WSJM Sports

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball

Last Night

(10) Michigan State 79, Nebraska 67

Notre Dame 78, North Carolina 73

(10) Michigan State 79, Nebraska 67 – No. 10 Michigan State tops Nebraska 79-67 for 8th win in row

Freshman Max Christie scored a season-high 21 points and Gabe Brown had 14 points to help No. 10 Michigan State pull away and beat Nebraska 79-67 for its eighth win in a row. The Spartans led by just four points at halftime because they turned the ball over 12 times. Michigan State made three 3-pointers early in the second half to go ahead 47-39 and maintained the lead because it took better care of the basketball, finishing with 19 turnovers. The Cornhuskers started strong, leading 17-12 and by a point late in the first half.

Notre Dame 78, North Carolina 73 – Laszewski helps lift Notre Dame over North Carolina 78-73

Nate Laszewski (La-SHEH-skee) scored a season-high 20 points, including consecutive 3-pointers to give the lead back to Notre Dame, and the Fighting Irish held on for a 78-73 victory over North Carolina. The Tar Heels rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to take the lead on an Armando Bacot bucket before Laszewski hit back-to-back 3s, the second coming with two minutes left, to give Notre Dame the lead for good. Blake Wesley added 18 points, Dane Goodwin 17 and Cormac Ryan 11 for the Irish. Bacot scored 21 points with a career-high 17 rebounds, RJ Davis added 19 points and Caleb Love 15 for North Carolina.

NBA – National Basketball Association

Yesterday

Charlotte Hornets 140, Detroit Pistons 111

Brooklyn Nets 129, Indiana Pacers 121

Hornets 140, Pistons 111 – Oubre, Hornets set franchise record for 3s, rout Pistons

Kelly Oubre Jr. hit a career-high nine of Charlotte’s franchise-record 24 3-pointers and the Hornets routed the Pistons 140-111 on Wednesday night. Oubre had eight 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, tying an NBA record set by Milwaukee’s Michael Redd in 2002. Oubre was 8 of 9 on 3s in the fourth quarter before being subbed out with 4:08 left and the Hornets leading by 35. Golden State’s Klay Thompson holds the league record for 3-pointers in a quarter with nine, that coming in the third quarter of a game in 2015. Oubre finished 9 of 14 for the game, and the Hornets shot 57.1% overall from deep. Trey Lyles had 17 points for Detroit.

Nets 129, Pacers 121 – Irving helps Nets charge past Pacers in his season debut

Kyrie Irving scored 22 points and sparked Brooklyn to a big rally in the second half of his season debut, Kevin Durant had 39 and the Nets beat the Indiana Pacers 129-121. Irving is ineligible to play home games because he is not vaccinated as mandated in New York City, and the Nets had decided against allowing him to just play road games for most of the season. But they changed their mind last month and were glad they did Wednesday, when Irving helped them charge back from a 19-point deficit. The point guard played 32 minutes as Brooklyn snapped a three-game losing streak.

Tonight

Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies, 8:00 p.m.

NHL – National Hockey League

Tonight

Chicago Blackhawks at Arizona Coyotes, 9:00 p.m.

Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks, 10:00 p.m.

NHL – Blackhawks get Sam Lafferty from Penguins for Alex Nylander

The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired forward Sam Lafferty in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Alex Nylander. Lafferty is slated to join the slumping Blackhawks in Arizona. The 26-year-old Lafferty, who is signed through this season with a $750,000 salary-cap hit, has no goals and two assists in 10 games with the Penguins this season. Nylander has spent this season with Rockford of the American Hockey League, collecting eight goals and four assists in 23 games. Nylander was selected by Buffalo with the No.

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball

Last Night

Rutgers 75, Michigan 67

Eastern Michigan 85, Western Michigan 79

Toledo 82, Central Michigan 54

Rutgers 75, Michigan 67 – Rutgers ends 87-year winless streak against Michigan

Geo Baker scored 27 points on 10-for-15 shooting and Ron Harper Jr. scored 20 and Rutgers beat depleted Michigan 75-67. It was Rutgers’ first win against the Wolverines in 15-game series that began Dec. 20, 1933. Rutgers owned a nine-point halftime lead and started the second half outscoring the Wolverines 14-6 run in a 6:47 span for a 53-36 advantage. Hunter Dickinson scored 25 points for Michigan.

