WSJM Sports

NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Chicago Blackhawks 0

Hurricanes 3, Blackhawks 0 – Raanta, Hurricanes beat Blackhawks 3-0 for 9th straight win
Antti Raanta made 24 saves for his first shutout since March and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 on Tuesday night for their ninth consecutive victory. Martin Necas, Jesper Fast and Jordan Martinook scored to help the Hurricanes extend their franchise-record points streak to 15 games. Raanta, making his third consecutive start, had his 16th career shutout. He faced only seven shots in both the first and third periods. The Blackhawks were aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since late October. They’ve lost nine of their last 10. Chicago goalie Petr Mrazek made 46 saves against one of his former teams.

Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:00 p.m.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Indiana Pacers 129, Atlanta Hawks 114

Pacers 129, Hawks 114 – Hield makes 6 3-pointers as Pacers beat Hawks 129-114
Buddy Hield made six 3-pointers on his way to 28 points, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-114. Hield hit 11 of 16 shots, including 6 of 7 from deep. He leads the NBA with 132 3s this season. The Pacers led by 10 entering the fourth quarter and doubled that margin in about six minutes. Tyrese Haliburton had 23 points and seven assists. Myles Turner scored 18. John Collins had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who were without injured starters De’Andre Hunter and Clint Capela. Trae Young had 22 points and 10 assists.

Tonight
Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m.
Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.

NCAAFB – Power vs. speed: Michigan, TCU present unfamiliar challenges
No. 2 Michigan brings its smash-mouth ways into the College Football Playoff semifinal to face No. 3 TCU on Saturday. It’s tempting to boil down the Fiesta Bowl matchup to Big Ten power vs. Big 12 speed on each side of the ball, especially when the Wolverines’ offense is on the field. Both sides think that’s an oversimplification. While Michigan’s heavy personnel packages and towering offensive line isn’t what TCU is used to facing, the same can be said for the Wolverines going up against a Horned Frogs’ defense that regularly lines up with five defensive backs.

NCAAFB – College Football – Bowls
Yesterday
Buffalo 24, Georgia Southern 21                                 Camellia Bowl – Montgomery, AL
Memphis 38, Utah State 10                                          SERVPRO First Responder Bowl – Dallas, TX
East Carolina 53, Coastal Carolina 29                         TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl – Birmingham, AL
Wisconsin 24, Oklahoma State 17                                Guaranteed Rate Bowl – Phoenix, AZ

Today
UCF vs. Duke, 2:00 p.m.                                              Military Bowl Presented by Peraton – Annapolis, MD
Kansas vs. Arkansas, 5:30 p.m.                                    AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Memphis, TN
(15) Oregon vs. North Carolina, 8:00 p.m.                     San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl–San Diego, CA
Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss, 9:00 p.m.                                TaxAct Texas Bowl – Houston

NFL – Cardinals’ J.J. Watt indicates he’ll retire at end of season
Even though he’s still playing great football, it looks as if J.J. Watt is ready to call it a career. The three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year indicated Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season, posting pictures of his wife and family on social media while writing: “Koa’s first ever NFL game. My last ever NFL home game. My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It’s been an absolute honor and a pleasure.” Watt and his wife, Kealia, became parents in October. Koa is the name of their son. The 33-year-old Watt was among the premier defensive players in the NFL during the early 2010s with the Houston Texans.

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Last Night
Notre Dame 59, Jacksonville 43

Notre Dame 59, Jacksonville 43 – Notre Dame beats Jacksonville, snaps 3-game losing streak
Marcus Hammond scored 15 points, Dane Goodwin added 12 points and Notre Dame beat Jacksonville 59-43 to snap a three-game losing streak. Notre Dame won a game with less than 60 points scored for the first time since Jan. 3, 2018. The Irish only had 21 points in the first half but scored 22 in the opening 10 minutes of the second. Notre Dame went ahead by double digits for the first time with 6:11 left in the second half. J.J. Starling and Cormac Ryan, two of Notre Dame’s top-three scorers, each went 0 for 5 from the field in the first half. Ryan started 0 for 7 until scoring at the 12:49 mark of the second half, but the three-point play came during a 15-2 run as Notre Dame built a 45-36 lead.

NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Tonight
(18) Michigan at Nebraska, 7:00 p.m.
Hillsdale at Eastern Michigan, 7:00 p.m.

NCAAHKY – College Hockey
Last Night
57th Great Lakes Invitational – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids
Western Michigan 8, Michigan Tech 1
Ferris State 4, Michigan State 2

Tonight
57th Great Lakes Invitational – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids
Michigan State vs. Michigan Tech, 3:30 p.m.  – 3rd place game
Western Michigan vs. Ferris State, 7:00 p.m. – Championship

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
Earl McKee Holiday Classic at Benton Harbor Farnum Gym
Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills 65, Ypsilanti Lincoln 43
Benton Harbor 74, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 65

Cornerstone Holiday Tournament
East Kentwood 70, Parchment 37

Girls Basketball
Benton Harbor 59, Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills 31
Kalamazoo Central 71, St. Clair Shores South Lake 33
Frankenmuth 35, Battle Creek Lakeview 31

Tonight
Boys Basketball
Earl McKee Holiday Classic at Benton Harbor Farnum Gym
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix vs. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 5:15 p.m. – 3rd place game
Benton Harbor vs. vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 7:00 p.m. – Championship

Chuck Turner Classic at Battle Creek Central
Battle Creek Academy vs. Kalamazoo Heritage, 2:00 p.m.
Bellevue vs. Bronson, 4:00 p.m.
Ypsilanti vs. Battle Creek Central, 8:00 p.m.

River Valley Tournament
GR Forest Hills Eastern vs. River Valley, 1:00 p.m.
Eau Claire vs. Potterville, 2:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball
River Valley Tournament
Cassopolis vs. Potterville, 4:00 p.m.
Benton Harbor vs. River Valley, 5:30 p.m.

Chuck Turner Classic at Battle Creek Central
Coldwater vs. Battle Creek Central, 6:00 p.m.

Motor City Roundball Classic at Detroit Redfield Prep
Battle Creek Lakeview vs. Dexter, 12:30 p.m.

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NFL – National Football League – Week 16
Last Night
Los Angeles Chargers 20, Indianapolis Colts 3

Chargers 20, Colts 3 – Chargers reach playoffs, beat Foles, overmatched Colts 20-3
Austin Ekeler scored on two 1-yard runs and the Los Angeles Chargers clinched their first playoff berth since 2018, intercepting Indianapolis quarterback Nick Foles three times to beat the overmatched Colts 20-3. Justin Herbert threw for 235 yards and Cameron Dicker made two short field goals for the Chargers, who won their third straight after getting the help they needed this weekend from Las Vegas, Miami, New England and the New York Jets. Los Angeles won on the road on a Monday night for the first time in more than a decade. Indianapolis lost its fifth straight under interim coach Jeff Saturday.

NFL – Campbell: Lions will learn from loss, be ready for Bears
The Detroit Lions could have gained the advantage for an NFC wild-card playoff berth with a victory last weekend. They instead got run over by the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, 37-23. Detroit coach Dan Campbell doesn’t necessarily look at it as a bad thing. He’s trying to spin the outcome into a positive. The good news for the Lions is that most of the other contenders for the final two wild-card spots also lost over the weekend. Detroit plays its final home game against Chicago on Sunday, then heads to Green Bay for the regular-season finale.

NFL – Eberflus: Bears won’t consider sitting Fields rest of season
Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus insists the team won’t shut down quarterback Justin Fields for the remaining two games. Fields was hobbling at the end of Saturday’s 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills after someone stepped on his foot. His nonthrowing, left shoulder also bothered him during the game. That’s the same one he separated last month. But Eberflus said Monday sitting him the rest of the way is “absolutely not” a consideration because the Bears need to improve. The Bears matched the 1978 and 2002 teams for the franchise record with their eighth straight loss.

