal anti-trust laws. They told U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall if she doesn’t issue a temporary restraining order Thursday barring installation of the signs until a fuller hearing on the issue, they won’t be able to sell tickets to corporate clients.  Cubs’ lawyers said the team has the right to install the signs. They added rooftop owners could continue to argue their case in court while the signs are installed.

Design competition announced for Pontiac Silverdome’s future
A competition is taking place to help determine what happens to the dilapidated Pontiac Silverdome. Triple Investment Group announced the Silverdome International Design Competition, which is billed as an effort that will shape the future of the City of Pontiac. The deadline is April 12. Prizes are $3,000 for first place, $1000 for second place and $500 for third place. Submissions about the Silverdome and its surrounding property are being sought from architects, planners, students, engineers, designers and artists. The Detroit Lions moved from the Silverdome to Ford Field in Detroit in 2002. Triple Investment bought the Silverdome in 2009 for $583,000. Many of its contents were sold at auction last year. Its roof has collapsed and its condition has prompted criticism from area residents.

Golf – Ryder Cup – Europe has a captain
Darren Clarke has been selected as the captain of the European team for the 2016 Ryder Cup after receiving overwhelming support from key players like Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter. The European Tour announced its decision following a meeting of a five-man selection panel. The European team will defend the cup after beating the U.S. 16 ½–11 ½ last September.

AHL – American Hockey League
Last Night
Grand Rapids Griffins 4, Milwaukee Admirals 3 – OT

ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
Last Night
Kalamazoo Wings 5, Gwinnett Gladiators 4 – OT
Toledo Walleye 2, Fort Wayne Komets 1 – Shootout

NBADL – NBA D-League
Tonight
Fort Wayne Mad Ants at Grand Rapids Drive, 7:00 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Wrestling – Regionals
Division 2 at Gull Lake
Semifinals
Niles 53, Parma Western 12
Sturgis 58, Vicksburg 23
Regional Championship
Niles 57, Sturgis 12

Division 3 at Otsego
Semifinals
South Haven 75, Comstock 3
Allegan 1, Dowagiac 0 – Forfeit
Regional Championship
Allegan 51, South Haven 26

Division 4 at Decatur
Semifinals
Decatur 64, Brandywine 15
Constantine 45, Bangor 33
Regional Championship
Decatur 50, Constantine 22

Tonight
Boys Basketball
White Pigeon at Howardsville Christian

Girls Basketball
Countryside Academy at Michigan Lutheran
Granger Christian (IN) at Eau Claire