EMU 85, WMU 79 – Farrakhan carries E. Michigan past W. Michigan 85-79

Noah Farrakhan scored 25 points and Eastern Michigan topped Western Michigan 85-79 on Tuesday night in its first Mid-American Conference game of the season. Lamar Norman Jr. scored a career-high 34 points for the Broncos.

Toledo 82, CMU 54 – Rollins scores 21 to lead Toledo past Cent. Michigan 82-54

Ryan Rollins had 21 points as Toledo easily defeated Central Michigan 82-54. Ra’Heim Moss had 13 points for Toledo. JT Shumate added 12 points.  Kevin Miller had 14 points for the Chippewas (2-11, 1-1). Harrison Henderson added 13 points. Brian Taylor had eight rebounds.

Tonight

Nebraska at (10) Michigan State, 7:00 p.m.              Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM 6:00          

North Carolina at Notre Dame, 9:00 p.m.

NHL – National Hockey League

Last Night

Detroit Red Wings 6, San Jose Sharks 2

Colorado Avalanche 4, Chicago Blackhawks 3 – OT

Red Wings 6, Sharks 2 – Suter, Bertuzzi help Detroit make short work of Sharks 6-2

Tyler Bertuzzi and Pius Suter each scored twice, including short-handed goals on the same penalty, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the San Jose Sharks 6-2. Dylan Larkin and Robby Fabbri also scored for Detroit. Alex Nedeljkovic made 24 saves for the Red Wings.  Jasper Weatherby and Alexander Barabanov scored for the Sharks. James Reimer stopped 20 of 24 shots before being replaced by Adin Hill (five saves) at the start of the third period.

Avalanche 4, Blackhawks 3 – OT – Cale Makar's OT goal lifts Avalanche past Blackhawks 4-3

Cale Makar scored on a slick move 2:38 into overtime, and the surging Colorado Avalanche beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3. Makar skated into the left circle, spun away from Chicago center Kirby Dach and then drove to the net. The defenseman beat Marc-Andre Fleury on the stick side for his 14th goal. Colorado forward Logan O’Connor and Chicago captain Jonathan Toews each had a shot go off a post in overtime before Makar’s game-winner.

NBA – National Basketball Association

Yesterday

New York Knicks 104, Indiana Pacers 94

Knicks 104, Pacers 94 – Barrett has 32, Randle has big return as Knicks beat Pacers

RJ Barrett scored 24 of his 32 points in the first half, Julius Randle had 30 points and 16 rebounds in his first game after coming off the COVID-19 health and safety protocols list, and the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 104-94. Alec Burks added 14 points for New York (18-20), which snapped a two-game losing streak. Kiefer Skyes scored 22 points in the Pacers’ fifth straight loss. Duane Washington Jr. added 17. Domantas Sabonis and Torrey Craig each contributed 15.

Tonight

Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets, 7:00 p.m.

Brooklyn Nets at Indiana Pacers, 7:00 p.m.

NCAAFB – College Football - Bowls

Last Night

Kansas State 42, LSU 20                     TaxAct Texas Bowl – NRG Stadium – Houston, TX

Kansas State 42, LSU 20 – Kansas State dominates short-handed LSU 42-20 in Texas Bowl

Deuce Vaughn and the Kansas State Wildcats finished a streaky season on a positive note night with a dominant 4...

NBA – National Basketball Association

Yesterday

Detroit Pistons 115, Milwaukee Bucks 106

Chicago Bulls 102, Orlando Magic 98

Pistons 115, Bucks 106 – Pistons win 115-106 to snap Bucks' 6-game winning streak

Saddiq Bey scored a career-high 34 points and the Detroit Pistons beat Milwaukee 115-106 to snap the Bucks’ six-game winning streak. Detroit owned the NBA’s worst record but beat the reigning NBA champions and ended its recent futility in this series by getting a boost from the return of several players who had missed multiple games due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Milwaukee had won 12 consecutive regular-season matchups with the Pistons by an average margin of 16.7 points before Monday.