NFL – Another QB change for Colts produces same futile results
The Indianapolis Colts tried their third starting quarterback of the season Monday night. It didn’t make a difference. Indy’s struggling offense produced just one field goal and no third-down conversions. Nick Foles threw three interceptions and was sacked seven times. For the Colts, this kind of futility has been the norm regardless of whether Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger or Foles was behind center. And with only two games remaining in this season of futility, the Colts seem to be out of options.

NFL – Broncos fire rookie head coach Hackett after 4-11 start
The Denver Broncos have fired coach Nathaniel Hackett after 15 games. Hackett never was able to get quarterback Russell Wilson out of a season-long slump. The Broncos are 4-11 and have posted their sixth straight losing season and are missing the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season. Hackett replaced Vic Fangio last January but the Broncos got worse in almost every category under the first-time head coach. Players were told during a team meeting Monday that senior assistant coach Jerry Rosburg will serve as interim head coach.

NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Chicago Blackhawks at Carolina Hurricanes, 7:00 p.m.

NCAAFB – College Football – Bowls
Yesterday
Quick Lane Bowl – Ford Field – Detroit
New Mexico State 24, Bowling Green 19

New Mexico State 24, Bowling Green 19 – New Mexico State holds off Bowling Green in Quick Lane Bowl
Diego Pavia threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns, and New Mexico State held off a late rally by Bowling Green to win the Quick Lane Bowl 24-19. The Aggies were up 24-7 late in the third quarter, but the Falcons closed the gap in the fourth quarter. It was 24-19 after a field goal, a safety off of a blocked punt and Camden Orth’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Broden with 6:27 left. Bowling Green lost starting quarterback Matt McDonald early in the first quarter when he was hit late by Aggies safety Dylan Early while going out of bounds on a third-down run.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Los Angeles Clippers 142, Detroit Pistons 131 – OT
Houston Rockets 133, Chicago Bulls 118
New Orleans Pelicans 113, Indiana Pacers 93

Clippers 142, Pistons 131 – OT – George, Clippers rally late, beat Pistons 142-131 in OT
Paul George scored 32 points and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a 14-point deficit in the final 3:34 of regulation to beat the Detroit Pistons 142-131 in overtime. Terance Mann hit a tying jumper with 5 seconds left in regulation to cap a closing 16-2 run for the Clippers, who trailed 126-112 with 3:34 remaining. Los Angeles then outscored Detroit 14-3 in the extra period. Ivica Zubac added 12 points and 15 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has beaten Detroit eight straight times. The Clippers had seven players in double figures. Bojan Bogdanovic led Detroit with 23 points, including the Pistons’ only field goal of the last eight minutes.

Rockets 133, Bulls 118 – Porter’s 36 points lead Rockets past Bulls 133-118
Kevin Porter Jr. scored a season-high 36 points and the Houston Rockets pulled away in the second half for a 133-118 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The Rockets sank 50 of 90 shots to help snap a five-game losing streak. DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points to lead Chicago, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Rockets blew an 18-point first-quarter lead but countered with a 17-1 run in the third to erase a 74-67 deficit.

Pelicans 113, Pacers 93 – Marshall leads short-handed Pelicans past Pacers, 113-93
Naji Marshall scored a career-high 22 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans extended their winning streak to three games, beating the Indiana Pacers 113-93. Rookie Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 15 points in 22 minutes off the bench. Myles Turner scored 14 points for Indiana.

Tonight
Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers, 7:30 p.m.

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Tonight
Jacksonville at Notre Dame, 7:00 p.m.

NCAAMBKB – No. 1 Purdue headlines AP Top 25; Miami leaps, UNC returns
Purdue remained atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for a third straight week. The week also included preseason No. 1 North Carolina returning to the rankings at No. 25 and New Mexico cracking the poll for the first time in eight years. The Boilermakers earned 40 of 60 first-place votes in Monday’s new poll, while fellow unbeaten Connecticut earned the other 20 to sit at No. 2 in an unchanged top. Houston, Kansas and Arizona rounded out the top five. Miami made the week’s biggest jump by climbing eight spots to No. 14.

NCAAWBKB – No. 1 South Carolina women reach milestone in AP Top 25
South Carolina maintained its hold on top of The Associated Press women’s basketball poll. The Gamecocks have held the No. 1 spot for 27 consecutive weeks. That is the fifth longest run all-time. UConn has three of the top four streaks, including the record 51-week run from Feb. 18, 2008 to Dec. 10, 2010. Louisiana Tech has the second longest streak of 36 weeks. The top five teams remained unchanged as Stanford, Ohio State, Indiana and Notre Dame stayed behind the Gamecocks. South Carolina hosts Texas A&M on Thursday.

NCAAHKY – College Hockey
Tonight
57th Great Lakes Invitational – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids
Western Michigan vs. Michigan Tech, 3:30 p.m.
Michigan State vs. Ferris State, 7:00 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Tonight
Boys Basketball
Earl McKee Holiday Classic at Benton Harbor Farnum Gym
Ypsilanti Lincoln vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 5:15 p.m.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix at Benton Harbor, 7:00 p.m.

Girls Basketball
Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills at Benton Harbor, 3:30 p.m.

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NFL – National Football League – Week 16
Last Night
Jacksonville Jaguars 19, New York Jets 3

Jaguars 19, Jets 3 – Lawrence, Jaguars continue playoff push, outclass Jets 19-3
Trevor Lawrence leaped for a touchdown and the Jacksonville Jaguars continued their push toward the playoffs with their third straight victory, 19-3 over an embarrassed Zach Wilson and the New York Jets on a rainy, windy night. Lawrence finished 20 of 31 for 229 yards and ran for 51 yards and the score on seven carries for the Jaguars. Wilson was booed frequently before he was replaced in the third quarter by Chris Streveler, elevated from the practice squad before the game. Jacksonville would win the AFC South title with victories in its final two games.

Saturday
Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m.                Rock 107 WIRX 12:00
Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m.
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m.

Sunday
Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 p.m.

Monday
Los Angeles Chargers at Indianapolis Colts, 8:15 p.m.

NFL – Bills try to clinch AFC East against Bears, eye No. 1 seed
The Buffalo Bills can clinch their third straight AFC East title when they meet the Bears in frigid Chicago on Saturday. And a No. 1 seed playoff seed is in sight. The Bills clinched their fourth straight playoff berth with last week’s win over Miami and would lock up the division with a win or tie against Chicago. A loss or tie by the Dolphins against Green Bay would also do it. Buffalo has the inside track toward the top seed in the AFC. Saturday’s game won’t be easy with the National Weather Service predicting a high of 10 degrees with gusting wind.

NFL – Lions at 7-7, Panthers at 5-9 are fighting for playoff spots
Jared Goff has the surging Detroit Lions in contention for a wild card spot. Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers still have plenty to play for as well, despite a 5-9 record. The teams clash in Charlotte on Saturday in a game that will impact NFC playoff scenarios. The Lions have won six of their last seven games and are just a half-game behind Washington in the race for the final wild card spot. The Panthers are coming off a home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but still control their playoff destiny. If they win out, they’ll win the NFC South title and host a playoff game in January.

NFL – Bills try to clinch AFC East against Bears, eye No. 1 seed
The Buffalo Bills can clinch their third straight AFC East title when they meet the Bears in frigid Chicago on Saturday. And a No. 1 seed playoff seed is in sight. The Bills clinched their fourth straight playoff berth with last week’s win over Miami and would lock up the division with a win or tie against Chicago. A loss or tie by the Dolphins against Green Bay would also do it. Buffalo has the inside track toward the top seed in the AFC. Saturday’s game won’t be easy with the National Weather Service predicting a high of 10 degrees with gusting wind.

NFL – Bears CB Johnson questionable for Bills game with injury
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is questionable for Saturday’s game against the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills because of a ring finger injury. Johnson was limited in practice on Thursday after being a full participant the previous day. Assuming he plays, Johnson has another tough assignment facing Stefon Diggs after going against Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown last week. Brown had nine receptions for a career-high 181 yards. Johnson made him work for it and broke up a season-best three passes.

