Sports Roundup: Spartans win Big Ten Tourney

MSU beat Michigan 69-55 to win the Big Ten Tournament.  Adreian Payne had 18 points and nine rebounds. Branden Dawson and Gary Harris each scored 15 points for the Spartans.

NCAA Tournament

Florida is the number 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, which gets started on Thursday. Michigan is the #2 seed in the Midwest Bracket and will play Wofford.  MSU earned the four-seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. They will play 13th-seeded Delaware in Spokane on Thursday. NCAA Preview Special is tonight at 7pm, with TBC Sports, on WBCK-FM.   Michigan Sports Weekly is on at 7pm with Coach John Belein tonight on Sports 930 the Score.

MAC Tourney

Western Michigan won the MAC Tournament title with a 98-77 win over Toledo on Saturday. David Brown had a career-high 32 points.  Tucker Haymond added 21 points and nine rebounds and Shayne Whittington had 20 points and 13 boards for the top-seeded Broncos (23-9), who earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.  They are a 14-seed in the South Bracket, and they'll take on third-seed Syracuse Thursday afternoon.

Red Wings

The Red Wings lost a 4-1 game in Chicago.  After a scoreless first period, Gustav Nyquist tied it up for the Wings in the second. But in the final seconds of the period, the Blackhawks took the lead for good on a Ben Smith goal.  Jimmy Howard allowed all four goals on 30 shots in the setback. The Wings host Toronto on Tuesday.

Tigers

The Tigers beat the Nationals 2-1. Justin Verlander was nearly unhittable, going 5 innings, and allowing a hit and a walk and no runs, in just his second spring game.  The Tigers stole six bases off Washington pitchers.  Steve Lombardozzi swiped a pair in the eighth and shortstop Danny Worth doubled him in for the eventual winning run. The Tigers send Anibal Sanchez to the mound today in Lakeland against the Washington Nationals.

Tigers Short at Short

Tigers' shortstop Jose Iglesias won’t be on the roster for opening day and could miss most of the season. A shin-splint-like injury sidelined Iglesias two weeks ago, and the Tigers’ parade of experts haven’t finished looking him over yet.  The Tigers acquired the 24 year old Cuban last summer, trading outfielder Avisail Garcia.  The loss of Iglesias leaves the Tigers without a starting shortstop.   Reports say the Tigers are trying to work a deal with Seattle for infielder Nick Franklin, but the Tigers’ list of prospects is getting short in the minors.  Newly acquired utility man Steve Lombardozzi has been working out at short, but hasn't really played the position in the majors.  The Tigers have Danny Worth, but he's not even on the 40-man roster anymore.  Youngsters Hernan Perez and Euginio Suarez have seen time at shortstop this spring for the Tigers.  One free agent the Tigers could pursue is Steven Drew.  The former Oakland and Boston shortstop declined a qualifying offer of one year, $14.1 million, from the Red Sox.  Any team that signs him will have to forfeit a draft pick.

Pistons

The Pistons are off until they head to Denver next Wednesday.

NASCAR  

Rain reeked at Bristol Motor Speedway, stopping the race for more than five hours, but nothing could stop Carl Edwards, who earned his first win of the 2014 Sprint Cup season on Sunday.  Edwards went past the finish line under caution to best Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola to win the Food City 500.  It is Edwards' third career victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Boys Basketball Quarterfinals

24-1 St. Philip advances to the Class D state quarterfinals, which will be played Tuesday at Battle Creek Central. The Tigers will play 19-5 Adrian Lenawee Christian.  The winner advances to Thursday’s Semi-Final at 7:50 PM at the MSU Breslin Center, and will play the winner of Tuesday night’s game in Marquette between 22-2 Cedarville and 25-0 Powers North Central.

Golf

John Senden carded a 1-under 70 on Sunday to emerge to claim a 1-shot victory at the Valspar Championship. Senden earned his second career victory on the PGA Tour at 7-under-par 277.