Sports: Izzo’s Team Starts with a win

MSU Basketball
Michigan State played their first basketball game of the season, as they beat Northern Michigan 94-53 in an exhibition game at the Breslin Center. Bryn Forbes led the way with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting and Denzel Valentine finished with a triple double, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Spartans. MSU is back in action against Ferris State on Monday night at the Breslin Center in its second and final exhibition game.

Thursday Night Football

Tonight, NFL week 9 gets under way as the 7-0 Bengals host the 2-6 Browns. Johnny Manziel is scheduled to start tonight for the Browns against the Bengals.

College Football

Western Michigan (5-3, 4-0) is back in action tonight when they host Ball State (3-6, 2-3) in a MAC showdown. Kick off is 7:30 p.m. The Broncos have won four straight games, including last week's 58-28 win over in-state rival Eastern Michigan. They are in first place in the MAC West Division.

#6 Michigan State will be back on the field Saturday at Nebraska. The Huskers lost at Purdue on Saturday to slip to 3-and-6 on the year.

Michigan takes on Rutgers in Ann Arbor this Saturday. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday night that injured quarterback Jake Rudock looked better than he expected two days after taking a serious hit at Minnesota. And now, after two days of practice, Michigan's feeling pretty good about getting its starting quarterback on the field Saturday against Rutgers. Michigan versus Rutgers… ….2:30 on Mix 104.9.

Red Wings

The Red Wings face their old coach, Mike Babcock in Toronto as they play the Leafs Friday.

Pistons

The Pistons begin a six-game western road trip Friday in Phoenix.

Volleyball

St. Phillip plays Tekonsha in the Class D district final today at Bellevue.

Cross Country

The St. Phillip girls’ cross country team will run in the state championship meet at MIS this Saturday at 10am. Ava Strenge will lead the team. Strenge is the defending cross country state champion in Division 4 after claiming the title in 2014. Lakeview's Maggie Farrell qualified for this weekend's state meet.   So did Marshall's Abbey Ufkes and Rachel Schoepke.  The Olivet and Delton Kellogg girls' qualified for state, as did the Gull Lake girls and boys teams. The Bronson boys’ runners are in. Three members of the St. Phil boys team will also run on Saturday, beginning at 11am.

Basketball

KCC’s men’s basketball team opened the season with a loss to Mid-Michigan Community college, 77-73. Joe Glover led the Bruins with 16. Coach Ben Reed says “Although the outcome didn't go in our favor, I’m happy with the way the team stuck together and fought to the final buzzer. “

High School Football

St. Philip tries to stay unbeaten as they host Lawrence. It will be rematch from the final week of the regular season, when the Tigers beat Lawrence, 47-44. St. Philip has been knocked out of the playoffs each of the last two years by Lawrence. If St. Philip advances, it would play the winner of Morrice/Deckerville in the state semifinals for 8-man football. Broadcast time is 6:35 this Friday night on WBCK.

Climax-Scotts win host Pittsford.

Undefeated Coldwater will host Vicksburg.

Homer will host Dansville.

Lions

The Lions don’t play until a week from Sunday against the division-rival Packers in Green Bay.  The Detroit Lions have put linebacker DeAndre Levy on injured reserve after he was limited to one game this season because of hip trouble. His contract was supposed to expire at the end of this season. The team agreed to a four-year extension with him in August.

Beilein Gets Extension

Michigan has extended John Beilein's contract another two years, and giving him a million dollar a year raise. The 62-year-old Beilein is entering his ninth season at Michigan. He has led the Wolverines to two Big Ten titles.   Michigan says Beilein's annual compensation will increase to $3.37 million, including $1.5 million in separate deferred payments.  He’ll be under contract through 2021. Two years ago, following the Wolverines' Final Four run, Michigan extended Beilein's deal through 2018-19, giving him $2.45 million a year in total compensation. The 25th-ranked Wolverines open the season next week against Northern Michigan.