NFL – NFL ‘Sunday Ticket’ headed to YouTube beginning next season
The NFL has announced a multiyear agreement with Google for “NFL Sunday Ticket.” The package of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games will be distributed on YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels. The NFL was seeking $2.5 billion per season for the package, which has been on DirecTV since 1994. The satellite provider has paid $1.5 billion per year on an eight-year contract that expires at the end of this season. Besides Amazon, Apple and ESPN also expressed interest in “NFL Sunday Ticket.”

NCAAFB – Michigan’s Oluwatimi endured a heavy heart in standout year
Michigan center Olu Oluwatimi lost three friends and former teammates at Virginia and four days later, his father had surgery to remove a brain tumor. Oluwatimi endured the heartache and finished off a college football season that was better than his dreams. The graduate transfer wasn’t surprised the Wolverines had a successful season and that he won the Rimington Award as the college football’s best center. Oluwatimi didn’t expect to become the first Michigan player to win the Outland Trophy, which recognizes the top interior lineman on either side of the ball. Michigan plays TCU in the Fiesta Bowl for a shot a national title.

NCAA – Records: Ishbia pledged $14M to MSU on top of bigger gift
Under court order, Michigan State University has released records related to multimillion-dollar donations by two wealthy alumni. Mortgage executive Mat Ishbia pledged $14 million to MSU a year ago, on top of a $32 million gift announced earlier in 2021. The documents don’t reveal much that’s new. But Michigan State nonetheless fought their disclosure in a public records lawsuit filed by the Detroit Free Press. The newspaper won. Ishbia played on Michigan State’s 2000 national championship basketball team. He’s now in line to buy a majority stake in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury for $4 billion.

NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Ottawa Senators, Postponed to 2/27/23
Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m.

MLB – White Sox acquire reliever Santos from San Francisco
The Chicago White Sox have acquired reliever Gregory Santos from the San Francisco Giants for minor league pitcher Kade McClure. Santos has made five appearances over the past two years for San Francisco. The 23-year-old right-hander has a 4.63 ERA over 35 appearances between Triple-A Sacramento and the Arizona Complex League Giants Black last season. He has a 3.56 ERA over 97 appearances, including 44 starts, in six minor league seasons with the San Francisco and Boston organizations. The 28-year-old McClure has a 4.03 ERA over 108 games and 59 starts in five minor league seasons with the White Sox.

MLB – AP source: Cubs, C Tucker Barnhart agree to $6.5M contract
The Chicago Cubs have bolstered their defense again, agreeing to a contract with Gold Glove-winning catcher Tucker Barnhart. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the deal to the AP on condition of anonymity because it was pending a successful physical. Barnhart’s deal includes a $3.25 million salary for 2023 and a $3.25 million player option for 2024. The agreement includes escalators and performance bonuses that could make it worth $9.5 million over two seasons. The addition of Barnhart comes one day after the Cubs finalized a $177 million, seven-year contract with All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson.

AHL – American Hockey League
Last Night
Grand Rapids Griffins 8, Chicago Wolves 7 – OT
-Grand Rapids trailed 6-2 after the first period

Tonight
Cleveland at Grand Rapids, Postponed

ECHL – ECHL Hockey League
Last Night
Fort Wayne Komets 6, Kalamazoo Wings 1

NBAGL – NBA G-League
Last Night
NBA G-League Showcase Cup – Las Vegas, NV
Grand Rapids Gold 111, Birmingham Squadron 100

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Games were cancelled

Tonight
Games are cancelled

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NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Last Night
Michigan State 67, Oakland 54
North Carolina 80, Michigan 76
Florida State 73, Notre Dame 72
Western Michigan 61, Sienna Heights 41
Youngstown State 76, Central Michigan 65

Michigan State 67, Oakland 54 – Michigan State pulls away from Oakland in second half
Joey Hauser scored 16 points, Jaden Akins added 15 and Michigan State pulled away in the second half for a 67-54 win over Oakland for the Spartans’ third straight win. Hauser made 4 of 5 3-point attempts and Hauser added three more from the arc as did Tyson Walker, who finished with 13 points. Mady Sissoko had a career-high 12 rebounds to go with nine points. The Spartans hot 49% including 10 of 22 on 3-pointers for 45%. Keaton Hervey led Oakland with 16 points and eight rebounds, Trey Townsend added 14 points and Blake Lampman 11.

North Carolina 80, Michigan 76 – Bacot scores 26, UNC beats Michigan at Jumpman Invitational
Armando Bacot scored 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting, RJ Davis hit four 3-pointers and finished with 19 points and North Carolina held on to beat Michigan 80-76 at the Jumpman Invitational. Caleb Love added 18 points, including four free throws in the closing seconds, for North Carolina. The Tar Heels have won four games in row. Kobe Bufkin led Michigan with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Jett Howard made 6 of 12 from the field and finished with 17 points. The Wolverines used an 11-4 run to trim their deficit to 73-71 when Bufkin made a jumper with 1:23 to play. Davis answered with a runner off the glass 34 seconds later and Michigan got no closer.

Florida State 73, Notre Dame 72 – Cleveland’s double-double helps FSU beat Notre Dame 73-72
Matthew Cleveland hit 3 of 4 from 3-point range and finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds, Caleb Mills and Cameron Corhen scored 18 points apiece and Florida State beat Notre Dame 73-72. Cleveland hit three free throws to open the second half and made a pair of 3-pointers just 44 seconds apart to make it 51-46 with 15:51 to play and Florida State led the rest of the way. JJ Starling, a 6-foot-4 freshman guard, made 7 of 11 from the field, 2 of 3 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line and finished with 20 points and three steals for Notre Dame.

WMU 61, SHU 41 – Lobsinger’s 12 lead Western Michigan by Siena Heights 61-41
Led by Owen Lobsinger’s 12 points, the Western Michigan Broncos defeated the Siena Heights Saints 61-41 on Wednesday. The Broncos improved to 4-8 with the win.

YSU 76, CMU 65 – Youngstown State defeats Central Michigan 76-65
Dwayne Cohill had 26 points in Youngstown State’s 76-65 victory against Central Michigan. Cohill had three steals for the Penguins. Malek Green added 16 points and Brandon Rush scored 15. Brian Taylor finished with 15 points for the Chippewas.

NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Detroit Red Wings 7, Tampa Bay Lightning 4
Nashville Predators 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2

Red Wings 7, Lightning 4 – Red Wings snap 6 game skid, take down Tampa Bay 7-4
Rookie forward Elmer Soderblom’s fourth goal of the season snapped a tie early in the third period and gave the Detroit Red Wings the lead for good as they downed the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-4 on Wednesday. With the victory, the Red Wings ended a season-high six-game losing streak (0-4-2). Their previous victory was a 4-2 verdict over the Lightning at Tampa Bay on Dec. 6. The Lightning are 7-3 in their last 10 games, with Detroit accounting for two of those losses.

Predators 4, Blackhawks 2 – Roman Josi scores as Predators beat skidding Blackhawks 4-2
Roman Josi and Thomas Novak scored in the third period, and the Nashville Predators handed Chicago its eighth straight loss with a 4-2 victory over the Blackhawks. Matt Duchene and Nino Niederreiter also scored as Nashville earned its second straight win since a six-game slide. Juuse Saros made 37 stops, including a terrific right pad save on Patrick Kane with about 16 minutes left. Chicago dropped to 3-18-4 in its last 25 games. It has been outscored 35-9 during its eight-game slide, matching its longest losing streak of the season.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Philadelphia 76ers 113, Detroit Pistons 93
Chicago Bulls 110, Atlanta Hawks 108
Indiana Pacers 117, Boston Celtics 112

Sixers 113, Pistons 93 – Embiid leads balanced attack, 76ers beat Pistons, 113-93
Joel Embiid had 22 points and 10 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers used a balanced scoring attack to extend their winning streak to six games with a 113-93 win over the Detroit Pistons. Tobias Harris had 17 points, despite early foul trouble, and James Harden added 15 points and eight assists for the Sixers. Philadelphia got double-figure scoring from six players, including De’Anthony Melton (12), Georges Niang (11) and Montrezl Harrell (10). Detroit was led by Jaden Ivey’s 16 points. Killian Hayes scored 12 and Saddiq Bey 11 for the Pistons, who have lost seven of their last eight games.