Bulls 102, Magic 98 – Bulls extend win streak to 8 games, beat Magic 102-98

DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points, Zach LaVine added 27 and the Chicago Bulls won their eight straight game, beating the Orlando Magic 102-98. Nikola Vucevic had 13 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls. Coby White came off the bench to score 17 points. Franz Wagner led Orlando with 22 points. Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who lost their sixth straight. Orlando has three wins since Nov. 17.

Tonight

Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m.

NBA – NBA reschedules postponed games, makes other adjustments

The NBA has rescheduled all 11 games that were postponed in December for virus-related reasons and either shifted the times or dates of 10 other games to help accommodate those changes. Toronto had six games affected, Chicago had five and Brooklyn had four. In all, 18 of the league’s 30 teams had at least one game date changed by the postponements or future adjustments. The updates were revealed Monday.

WNBA – After 8 years as NBA assistant, Hammon to lead team in WNBA

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon was ready to lead her own team. So she went back to where her career began — the WNBA. Hammon will take over as the Las Vegas Aces’ head coach and general manager after the NBA season concludes. Hammon has spent eight seasons as a Spurs assistant and has interviewed for several NBA head coaching jobs. But for now, her dream of becoming the first woman to lead an NBA team is on hold. She will be the WNBA's highest-paid coach. She calls the move “a step forward and a step in the right direction” for her and for women's basketball.

NFL – National Football League – Week 17

Yesterday

Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Cleveland Browns 14

Steelers 26, Browns 14 – Roethlisberger, Steelers top Browns to stay in playoff mix

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 123 yards and a touchdown in likely his final start at Heinz Field as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat Cleveland 26-14. Roethlisberger says he is leaning toward retirement. He improved to 26-3-1against the Browns in his 18-year career. The Steelers also kept their slim playoff hopes alive with the victory. Pittsburgh needs a win in its regular-season finale against Baltimore and a loss by Indianapolis to Jacksonville to reach the postseason. Baker Mayfield threw for 185 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Browns.

NFL – NFL finale is showdown for playoffs: Chargers at Raiders

The NFL’s schedule changes for Week 18 will feature a Sunday night showdown for a playoff berth. To finish off the NFL’s first 17-game season, the Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders game was flexed from daytime to primetime. Both AFC West rivals are 9-7 and the winner will advance to the postseason. The league also switched two games from Sunday to Saturday. Kansas City, already the AFC West champion, will be at Denver, followed by Dallas at Philadelphia. Neither of those games has the strong postseason implications of Chargers-Raiders.

NFL – National Football League – Week 17

Yesterday

Seattle Seahawks 51, Detroit Lions 29

Chicago Bears 29, New York Giants 3

Las Vegas Raiders 23, Indianapolis Colts 20

Seahawks 51, Lions 29 – Penny, Metcalf lead Seahawks to 51-29 blowout of Lions

Rashaad Penny rushed for a career-high 170 yards and two touchdowns, Russell Wilson threw three of his four TD passes to DK Metcalf, and the Seattle Seahawks routed the Detroit Lions 51-29. Seattle closed out its home schedule with its most impressive offensive showing of the season. Penny rumbled for 144 yards in the first half, while Wilson threw TD passes to Metcalf and Tyler Lockett as Seattle built a 31-7 halftime lead. It was the fifth 50-point game in franchise history. Amon-Ra St. Brown ran for one touchdown and caught another for the Lions, but it was a lackluster performance by Detroit after several competitive games.

Bears 29, Giants 3 – Quinn sets Bears season sacks record in 29-3 rout of Giants

Robert Quinn broke Hall of Famer Richard Dent’s franchise single-season record with his 18th sack, and the Chicago Bears pounded the New York Giants 29-3. Trevis Gipson added a career-high two sacks and the Bears joined Green Bay as the only franchises with 800 victories counting the postseason. They also gave the embattled Matt Nagy a win in what might have been his final home game as their coach. Quinn broke Dent’s mark of 17 1/2 set in 1984 when he took down Mike Glennon in the fourth quarter. The Giants lost their fifth straight game. They set a season low in yards for the second week in a row, finishing with 151.

