Sports: Michigan falls apart in Illinois in OT

College Basketball

Illinois beat Michigan, 64-52 in overtime.  The Wolverines have lost 4 in a row and the Illini have won 4 straight.   Illinois trailed the Wolverines much of the night but scored the final seven points of regulation and willed the game to overtime with tough defense.  Illinois closed the game on a 21-2 run.

Spike Albrecht led U of M with 13 points and Max Bielfeldt added 12. Michigan hosts MSU on Tuesday night to play at Crisler Center.

Michigan State will host Ohio State on Saturday.  Broadcast time is 11am tomorrow on WBCK.

Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings return home to host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.  Jimmie Howard will start in goal for the Wings after missing time with a groin injury.

Pistons

The Pistons are off for a week off for the NBA All-Star Break.   Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will take the court tonight in the 2015 Rising Stars Challenge in Brooklyn.  In a new format this year, the game pits first and second year players from the United States against players from around the world.  Caldwell-Pope, Detroit's lone All-Star representative, is averaging 11.9 points in 54 games in his second year with the Pistons. The skills competition takes center court at Barclays Center tomorrow night, followed by the 64th All-Star Game on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

The Pistons have signed guard John Lucas the third to a second 10-day contract.

He was originally signed February 2nd after playing in the Chinese Basketball Association.  In six games with Detroit, Lucas has averaged 4.8 points, 4.0 assists and 12.8 minutes.

Detroit returns to the court next Friday when they host the Chicago Bulls.

Michigan Sports Hall

The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame welcomed several new members during induction ceremonies in Detroit last night. The class of 2015 included former Doug English, Sergei Fedorov, Tom Izzo, and Barry Larkin.   Newly retired New York Yankees shortstop and Kalamazoo native Derek Jeter was supposed to have been enshrined last night as well, but he could not attend the ceremony because of travel issues. Jeter will be inducted next year with longtime NHL player Mike Modano of Westland, who also had to postpone his entrance into the state Hall of Fame.

High School Girls Basketball

St. Philip 45, Bellevue 27.  Kameron Haley had 13.

Athens 57, Quincy 27. Ally Fuller finished with 13 points

Homer 66, Springport 51.  Bailey Manis with 18.

Concord 75, Union City 29

Boys Basketball Tonight

Pennfield at Harper Creek  (P 9-5, HC 13-1)…after the 7 pm news tonight on WBCK.

Battle Creek Central at Gull Lake  (BCC 8-7, GL 1-12)

Kalamazoo Central at Lakeview  (L 1-12)

Calhoun Christian at Hillsdale Will Carleton Academy

Jackson Lumen Christi at Marshall  (Ma 7-6)

Bellevue at St. Philip  (Be 10-4, St. P 9-5)

Colon at Climax-Scotts  (C-S 12-3)

Parchment at Delton  (D 7-5)

Stockbridge at Maple Valley  (MV 3-10)

Litchfield at Tekonsha  (T 2-12)

Concord at Union City  (UC 12-2)

Springport at Homer  (Ho 7-6)

Athens at Quincy  (At 3-9, Q 12-0)

Girls Basketball Tonight

Battle Creek Central at Gull Lake  (BCC 5-10, GL 10-5)

Kalamazoo Central at Lakeview  (L 8-6)

Pennfield at Harper Creek  (P 8-7, HC 9-6)

Jackson Lumen Christi at Marshall  (Ma 13-1)

Calhoun Christian at Hillsdale Will Carleton Academy

Colon at Climax-Scotts  (C-S 8-6)

Parchment at Delton  (D 5-9)

Stockbridge at Maple Valley  (MV 2-13)

Olivet at Bronson  (O 11-4, Br 10-3)

Saturday, February 14^th

Boys Basketball

Olivet at Laingsburg

Wrestling

Battle Creek Central, Harper Creek and Lakeview all saw their wrestling seasons end with District tournament losses.   Bronson moves on to a regional next Wednesday to face second-ranked Hudson after wins over Colon and Union City.  Pennfield heads to regional action Wednesday at Lakewood High School.

The State Finals are at Kellogg Arena the last two days of the month.

Boys’ Swimming

Battle Creek Central 111, Kalamazoo Central 68.  The Bearcats are at the MISCA Meet on Saturday. Marshall is one of the teams to compete at the Harper Creek Quad.

West Michigan Wolves

The West Michigan Wolves Jr. Hockey team play at home at The Rink tonight and Saturday afternoon against Chicago.   They have 6 games left on the regular season schedule and then head to the playoffs.

Packer Coaching Changes

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy will give up calling the plays this season.   McCarthy promoted offensive coordinator Tom Clements to associate head  coach/offense, a position that will allow Clements to assume the play-calling.

Golf

J.B. Holmes and Justin Hicks share the lead through one round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Tigers Spring Training

Just 7 days until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training in Lakeland.