Bulls 110, Hawks 108 – Ayo Dosunmu beats buzzer, Bulls beat Hawks 110-108
Ayo Dosunmu banked in a putback jumper as time expired and the Chicago Bulls rallied after blowing an 18-point lead to win their second straight game, 110-108 over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. Dosunmu inbounded a pass from the Chicago sideline with four seconds remaining to DeMar DeRozan, who missed a jumper with an airball from the left baseline, but Dosunmu was in place to grab the rebound in the paint and score at the buzzer. DeRozan led Chicago with 28 points, Zach LaVine added 22 points and Nikola Vucevic had 20. Trae Young scored 34 points for Atlanta, and Dejounte Murray had 15 points and 10 assists.

Pacers 117, Celtics 112 – Haliburton scores 33 points, Pacers beat slumping Celtics
Tyrese Haliburton scored 33 points and the Indiana Pacers opened a 30-point lead in the first half before holding off the slumping Boston Celtics 117-112 on Wednesday night. Former Celtics player Aaron Nesmith had 15 points, Chris Duarte added 14 and Myles Turner had 10 to help the Pacers win for just the second time in six games. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 41 points after missing a game because of personal reasons, while point guard Marcus Smart sat out with a non-COVID illness. Jaylen Brown added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, and Malcolm Brogdon had 18 points. Atop the NBA a week ago, the Celtics have dropped five of six.

NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night
(5) Notre Dame 85, Western Michigan 57
Eastern Michigan 66, Wright State 54

(5) Notre Dame 85, WMU 57 – No. 5 Notre Dame opens 2nd half on 17-0 run in 85-57 rout
Maddy Westbeld scored 10 points in four minutes and No. 5 Notre Dame started the second half on a 17-0 spree en route to a 85-57 win over Western Michigan. The 10-1 Fighting Irish led 38-30 at the half, but scored on seven of their first eight possessions during the third quarter with a trio of 3-pointers. The Broncos missed their first nine shots from the field in the period and saw their three-game winning streak snapped. Westbeld scored a season-high 23 points and had eight rebounds.

NFL – National Football League – Week 16
Tonight
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets, 8:15 p.m.

NFL – Bears not necessarily scheming for Fields to break record
Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy says he hopes Justin Fields breaks the NFL single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. Getsy says the Bears won’t take Fields out of a game if he’s closing in on the record. But he also says the team won’t scheme for Fields to reach the mark. Fields has 1,000 yards rushing and has emerged as one of the NFL’s most exciting players. He needs 207 more yards to break Lamar Jackson’s mark from 2019, an average of 69 per game. The Bears started calling more runs for Fields after he struggled early in the season.

NFL – Suspicious package causes brief lockdown at Bears’ facility
The Chicago Bears’ practice facility was briefly on lockdown Wednesday because of a suspicious package. Team spokesman Brandon Faber says police were called. No one was allowed to leave or enter the team’s suburban campus for about an hour. The Bears practice about 30 miles north of Soldier Field. Chicago is scheduled to host the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

NFL – Franco Harris, Steeler who caught Immaculate Reception, dies
Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris has died at the age of 72 just days before the 50th anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception.” His catch for the Pittsburgh Steelers is considered the most iconic play in NFL history. Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh in the 1970s. The team’s dynasty began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972. His catch and run off a deflected pass gave the Steelers their first-ever playoff win. Harris’ son, Dok, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his father died overnight. No cause of death was given.

MLB – Cubs, All-Star SS Swanson finalize $177 million, 7-year deal
All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson has joined the Chicago Cubs, finalizing a $177 million, seven-year contract. The addition of Swanson is the biggest of three major moves by the Cubs since the end of the season. Right-hander Jameson Taillon signed a $68 million, four-year contract, and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger got a $17.5 million, one-year deal. The 28-year-old Swanson is coming off perhaps his best big league season, hitting .277 with 25 homers and a career-best 96 RBIs in 162 games for Atlanta.

MLB – Aaron Judge becomes Yanks captain, with Derek Jeter at side
Aaron Judge has been appointed captain of the New York Yankees after agreeing to a $360 million, nine-year contract to remain in pinstripes. Judge became the Yankees’ first captain since Derek Jeter retired at the end of the 2014 season. New York had six previous captains in the Steinbrenner family era: Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry, Don Mattingly and Jeter. Judge homered in his first big league at-bat for the Yankees in 2016, and the 6-foot-7 outfielder has become a larger-than-life figure in the Bronx.

Soccer – Pelé’s cancer worsens, kidneys and heart affected
Doctors say Pelé’s health has worsened during his hospital stay to regulate his cancer medication. The hospital says in a statement that Pelé’s cancer has advanced and that he is under “elevated care” related to “kidney and cardiac dysfunctions.” One of his daughters says the 82-year-old Brazilian soccer great will remain at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo for Christmas. Pelé is undergoing chemotherapy in his fight against cancer since he had a colon tumor removed in September 2021. Neither his family nor the hospital have said whether it had spread to other organs. Pelé led Brazil to victory the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups.

Soccer – Grant Wahl’s life celebrated at New York City gathering
Grant Wahl was remembered for his peripatetic life as a sportswriter, pursuit of social justice and lasting impact on family, friends and people he mentored. Wahl died at age 49 from aortic aneurysm on Dec. 10 while covering a World Cup match in Qatar. A two-hour celebration of his life at The Times Center on Wednesday drew several hundred people, including colleagues and soccer officials. Wahl’s wife, Celine Gounder, spoke along with his brother, Eric Wahl, and former Sports Illustrated colleagues.

ECHL – ECHL Hockey League
Last Night
Kalamazoo Wings 4, Cincinnati Cyclones 3 – OT

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
Buchanan 57, White Pigeon 40
Plainwell 53, Vicksburg 40

Girls Basketball
Buchanan 67, River Valley 26
Vicksburg 53, Plainwell 46
Kalamazoo Hackett 31, Gobles 27

Wrestling
SMAC Quad at St. Joseph

• St. Joseph 59, Mattawan 24
• St. Joseph 54, Battle Creek Central 24
• Lakeshore 63, Mattawan 15
• Lakeshore 77, Battle Creek Central 6

Otsego, Plainwell at Three Rivers

• Plainwell 40, Three Rivers 26
• Three Rivers 53, Otsego 28

Tonight
Games are cancelled

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NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Utah Jazz 126, Detroit Pistons 111
Chicago Bulls 113, Miami Heat 103

Jazz 126, Pistons 111 – Markkanen scores 38 to lead Jazz past Pistons 126-111
Lauri Markkanen scored 38 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers, and the Utah Jazz defeated the Detroit Pistons 126-111. Jarred Vanderbilt added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who outscored Detroit 65-51 in the second half. Utah had at least 30 points in all four quarters. Jaden Ivey led Detroit with 30 points. Pistons rookie Jalen Duren had 15 points and 14 rebounds. He has at least 11 rebounds in seven straight games, matching Dwight Howard’s 2005 mark for the longest streak by a teenager.

Bulls 113, Heat 103 – Bulls snap 4-game slide, top short-handed Heat 113-103
Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and the Chicago Bulls stopped a four-game slide by beating the short-handed Miami Heat 113-103. Zach LaVine scored 21 and Coby White added 14 for the Bulls, who used a 30-7 run in the second half to take control. Bam Adebayo made his first nine shots and scored 27 points for Miami. Adebayo also had 12 rebounds for the Heat, who got 19 from Tyler Herro, 18 from Haywood Highsmith, 14 from Victor Oladipo and 13 from Duncan Robinson.

