Sports: Spartans beat Louisville

College Basketball

The third-ranked Michigan State Spartans beat number-24 Louisville 71-67 Wednesday night at the Breslin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Denzel Valentine led the way for the Spartans with 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Bryn Forbes scored 20 points, including 5 three's in the win. Kenny Goins grabbed 13 rebounds, as MSU out-rebounded the top rebounding team in the nation 40-to-30. The Spartans trailed by three at the half.

The Big Ten ended up winning the Challenge with eight wins, compared to the ACC's six wins. Saturday morning, the Spartans host Binghamton. Broadcast time is 11am on WBCK.

In the MAC tonight, Western Michigan will travel to take on James Madison. Central Michigan will travel west to take on Grand Canyon.

Michigan could be without point guard Derrick Walton, Jr. for Saturday’s game due to an ankle sprain. The Wolverines play Houston Baptist, ranked #326 out of 351 teams. They probably won’t need him for that game.  Tuesday, U of M plays SMU.

Pistons

The Pistons erased a 16-point Suns lead in the fourth quarter to pick up a 127-122 overtime win at The Palace Wednesday night. Reggie Jackson scored 18 of his 34 points in the fourth and overtime periods to help Detroit get to 10-and-9 on the season. Marcus Morris posted 24 points and 14 rebounds against his former team. Andre Drummond had 22 and 12 for the Pistons. Ersan Ilyasova chipped in with 23 points in the victory.  They host the Bucks tomorrow night.

The Golden State Warriors beat the Charlotte Hornets to extend the best start in NBA history to 20-0.

Red Wings

The Red Wings host Arizona tonight.   Detroit has picked up points in eight straight games. The Wings are 13-8-and-4, while Arizona is 13-10-and-1.

Lions

The Packers and Lions meet for the second time this season on "Thursday Night Football" at Ford Field.  Green Bay has lost four of five to drop them to 7-and-4 and out of first place in the NFC North. Minnesota leads the division at 8-and-3. The Lions, winner of three straight, are 4-and-7 with one of their wins coming over the Packers during Week 10. Broadcast time is 7:15 on WBCK.

College Football

The 11-1 Spartans take on the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship game Saturday in Indianapolis. Broadcast time is 6:30pm on WBCK.

Girls Basketball

Athens 31, St. Phillip 24. Noelle Fuller scored 16 points and added 11 rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Football Bowl Games

Most college football bowl matchups will be announced Sunday, but one has been set: The WMU Broncos will play Middle Tennessee in the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl.  The game is scheduled for noon on Christmas Eve.

Tigers Say Goodbye to Albuquerque, Feliz

The Detroit Tigers have cut ties with right-handed relievers Neftali Feliz and Al Albuquerque. They were among five Tigers eligible for arbitration in 2016. The Tigers tendered contracts to J.D. Martinez, Jose Iglesias and Andrew Romine before Wednesday night's deadline. Feliz and Albuquerque will become free agents and are free to sign with any team.

U of M Defensive Coordinator to Maryland

Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin is leaving to become Maryland’s new head coach. Durkin spent this past season on Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines staff after working at Florida the previous five seasons.