Sports: Pistons Lose in Chicago

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons lost to the Bulls in Chicago, 102-91.   Detroit trailed by 16 at the half, but came back with a big third quarter, and closed to within 4 with two and a half minutes left.  Josh Smith paced Detroit with 19 points and 11 boards in the loss.  Greg Monroe and D.J. Augustin each added 16 as the Pistons dropped their second straight game.  After sitting out four of the team's last five games, Derrick Rose totaled 24 points and seven assists.  The Pistons visit Washington on Wednesday.

NFL

Mark Sanchez threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles pounded the Panthers 45-21 in Philadelphia in Monday Night Football.

College Basketball

Michigan beat Wayne State 86-to-43 in an exhibition matchup. The game was highlighted by an emotionally charged appearance in the game by the U of M's Austin Hatch, who survived two plane crashes.   After surviving a plane crash that killed his mother and two siblings when he was 8 years-old, Hatch endured yet another plane crash just eight years later, this time killing his father and stepmother, and leaving him in a medically induced coma. Last night, the crowd cheered as Hatch sunk a free throw with 12 seconds remaining.  Michigan starts its regular season Saturday against Hillsdale College.

The Spartan basketball team starts the regular season Friday against Navy.

MLB Awards

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu and New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom have been named the Jackie Robinson Award winners as the top rookies in the American and National League.  Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos earned one third-place vote.  Manager of the Year awards will be handed out tonight.

MLB Free Agents

For the third straight year, baseball's free agents shunned qualifying offers from their former teams and chose to test the market.  All 12 free agents who were given the $15.3 million offers last week chose not to accept by Monday's deadline.  Included in that list are Tigers’ pitcher Max Scherzer and designated hitter Victor Martinez.

Volleyball

Regional semifinals tonight….

Harper Creek goes to Edwardsburg High School on against Paw Paw.

St. Phillip heads to Hillsdale Academy against Lansing Christian.

Climax-Scotts takes on Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian.

Olivet travels to Chelsea.

Galesburg-Augusta plays Manchester.

Bronson plays at Concord.

High School Football

The 9-1 Lakeview Spartans will travel to Muskegon to take on the Mona Shores Sailors in this weekend’s Division 2-Region 1 final.

NASCAR

Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman will be battling for the Sprint Cup title this weekend at Homestead.

Red Wings

The Red Wings are off until Friday when they host Chicago.  Pavel Datsyuk could be back in the lineup. The 36-year old Datsyuk hasn't played since Wednesday, as he was pulled from the lineup Friday after tweaking his groin during the morning skate.  The Detroit Red Wings have recalled goaltender Tom McCollum from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL and assigned goalie Petr Mrazek to the Griffins.  The move allows Mrazek to get some time on the ice as the Wings sit around this week and Jimmy Howard expected to play this weekend.

Lions

The Lions play at Arizona next Sunday.  The Cardinals have won five in-a-row and have the NFL's best record at 8-and-1.   Former MSU star Drew Stanton will start at Quarterback for Arizona, after starter Carson Palmer tore a knee ligament on Sunday.   After Sunday, the 7-2 Lions are at New England on Thanksgiving Day.  After that, they’ll close out the season against division foes Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Green Bay and two games with Chicago.

Tennis

Reigning two-time champion Novak Djokovic was an easy winner Monday in round- robin action at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals.

Athlete of the Week

Go on line today to nominate our WBCK/Meijer Athlete of the Week!   We want to salute local kids who are working hard both on and off the field, and it’s easy to nominate someone you think is deserving of an award.  The winner will get mentioned on WBCK and at wbckfm.com and also get a trophy from Recognition Inc. in Battle Creek. We’ll announce a new WBCK/Meijer Athlete of the Week each Wednesday.