Tonight
Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m.

NBA – Mat Ishbia agrees to buy Suns, Mercury for $4 billion
Mortgage executive Mat Ishbia has agreed in principle to buy the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury from embattled owner Robert Sarver for $4 billion. The sale is expected to take several weeks to complete. Ishbia is chairman, president and chief executive of United Wholesale Mortgage. He also is a former Michigan State basketball player and a member of the Spartans’ NCAA championship team in 2000. Sarver was suspended by the NBA in September over workplace misconduct that included racist speech and hostile behavior toward employees.

NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings, 7:00 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.

NCAAFB – College Football
Yesterday
FBS Bowls
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, ID
Eastern Michigan 41, San Jose State 27

EMU 41, SJSU 27 – E. Michigan beats San Jose St. in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Taylor Powell threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, Samson Evans rushed for a pair of scores and Eastern Michigan defeated San Jose State 41-27 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Eastern Michigan (9-4) won a bowl game for the second time in program history. The team last won a bowl game in 1987, beating San Jose State in the California Bowl. San Jose State (7-5) turned the ball over three times. It was first time this season that the Spartans had multiple turnovers in a game. Chevan Cordeiro led the Spartans offensively, completing 26 of 44 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

NFL – Bears’ Jenkins may practice this week after neck injury
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins might practice this week after being carted from the field with a neck injury. Jenkins was at the team’s practice facility Tuesday, two days after he was injured against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Matt Eberflus said “it’s a possibility” Jenkins practices this week with Chicago set to host the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Bears held a walkthrough on Tuesday. Jenkins was carted from the field and taken to a hospital during Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jenkins went down while blocking for David Montgomery on a running play on the game’s opening drive.
NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Today
Sienna Heights at Western Michigan, 1:00 p.m.
Oakland at Michigan State, 6:30 p.m.                            Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM 5:30
Youngstown State at Central Michigan, 7:00 p.m.
Michigan at North Carolina, 7:00 p.m.                          News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM
Notre Dame at Florida State, 8:30 p.m.

NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night
James Madison 78, Eastern Michigan 43
(19) Michigan 76, (6) North Carolina 68
Michigan State 98, Prairie View A&M 50

(19) Michigan 76, (6) North Carolina 68 – Brown scores 25, No. 19 Michigan rolls past No. 6 UNC 76-68
Fifth-year senior Leigha Brown had 25 points and eight rebounds, and 19th-ranked Michigan knocked off No. 6 North Carolina 76-68 on Tuesday night at the inaugural Jumpman Invitational. The 6-foot-1 Brown was 9 of 15 from the field and made three 3-pointers in her 113th career game for the Wolverines. Laila Phelia added 20 points for Michigan, which shot 46% from the field, while holding North Carolina to 32%. Deja Kelly had 15 points and Eva Hodgson had 13 for North Carolina, which couldn’t complete the comeback after falling behind by 23 points in the first half.

Today
Western Michigan at (5) Notre Dame, 12:00 p.m.
Eastern Michigan at Wright State, 1:00 p.m.

MLB – Michael Lorenzen, Tigers finalize $8.5M, 1-year contract
Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and the Detroit Tigers finalized their $8.5 million, one-year contract. Lorenzen was 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts last season with the Los Angeles Angels. Since making his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015, he is 31-29 with a 4.10 ERA. The 30-year-old Lorezen began his career as a starter before mostly pitching out of the bullpen for the Reds. He can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses for innings: $250,000 each for 100, 125, 150, 175, 195 and 205.

MLB – Bellinger looking forward to fresh start after joining Cubs
Cody Bellinger is looking forward to a fresh start with the Chicago Cubs and showing that he can once again be a productive hitter. He went from winning the NL MVP with the Dodgers in 2019 to being cut by Los Angeles in November. The years in between were marked by injuries and plummeting production. Bellinger says he will “be able to learn from” his experience. The Cubs hope he can experience a bit of a resurgence at the plate while giving them an elite glove in center field as they try to climb back toward contention. They finished third in the NL Central at 74-88. It was their second straight losing season after making the playoffs five of the previous six years, but they went 40-31 in their final 71 games.

FIFA – More than 25 million watched World Cup final in U.S.
Argentina’s dramatic World Cup final victory over France is the second most-watched soccer match of any kind in the United States. That’s according to early numbers from Nielsen, Fox and Telemundo. Sunday’s match had an English- and Spanish-language combined audience of 25,783,000. That trails the 2015 Women’s World Cup final that was watched by 26.7 million when the United States beat Japan 5-2. That match aired in prime time in most of the U.S. Fox’s numbers from Sunday should increase when the “match-only” rating is released later Tuesday.

Golf – Masters – Masters to keep criteria, invite all eligible players in ’23
The Masters is keeping its criteria the same for next year. That means 16 players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf will be at Augusta National to compete for a green jacket. Club chairman Fred Ridley says he’s disappointed in the fractured nature of golf. But he says the focus of the Masters is to bring the top players together from around the world. The 16 players from LIV Golf include six former champions and six who qualify by being in the top 50 in the world ranking. Ridley said the club still reserves the right to alter its criteria for 2024.

ECHL – ECHL Hockey League
Tonight
Cincinnati Cyclones at Kalamazoo Wings, 7:00 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
Lakeshore 40, Berrien Springs 29

• Jack Carlisle had 18 points to lead Lakeshore to a 40-29 win at Berrien Springs, J.J. Frakes added 13 in the Lancers first win of the season.

Brandywine 50, Our Lady of the Lake 24

• Brandywine’s Jeremiah Palmer had a game high 18 points as the Bobcats beat Our Lady of the Lake 50-24.  Owen McLoughlin led the Lakers with 15 points.

Gull Lake 57, Plainwell 40
Paw Paw 56, Dowagiac 40
Concord (IN) 33, Edwardsburg 20
Eau Claire 82, Martin 36
South Haven 77, River Valley 48
Schoolcraft 78, Three Rivers 36
Hopkins 54, Allegan 45
Cassopolis 75, Bloomingdale 19
Comstock 75, Marcellus 56
GR West Michigan Aviation 77, Kalamazoo Christian 61
Saranac 45, Delton-Kellogg 37
Saugatuck 55, Byron Center Zion Christian 48
Mason 81, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 46
Portage Northern 46, Coldwater 35
Battle Creek Central 70, Lansing Everett 49
Galesburg-Augusta 55, Vermontville Maple Valley 43

Girls Basketball
Otsego 46, St. Joseph 39

• Despite at game high 23 points from St. Joseph Sophomore Jaslynn Ward, St. Joe fell at Otsego 46-39.  Ward had 13 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Bears comeback fell short.  Eleah Hedstrom added 10 for St. Joe.  Hailey Guerrant had 11 to lead Otsego.

Lakeshore 73, Berrien Springs 40

• Lakeshore jumped out to a 23-2 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in a 73-40 win over Berrien Springs.  Lakeshore had 4 players in double figures, led by Ainsly Ashby’s game high 17 points.  Paige Lies scored 16, Emily Lockman had 14 and Megan Wurster had 13.  Aubreona Smith had 14 points to lead the Shamrocks.

Edwardsburg 43, Mattawan 32
Watervliet 46, Paw Paw 44
Dowagiac 48, Parchment 24
Plainwell 34, Gull Lake 33
Bangor 43, Fennville 40
GR South Christian 64, Kalamazoo Christian 38
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 33, Martin 31
Three Rivers 43, Schoolcraft 22
Cassopolis 55, Bloomingdale 34
Mendon 29, Decatur 16
White Pigeon 31, Lawrence 28
Kalamazoo Central 64, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 50
Coldwater 41, Portage Northern 37
Galesburg-Augusta 48, Vermontville Maple Valley 16
Hopkins 47, Allegan 32
Saugatuck 42, Bryon Center Zion Christian 31

Today
Boys Basketball
White Pigeon at Buchanan, 5:45 p.m.
Vicksburg at Plainwell, 7:15 p.m.
Gobles at Kalamazoo Hackett, 7:00 p.m.