Raiders 23, Colts 20 – Carr, Raiders beat Colts 23-20 to close in on playoff spot

Derek Carr directed Las Vegas to Daniel Carlson’s winning 33-yard field goal as time expired, and the Raiders beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-20 to move one step closer to an AFC wild card. After Michael Badgley kicked a tying 41-yard field goal for Indianapolis with 1:56 left, Carr and the Raiders got the ball back at their 25 after a touchback. Carr found Hunter Renfrow for 24 yards on third-and-10 in the final minute, setting the stage for Carlson’s third field goal of the game. Carr passed for 255 yards and a touchdown for Las Vegas, and Zay Jones had eight receptions for 120 yards.

Other NFL Scores – Week 17

Buffalo 29, Atlanta 15

Cincinnati 34, Kansas City 31

L.A. Rams 20, Baltimore 19

New England 50, Jacksonville 10

Philadelphia 20, Washington 16

Tampa Bay 28, N.Y. Jets 24

Tennessee 34, Miami 3

L.A. Chargers 34, Denver 13

San Francisco 23, Houston 7

Arizona 25, Dallas 22

New Orleans 18, Carolina 10

Green Bay 37, Minnesota 10

Tonight

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m.

NFL – Rookie St. Brown is bright spot for Lions in loss to Seattle

Amon-Ra St. Brown was the lone standout for Detroit on an otherwise forgettable day as the Lions lost 51-29 at Seattle. Detroit fell behind early and was unable to stop the Seahawks' momentum. The Lions allowed their most points since giving up 52 to New Orleans in 2017.  St. Brown did his part to keep the Lions in the game. He finished with eight receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown and had two carries for 23 yards and another score. St. Brown has at least eight catches in five straight games, something only 15 NFL receivers have done since 1950.

NFL – Brown walks away from Bucs

Antonio Brown was kicked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a bizarre, shirtless exit from the field before Tom Brady coolly led the Bucs on a 93-yard drive in the final minutes for a 28-24 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday. Coach Bruce Arians said after the game that Brown was off the team. Brown’s mid-game meltdown came late in the third quarter with Ta...

With students on Holiday Break, Enjoy a replay of South Haven vs Lakeshore from Dec. 16th. Play resumes Thurs. Jan. 6th.

NCAAFB – College Football - Bowls

Yesterday

(10) Michigan State 31, (12) Pittsburgh 21   Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl – Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA

South Carolina 38, South Carolina 21                Duke’s Mayo Bowl – Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC

Purdue 48, Tennessee 45 – OT                            TransPerfect Music City Bowl – Nissan Stadium – Nashville, TN

Wisconsin 20, Arizona State 13                          SRS Distributing Las Vegas Bowl – Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, NV

(10) Michigan State 31, (12) Pittsburgh 21 – Thorne leads No. 11 Spartans past No. 13 Pitt in Peach Bowl

Payton Thorne’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed gave No. 11 Michigan State the lead with less than three minutes remaining and the Spartans overcame an 11-point deficit to beat No. 13 Pittsburgh 31-21 on Thursday night in the Peach Bowl. Linebacker Cal Haladay’s 78-yard interception return for a touchdown with 22 seconds remaining ended Pitt fill-in quarterback Davis Beville’s bid for a last-minute comeback in the game the Panthers played without star QB Kenny Pickett. Thorne threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as Michigan State (11-2) rallied. Cam Bright returned a fumble recovery 26 yards for a touchdown 20 seconds into the second half for Pittsburgh (11-3). The Panthers lost fill-in starting quarterback Nick Patti to an injury in the first quarter.