Girls Basketball
River Valley at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m.
Plainwell at Vicksburg, 7:15 p.m.
Kalamazoo Hackett at Gobles, 7:00 p.m.

Wrestling
Lakeshore, Mattawan, Battle Creek Central at St. Joseph, 5:00 p.m.
Otsego, Plainwell, Sturgis at Three Rivers, 6:00 p.m.
Allegan, Gobles, Martin at Delton-Kellogg, 6:00 p.m.

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NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Washington Capitals 4, Detroit Red Wings 3 – OT

Capitals 4, Red Wings 3 – OT – Orlov scores in OT, Caps hand Red Wings 6th straight loss
Nic Dowd scored twice in 11 seconds, Dmitry Orlov had the overtime winner and the Washington Capitals won their second in a row by beating the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 with Alex Ovechkin still waiting for his next major milestone. Ovechkin, for a third consecutive game, was unable to score his 801st goal and tie Gordie Howe for second on the NHL career list. He remained stuck on 800 with Howe’s sons Mark and Marty in attendance. Even without a goal from Ovechkin, the Capitals will take the victory on Orlov’s goal with 21.3 seconds left in 3-on-3 overtime. The Red Wings have lost six in a row.

NFL – National Football League – Week 15
Yesterday
Green Bay Packers 24, Los Angeles Rams 12

Packers 24, Rams 12 – Packers defeat Rams 24-12 to keep playoff hopes alive
A.J. Dillon ran for two scores, Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Aaron Jones and the Green Bay Packers kept their playoff hopes afloat with a 24-12 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Dillon put Green Bay ahead for good with an 8-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and also scored from 1 yard out in the third period. He left midway through the second half to be evaluated for a concussion. Rodgers went 22 of 30 for 229 yards with a touchdown and interception to win his ninth straight “Monday Night Football” start.

NFL – AP source: Eagles QB Hurts suffers sprained right shoulder
A person with knowledge of the matter says Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a sprained right shoulder and his status for Philadelphia’s game at Dallas is uncertain. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the injury. Hurts has led the Eagles to a 13-1 mark and the best record in the NFL. The 24-year-old has morphed into a serious NFL MVP candidate in his second season as a starter.

NFL – Bears’ Jenkins out of hospital after injuring neck in game
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins has been released from the hospital and was seeing specialists Monday, a day after he was carted from the field with a neck injury during a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Matt Eberflus called the news “encouraging,” but had few details about the extent of the injury. He said Jenkins was released from the hospital on Sunday and was seeing specialists to “double-check and cross-check everything.” Whether Jenkins will play again this season was not clear. Jenkins went down while blocking for David Montgomery on a running play.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Utah Jazz at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m.

NCAAFB – College Football
Today
FBS Bowls
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Boise, ID
Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State, 3:30 p.m.

RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl – Boca Raton, FL
Toledo vs. Liberty, 7:30 p.m.

NCAAFB – TCU QB Max Duggan heading to NFL draft after playoff
TCU quarterback and Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan will head to the NFL draft after the College Football Playoff. Duggan has started 41 games during his four seasons at TCU. The senior could have returned for another season because all players were granted an extra year of eligibility after the 2020 season was altered by the pandemic. The Horned Frogs play Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. The winner will play for the national championship.

NCAAMBKB – Purdue holds top spot; UConn climbs to No. 2
Purdue maintained its grasp on No. 1 in the AP men’s college basketball poll on Monday, receiving 40 of the 60 first-place votes from a national media panel after knocking off Davidson in its only game last week. That allowed the Boilermakers to hold the top spot for a second consecutive week. But after then-No. 2 Virginia lost to Houston, UConn leaped into second place and scooped up the remaining 20 first-place votes. The Huskies were unranked in the preseason. The rest of the top five were Houston, Kansas and Arizona. Marquette entered the poll at 23 and Arizona State at 25.

NCAAWBKB – St. John’s cracks Top 25 for 1st time since 2015
St. John’s is ranked in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll for the first time since 2015. The Red Storm is No. 25 after winning its first 11 games to match a school record. South Carolina remains a unanimous No. 1, receiving all 28 first-place votes from a national media panel. The top five was unchanged with Stanford, Ohio State, Indiana and Notre Dame following the Gamecocks. North Carolina and North Carolina State are sixth and seventh. Virginia Tech, UConn and LSU round out the top 10.

NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Today
Eastern Michigan at James Madison, 3:00 p.m.
(19) Michigan at North Carolina, 7:00 p.m.
Prairie View A&M at Michigan State, 7:00 p.m.

MLB – Cubs, right-hander Taillon finalize 4-year contract
The Chicago Cubs and right-hander Jameson Taillon have finalized a four-year contract worth roughly $68 million. The announcement Monday comes nearly two weeks after the sides agreed to the deal. The Cubs also have added All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger this offseason. The 31-year-old Taillon is coming off a solid season with the New York Yankees, going 14-5 with a 3.91 ERA. He matched his career high with 32 starts and worked 177 1/3 innings, his best total since he logged 191 innings in 2018. The move puts Taillon back in the NL Central after he began his career with Pittsburgh. Taillon made his major league debut in 2016 and went 29-24 with a 3.67 ERA in 82 starts in his first four seasons with the Pirates.

MLB – Tom Browning, pitched perfect game for Reds, dies at 62
Tom Browning, an All-Star pitcher who threw the only perfect game in Cincinnati Reds history and helped them win the 1990 World Series title, has died. He was 62. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office announced Browning’s death on Twitter, saying he died Monday at his home in Union, Kentucky. No cause was given. The Sheriff’s Office said foul play is not suspected. The Reds issued a statement mourning Browning after being in contact with a member of his family, team spokesman Rob Butcher said. Known as a colorful character, Browning retired all 27 batters he faced in a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Riverfront Stadium on Sept. 16, 1988. He also won Game 3 of the 1990 World Series in Oakland.

FIFA – Huge crowds welcome Argentina team after World Cup victory
Thousands of fans have lined up in the middle of the night to try to get a glimpse of the Argentina soccer team that won one of the greatest World Cup finals ahead what is scheduled to be a day of celebrations in Buenos Aires. Members of the team, led by captain Lionel Messi, were all smiles as they descended from the plane in Ezeiza, right outside Argentina’s capital, shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday. Messi was the first player from the plane carrying the World Cup, flanked by coach Lionel Scaloni, who put his arm around the captain as they walked past a sign “Thank you, champions.” The players were welcomed by rock band La Mosca singing “Muchachos,” an unofficial anthem for Argentine fans.

MCCAA – Junior College Athletics
Last Night
Women’s Basketball
Owens Community College 77, Southwestern Michigan 51

Men’s Basketball
Owens Community College 69, Southwestern Michigan 51

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
Grand Rapids Union 72, Benton Harbor 63
Kalamazoo Phoenix 73, Countryside Academy 58
Buchanan 51, Constantine 38
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 74, Lansing Sexton 69
Marcellus 52, Gobles 51
Decatur 37, Climax-Scotts 32
Concord 48, Sturgis 40 – OT

Girls Basketball
Brandywine 57, Our Lady of the Lake 32
Buchanan 67, Constantine 16
Gobles 51, Marcellus 17

Tonight
Boys Basketball
Lakeshore at Berrien Springs, 7:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Our Lady of the Lake, 7:00 p.m.
Plainwell at Gull Lake, 7:00 p.m.
Paw Paw at Dowagiac, 7:15 p.m.
Edwardsburg at Elkhart Concord (IN), 7:45 p.m.
Eau Claire at Martin, 7:00 p.m.
River Valley at South Haven, 7:00 p.m.
Schoolcraft at Three Rivers, 7:00 p.m.
Allegan at Hopkins, 7:15 p.m.
Bloomingdale at Cassopolis, 7:30 p.m.
Hartford at Centreville, 7:30 p.m.
Comstock at Marcellus, 7:30 p.m.
Decatur at Mendon, 7:30 p.m.
Lawrence at White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m.
GR West Michigan Aviation at Kalamazoo Christian, 7:00 p.m.
Delton-Kellogg at Saranac, 7:00 p.m.
Byron Center Zion Christian at Saugatuck, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix at Mason, 6:30 p.m.
Coldwater at Portage Northern, 7:15 p.m.
Charlotte at Battle Creek Lakeview, 7:00 p.m.
Lansing Everett at Battle Creek Central, 7:00 p.m.
Galesburg-Augusta at Vermontville Maple Valley, 7:00 p.m.

Girls Basketball
St. Joseph at Otsego, 7:00 p.m.
Berrien Springs at Lakeshore, 6:30 p.m.
Coloma at South Haven, 7:00 p.m.
Edwardsburg at Mattawan, 7:00 p.m.
Paw Paw at Watervliet, 7:00 p.m.
Dowagiac at Parchment, 7;00 p.m.
Gull Lake at Plainwell, 7:00 p.m.
Bangor at Fennville, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Christian at GR South Christian, 7:00 p.m.
Martin at Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, 7:00 p.m.
Three Rivers at Schoolcraft, 7:00 p.m.
Cassopolis at Bloomingdale, 6:00 p.m.
Marcellus at Comstock, 7:30 p.m.
Mendon at Decatur, 7:30 p.m.
Centreville at Hartford, 7:30 p.m.
White Pigeon at Lawrence, 7:30 p.m.
Kalamazoo Central at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 5:45 p.m.
Portage Northern at Coldwater, 7:00 p.m.
Galesburg-Augusta at Vermontville Maple Valley, 5:45 p.m.
Hopkins at Allegan, 7:00 p.m.
Saugatuck at Bryon Center Zion Christian, 7:00 p.m.

AP MEN’S TOP 25

1

11-0

2

12-0

3

11-1

4

10-1

5

10-1

6

8-1

7

9-1

8

9-2

9

9-2

10

10-1

11

9-3

12

8-2

13

10-2

14

10-2

15

11-0

16

8-3

17

9-2

18

8-3

19

7-3

20

9-1

21

11-1

22

11-1

23

9-2

24

9-3

25

11-1

AP WOMEN’S TOP 25

1

11-0

2

11-1

3

11-0

4

11-0

5

9-1

6

9-1

7

11-1

8

10-1

9

8-2

10

12-0

11

11-1

12

10-0

13

9-3

14

8-2

15

9-3

16

9-1

17

13-0

18

9-1

19

10-1

20

10-0

21

8-2

22

10-2

23

9-1

24

8-3

25

11-0

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NFL – National Football League – Week 15
Yesterday
Detroit Lions 20, New York Jets 17
Philadelphia Eagles 25, Chicago Bears 20

Lions 20, Jets 17 – Goff stuns Jets late as Lions hold on for 20-17 victory
Jared Goff threw a go-ahead 51-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright on fourth-and-inches with 1:49 remaining and the Detroit Lions held on for a 20-17 victory over Zach Wilson and the New York Jets. Wilson and the Jets had one more chance to tie or win in his return as the starting quarterback. Wilson completed a 20-yard throw to Elijah Moore for a first down and Robert Saleh called a timeout with 1 second remaining. The Jets sent out Greg Zuerlein for a potential tying 58-yard field goal but his kick was wide left to send the Lions to their third straight win.  Kalif Raymond scored on a 47 punt return touchdown in the first quarter for Detroit, who have won 6 of their last 7 games.

Eagles 25, Bears 20 – Hurts runs for 3 TDs as Eagles squeeze by Bears 25-20
Jalen Hurts tied a career high by running for three touchdowns and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the struggling Chicago Bears 25-20. The Eagles, with the best record in the NFL, made just enough plays to come away with a tighter-than-anticipated win. Hurts ran for 61 yards and threw for 315 yards with two interceptions. Chicago’s Justin Fields rushed for 95 yards to reach exactly 1,000 on the season, joining Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson as the only quarterbacks to rush for 1,000 or more. He also set a franchise single-season rushing record for a QB. But the Bears lost their seventh straight game.

Other NFL Scores
San Francisco 21, Seattle 13
Minnesota 39, Indianapolis 36, OT
Cleveland 13, Baltimore 3
Buffalo 32, Miami 29
Jacksonville 40, Dallas 34, OT
Kansas City 30, Houston 24, OT
New Orleans 21, Atlanta 18
Pittsburgh 24, Carolina 16
Denver 24, Arizona 15
Las Vegas 30, New England 24
Cincinnati 34, Tampa Bay 23
L.A. Chargers 17, Tennessee 14
N.Y. Giants 20, Washington 12

Tonight
Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Yesterday
Brookly Nets 124, Detroit Pistons, 121
Minnesota Timberwolves 150, Chicago Bulls 126
New York Knicks 109, Indiana Pacers 106

Nets 124, Pistons 121 – Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving lead Nets past Pistons, 124-121
Kevin Durant scored a career-high 26 of his 43 points in the third quarter, helping the Brooklyn Nets overcome a 17-point halftime deficit in a 124-121 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Kyrie Irving added 38 points in Brooklyn’s seventh straight victory over Detroit. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pistons with 26 points. Durant was 8 of 10 from the floor, going 3 of 3 on 3-pointers and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line as he outscored the Pistons 26-25 in the third.

Timberwolves 15, Bulls 126 – Timberwolves beat Bulls 150-126 to break team scoring mark
Anthony Edwards had season highs with 37 points and 11 assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves broke the franchise record for points in a game, routing the Chicago Bulls 150-126 on Sunday night. D’Angelo Russell added 28 points after missing two games and Minnesota made a season-high 23 pointers to roll past Chicago despite missing four regulars. Rudy Gobert missed his second straight game because of a sprained left ankle. Karl-Anthony Towns (right calf strain) and top reserves Jordan McLaughlin (left calf strain) and Taurean Prince (right shoulder) also sat out. DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 29 points.

Knicks 109, Pacers 106 – Knicks rally to beat Pacers 109-106 for 7th straight victory
Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Julius Randle made six free throws in the final minute and the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 109-106 on Sunday for their NBA-best seventh consecutive victory. The 19th and final lead change came in the final minute, when Randle made two foul shots with 45.6 seconds remaining for a 105-104 lead. After the teams exchanged turnovers, Randle hit four more free throws in the final two possessions. The Pacers missed a shot from just inside half-court at the buzzer. Randle finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds. RJ Barrett added 24 points. Buddy Hield and Aaron Nesmith each had 23 points for Indiana.

NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
New York Rangers 7, Chicago Blackhawks 1

Rangers 7, Blackhawks 1 – Panarin leads surging Rangers to 7-1 win over Blackhawks
Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists, Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 shots and the New York Rangers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 7-1 for their seventh straight win. Vincent Trocheck, Filip Chytil and Kappo Kakko each had a goal and an assist, and Vitali Kravtsov, Braden Schneider and Jacob Trouba also scored for the Rangers. Adam Fox had three assists, and Alexis Lafreniere and Mika Zibanejad each had two. Philipp Kurashev scored for Chicago and Arvid Soderblom finished with 19 saves. The Rangers have not lost since a 5-2 defeat at home to the Blackhawks on Dec. 3. Chicago has lost seven straight since then and is 1-14-1 since mid-November.

Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Washington Capitals, 7:00 p.m.

NCAAFB – College Football
Saturday
FBS Bowls
Division II National Championship
Ferris State 41, Colorado Mines 14

FSU 41, CSM 14 – Ferris State wins 2nd straight NCAA Division II title
Carson Gulker scored on three short runs, Sidney McCloud had a pick-6 and Ferris State rolled past Colorado School of Mines 41-14 to successfully defend its NCAA Division II national championship. Ferris was in its third national title game in four years, winning its first title last year to complete a 14-0 season. Gulker scored on a 2-yard run to complete a seven-play, 79-yard drive for a first-quarter score then the Bulldogs followed with a 20-point second quarter on Eddie Jewett’s field goals of 33 and 22 yards, CJ Jefferson’s 19-yard run and McCloud’s 31-yard return for a 27-0 lead. The Orediggers didn’t score until there was just over a minute left in the third quarter on John Matocha’s 10-yard pass to Michael Zeman.