Today – Other Bowls

(17) Wake Forest vs. Rutgers, 11:00 a.m.            Taxslayer Gator Bowl – TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville, FL

Central Michigan vs. Washington St., 12:00 p.m.   Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl – Sun Bowl – El Paso, TX

Tonight – College Football Playoff Semifinals

(1) Alabama vs. (4) Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m.              Goodyear Cotton Bowl – AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX

(2) Michigan vs. (3) Georgia, 7:30 p.m.*        Capital One Orange Bowl – Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, FL        *News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 6:30

NCAAFB – CFP – Harbaugh: Michigan DB Hill questionable for Orange Bowl

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh says defensive back Dax Hill is not yet in Miami with the team and is questionable to play in the Orange Bowl against No. 3 Georgia. Harbaugh did not provide details of what kept Hill from traveling with the team nor what could keep him out of the College Football Playoff semifinal on Friday night, saying only the junior is "working through something.” Harbaugh added that Hill could be joining the team in Florida later Thursday.

NCAAFB – CFP – Before Harbaugh, Smart play Orange Bowl they shared birthday

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Georgia's Kirby Smart share a birthday, just two days before Christmas. They were born 12 years apart — Harbaugh in 1963, Smart in 1975 — on Dec. 23. Harbaugh was born in Ohio. Smart was born in Alabama. The day before their teams were set to meet in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl, Harbaugh and Smart talked about how having a birthday so close to Christmas wasn't so great when they were younger. One gift for two occasions. But they agreed as they have gotten older, not having much attention paid to the birthday isn't the worst thing.

Saturday

Penn State vs. (21) Arkansas, 12:00 p.m.             Outback Bowl – Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, FL

(5) Notre Dame vs. (9) Oklahoma State, 1:00 p.m.  Playstation Fiesta Bowl – State Farm Stadium – Glendale, AZ

(15) Iowa vs. (22) Kentucky, 1:00 p.m.                Vrbo Citrus Bowl – Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL

(6) Ohio State vs. (11) Utah, 5:00 p.m.                Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One – Rose Bowl – Pasadena, CA

(7) Baylor vs. (8) Ole Miss, 8:45 p.m.                  Allstate Sugar Bowl – Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, LA

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball

Last Night

(10) Michigan State 81, High Point 68

Toledo 83, Western Michigan 56

Central Michigan 72, Kent State 69

(10) Michigan State 81, High Point 68 – Brown scores 24 as No. 10 Michigan State beats High Point

Gabe Brown scored a career high 24 points, as short-handed No. 10 Michigan State pulled away in the second half to beat scrappy High Point, 81-68 in a matchup of longtime coaching friends Tom Izzo and Tubby Smith. The Spartans (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten) were without four players, including starters Marcus Bingham Jr. and Max Christie, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. Joey Hauser had a season-high 17 points and 11 rebounds for Michigan State, while Jaden House had 11 of his 18 points in the first half for High Point (6-7).

Toledo 83, WMU 56 – Shumate carries Toledo past W. Michigan 83-56

JT Shumate had 22 points plus 11 rebounds as Toledo rolled past Western Michigan 83-56. Ryan Rollins added 20 points for the Rockets. Lamar Norman Jr. led the Broncos with 10 points.

CMU 72, Kent State 69 – Henderson carries Central Michigan over Kent State 72-69

Harrison Henderson had 18 points as Central Michigan ended its eight-game losing streak, narrowly beating Kent State 72-69. Sincere Carry led the Golden Flashes on Wednesday with a season-high 22 points.

Tonight

Michigan at UCF, 7:00 p.m.                  News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 6:30

NCAAMBKB – Dick Vitale taking extended break from ESPN college hoops

Dick Vitale is taking an extended break from the airwaves to rest his voice. The ESPN college basketball analyst says in a story posted to ESPN Front Row that a throat doctor advised the move because he has pre-cancerous Dysplasia of the vocal cord membranes. Vitale has undergone treatment this year for melanoma and in October announced he had been diagnosed with cancer for a second time. This time it was lymphoma, for which he said he would undergo six months of chemotherapy.

NBA – National Basketball Association

Tonight

New York Knicks 94, Detroit Pistons 85

Charlotte Hornets 116, Indiana Pacers 108

Chicago Bulls 131, Atlanta Hawks 117

Knicks 94, Pistons 85 – Burks, Knicks bench power past short-handed Pistons 94-85

Alec Burks scored a season-high 34 points to lead a huge night from New York’s bench and the Knicks beat the short-handed Detroit Pistons 94-85. Burks was a point shy of his career high and Immanuel Quickley added 18 points as the Knicks’ reserves combined for 65 points. RJ Barrett was the only starter in double figures at 15 points, and New York outscored Detroit 30-14 in the fourth quarter. Saddiq Bey had a career-high 32 points for the Pistons, while Hamidou Diallo had a season-high 31 points with 13 rebounds. The Pistons have lost four in a row and 18 of 19.

Hornets 116, Pacers 108 – Hornets take charge early, hold on late to beat Pacers

Terry Rozier scored a season-high 35 points, LaMelo Ball added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Indiana Pacers 116-108. Caris LeVert scored 27 points and Domantas Sabonis posted his 25th double-double this season with 15 points and 18 rebounds. Sabonis also had seven assists, but Indiana has lost five of seven games.

Bulls 131, Hawks 117 – Bulls beat Hawks for 2nd time in 3 nights, run streak to 5

Zach LaVine scored 25 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks for the second time in three nights, 131-117 on Wednesday. The Bulls extended their winning streak to a season-high five games. The Hawks, who are playing without 15 players due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols and injuries, lost for the fifth time in six games. Trey Young scored 26 points, and Clint Capela added 18 for the Hawks in the opener of a six-game trip.

NFL – John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster, dies at 85

The NFL says Hall of Fame coach turned broadcaster John Madden has died at age 85. Madden's exuberant calls combined with simple explanations provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades. The league says he died unexpectedly on Tuesday morning and did not provide a cause. Coaching the renegade Oakland Raiders, Madden compiled a stellar 103-32-7 regular-season record and led his team to victory in the Super Bowl after the 1976 season. He became an even more impactful figure after he stopped coaching at age 42, entertaining millions who tuned in to NFL football. He also was the name behind the hugely popular sports video game, “Madden NFL Football.”

NFL – NFL cuts isolation time to five days for players who test positive

The NFL is reducing isolation time for players who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic, including unvaccinated players, to five days from 10. The league and the NFL Players Association revised the protocols after the CDC changed its guidelines for those who are asymptomatic, recommending a five-day isolation period and masking over the second five days.

NCAAFB – College Football - Bowls

Yesterday

(20) Houston 17, Auburn 3                            Ticketsmarter Birmingham Bowl – Birmingham, AL

Air Force 31, Louisville 28                            ServPro First Responder Bowl – Dallas, TX

Texas Tech 34, Mississippi State 7                 AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Memphis, TN

(18) NC State vs. UCLA, Cancelled                San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl – San Diego, CA

Minnesota 18, West Virginia 6                       Guaranteed Rate Bowl – Phoenix, AZ

NCAAFB – Holiday Bowl scrapped as virus issues hit UCLA just before kickoff

The Holiday Bowl has become the fifth postseason college football game to be canceled. UCLA was forced to pull out just hours before kickoff because of COVID-19 issues with the team. The Bruins were scheduled to face No. 18 North Carolina State at Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres.  The Hawaii, Military, Fenway and Arizona bowls have already been canceled with virus issues leaving teams without enough available players. The Sun and Gator bowls have had to scramble to find replacement teams.

Today

Maryland vs. Virginia Tech, 2:15 p.m.             New Era Pinstripe Bowl – Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY

(19) Clemson vs. Iowa State, 5:45 p.m.           Cheez-It Bowl – Camping Word Stadium – Orlando, FL

(14) Oregon vs. (16) Oklahoma, 9:15 p.m.      Valero Alamo Bowl – Alamodome – San Antonio, TX

SMU vs. Virginia, Cancelled                          Wasabi Fenway Bowl – Fenway Park – Boston, MA

NCAAFB – CFP – Being Harbaugh: Quirky, competitive, ingenious, disruptive

Jim Harbaugh has been the most scrutinized coach in college football for seven seasons, defined by his failures despite a resume loaded with success. Now he has delivered on the promise he brought to his alma mater, leading the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff and a semifinal showdown against Georgia. In 17 seasons as a head coach in college and the NFL, Harbaugh is 156-65. The traits that make Harbaugh seem a little weird his supporters will tell you are ingenious.