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Yesterday
Iowa State 73, Western Michigan 57
Eastern Michigan 79, Detroit Mercy 77
Missouri State 79, Central Michigan 58
Georgia 77, Notre Dame 62

Iowa State 73, WMU 57 – Grill scores 14, Iowa State stops Western Michigan 73-58
Caleb Grill scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting with three 3-pointers and Iowa State cruised to a 73-57 win over Western Michigan. Jarren Holmes added 10 points for the Cyclones as all 11 players scored. Lamar Norman Jr. hit 6 3-pointers and scored 24 points for the Broncos.

EMU 79, UDM 77 – Eastern Michigan spoils big night from Detroit Mercy’s Davis
Emoni Bates and Tyson Acuff scored 19 points apiece and Eastern Michigan spoiled a big night by Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis in a 79-77 victory over the Titans. Davis scored 30 points for Detroit Mercy (5-7) to zip past Bradley’s Hersey Hawkins (3,008) into 10th place on the all-time scoring list. Davis, who came in averaging 24.3 points per game, upped his points total to 3,031. He passed Hawkins on a 3-pointer with 16:37 left in the first half. Davis needs 28 points to pass Saint Peter’s Keydren Clark for ninth place. Davis and former Washington Huskies women’s standout Kelsey Plum are the only two players to top 3,000 points and 500 assists in an NCAA Division I career. Davis also extended his NCAA double-digit scoring streak to 123 straight games.

Georgia 77, Notre Dame 62 – Bridges, Abdur-Rahim lead Georgia past Notre Dame 77-62
Braelen Bridges scored 18 points, Jabri Abdur-Rahim posted a double-double off the bench and Georgia breezed to a 77-62 victory over Notre Dame. Bridges sank all nine of his shots from the floor and added six rebounds for the Bulldogs (8-3). Abdur-Rahim finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Matthew Moncrieffe made all six of his shots and scored 15. Terry Roberts had 10 points, five assists and three steals. Nate Laszewski led the Fighting Irish (7-4) with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting with four 3-pointers. Cormac Ryan pitched in with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists. JJ Starling scored 14. Moncrieffe had 10 points to send Georgia into halftime with a 41-36 lead.

NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Yesterday
Michigan State 91, Detroit Mercy 41
Eastern Illinois 78, Central Michigan 67
(5) Notre Dame 63, (6) Virginia Tech 52

(5) Notre Dame 63, (6) Virginia Tech 52 – Miles scores 16, No. 5 Notre Dame beats No. 6 Virginia Tech
Olivia Miles had 16 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and five steals to lead No. 5 Notre Dame to a 63-52 victory over No. 6 Virginia Tech on Sunday. Miles scored 13 points in the second half as the Irish (9-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) rallied from a three-point deficit entering the fourth quarter. Georgia Amoore led the Hokies (10-1, 1-1) with 20 points. Elizabeth Kitley added 16 points and 20 rebounds for Virginia Tech, which was seeking its third victory ever over a Top 5 team. Lauren Ebo added 15 points for the Irish.

MLB – Judge’s 62nd home run ball sells for $1.5 million at auction
The ball New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit for his American League-record 62nd home run has sold for $1.5 million at auction. The price is the second highest paid for a baseball auction, according to Goldin Executive Chairman and Founder Ken Goldin. He identified the buyer as a prominent Midwestern businessman and collector. Bidding on the ball opened on Nov. 29 and ended Saturday. The minimum opening bid was set at $1 million. The home run ball was consigned to Goldin in November by Cory Youmans, who was initially offered $3-million just after the game.

Venus Williams awarded wild-card entry for Australian Open
Venus Williams has been awarded a wild-card entry to play at the Australian Open next month. It will be 25 years after she played the Grand Slam tournament for the first time. The 42-year-old Williams has reached the final twice in Australia, including a loss to her younger sister, Serena, in the 2017 championship match. She will be contesting the season-opening major for the 22nd time. Venus and Serena Williams combined to win the Australian Open women’s doubles title four times and Venus also won the mixed doubles title in 1998. Serena Williams will not be contesting the Jan. 16-29 tournament at Melbourne Park after announcing at the U.S. Open that she was ready to evolve away from tennis.

FIFA – World Cup 2020 – Qatar
Saturday
3rd Place Match
Croatia 2, Morocco 1

Sunday
World Cup Finals
Argentina 3, France 3          PKS ARG 4, FRA 2

ARG 3, FRA 3 – ARG PKS 4-2 – Messi wins World Cup, Argentina beats France on penalties
Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in soccer. Argentina beat France 4-2 in a penalty shootout to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years. Gonzalo Montiel scored the clinching penalty as Argentina won after a 3-3 draw. Messi’s once-in-a-generation career is complete now that he is finally a World Cup champion. Messi is definitively in the pantheon of soccer’s greatest ever players alongside Pelé and Diego Maradona. Europe’s run of four straight World Cup winners dating to 2006 came to an end.

FIFA – World Cup in Qatar sets scoring record with 172 goals
The six-goal final between France and Argentina set a World Cup record of 172 at this year’s tournament. The previous tournament record of 171 goals was set in 1998 and 2014. The 1998 tournament in France was the first edition in the current 64-game, 32-team format. A new record is likely to be set at the 2026 World Cup. The tournament has been expanded to 48 teams playing either 80 or 104 games. Argentina and France drew 3-3 through extra time to set the record in this year’s final at Lusail Stadium.

FIFA – 2026 World Cup hosts take diplomatic handover from Qatar
A diplomatic delegation from the three host countries of the 2026 World Cup were in Qatar for a handover ceremony ahead of the final between France and Argentina. The United States, Mexico and Canada will stage soccer’s biggest event in less than 3½ years. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who led a presidential delegation to the final, says “we could not be more excited.” Greenfield says Qatar “set the standards high.” The 2026 tournament will be played in 11 American cities, three in Mexico and two in Canada.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Saturday
Girls Basketball
Tri-State Holiday Classic at Southwestern Michigan College
Benton Harbor 36, Country Club Hills Hillcrest (IL) 29
Dowagiac 46, South Bend Riley (IN) 17
Elkhart Christian (IN) 66, Edwardsburg 52
South Bend Riley (IN) 43, Niles 29
Country Club Hills Hillcrest (IL) 36, Lawton 19

Sunday
Boys Basketball
Mattawan 48, Detroit Douglass 44

Tonight
Boys Basketball
Benton Harbor at Grand Rapids Union, 7:00 p.m.
Lansing Sexton vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 6:30 p.m.        at Mason Holiday Hoops
Concord at Sturgis, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Phoenix at Countryside, 7:00 p.m.
Buchanan at Constantine, 7:30 p.m.
Decatur at Climax-Scotts, 7:00 p.m.
Gobles at Marcellus, 7:00 p.m.

Girls Basketball
Our Lady of the Lake at Brandywine, 7:00 p.m.
Constantine at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m.
Marcellus at Gobles, 7:00 p.m.

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Our Midwest Family Player of the Week is Landon Fisher of Decatur High School Basketball. Landon is a senior at Decatur.   He also plays baseball and in the classroom Landon has a 4.0 GPA.

WSJM Sports Director Dave Wolf caught up with Landon and Decatur Boys Basketball Coach Rick Athey earlier this week.

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This week at Full Circle Café & Espresso Bar, we talk St. Joe, Lakeshore, Michigan Lutheran, and Benton Harbor boys basketball…

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As you heard on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM. Joel Cordes brings you all of the action from Lakeshore High School as St. Joe faced Lakeshore in the War By Shore basketball edition.

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