NBA – National Basketball Association

Tonight

New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m.

Charlotte Hornets at Indiana Pacers, 7:00 p.m.

Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.

NBA – Parole canceled for man convicted of killing Jordan's father

North Carolina's parole commission has canceled the scheduled 2024 parole for one of two men convicted in the 1993 murder of Michael Jordan’s father. The state Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission didn't give a reason Tuesday why a...

NCAAFB – College Football - Bowls

Yesterday

Western Michigan 52, Nevada 24         Quick Lane Bowl – Ford Field, Detroit, MI        

Boston College vs. East Carolina, CCD   Military Bowl – Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium – Annapolis, MD

WMU 52, Nevada 24 – Western Michigan cruises past Nevada for 2nd bowl victory

Kaleb Eleby threw two touchdowns and ran for another and Western Michigan recorded its second bowl victory in program history, rolling past Nevada 52-24 in the Quick Lane Bowl.  Sean Tyler rushed for 146 yards on 14 carries and returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown for Western Michigan. Jaxson Kincaide, a Nevada transfer, rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns. Nate Cox passed for 121 yards and a touchdown and Devonte Lee rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown for Nevada.    The Broncos’ only other bowl victory came in the 2015 Bahamas Bowl against Middle Tennessee.

Today

(20) Houston vs. Auburn, 12:00 p.m.    Ticketmaster Birmingham Bowl – Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL

Air Force vs. Louisville, 3:15 p.m.        ServPro First Responder Bowl – Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX

Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech, 6:45 p.m.  AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN

(18) NC State vs. UCLA, 8:00 p.m.        San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl – Petco Park, San Diego, CA

West Virginia vs. Minnesota, 10:15 p.m.  Guaranteed Rate Bowl – Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ

NCAAFB – Boise State forced to withdraw due to outbreak

The Arizona Bowl has been canceled after Boise State pulled out of it and shut down all team activities due to COVID-19 issues. Central Michigan was supposed to be in the Arizona Bowl, but will instead replace Miami in Friday's Sun Bowl against Washington State. Numerous college programs have coronavirus issues coming out of the Christmas break, and four bowls have been canceled. No. 2 Duke is one of several basketball programs with COVID-19 issues, postponing games against Clemson and Notre Dame this week. And UConn’s game against No. 23 Xavier scheduled for Tuesday was scrapped because of COVID-19 issues involving the Huskies.

NBA – National Basketball Association

Last Night

Chicago Bulls 130, Atlanta Hawks 118

Bulls 130, Hawks 118 – DeRozan, LaVine, Vucevic power Bulls past Hawks 130-118

DeMar DeRozan scored 35 points, Zach LaVine added 30 and the Chicago Bulls won their fourth straight game, beating the short-handed Atlanta Hawks 130-118. Cam Reddish finished with 33 points for Atlanta. DeRozan was 14 for 20 from the field. LaVine, in his second game back after missing 15 days in protocols, went 11 for 21, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Nikola Vucevic got his 14th double-double with 24 points and 17 rebounds.

NFL – National Football League – Week 16

Last Night

Miami Dolphins 20, New Orleans Saints 3

Dolphins 20, Saints 3 – Waddle shines, Dolphins beat Saints 20-3 to win 7th straight

Rookie sensation Jaylen Waddle returned from the COVID-19 list to catch 10 passes for 92 yards and touchdown, and the Miami Dolphins beat the short-handed New Orleans Saints 20-3. Miami became the first NFL team to win seven straight after losing seven in a row. Nik Needham intercepted Saints rookie quarterback Ian Book and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown to help to help Miami become one of four 8-7 teams in contention for one of the final playoff spots in the AFC. The Saints started Book because of a COVID-19 outbreak that took 16 players off of the active roster, including starting QB Taysom Hill.

NHL – National Hockey League

Last Night

Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers, Postponed

Tonight

Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks, Postponed

With the kids on Christmas Break, enjoy a replay of the Nov. 11th, 2nd Match between Bridgman and Berrien Springs.