Sports: Pistons win in OT; MSU climbs to 4th place tie
The Pistons beat the Charlotte Hornets 114-108 in overtime at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons were down by 18 in the third quarter. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 33 points, including three 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter. Tobias Harris had 25 for the Pistons. The Pistons host the Celtics on Sunday.
No Trades for Pistons
The NBA trade deadline came and went, with the Pistons not making any details. Reports said Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Jackson, and Andre Drummond were all available for the right deal.
Men’s College Basketball
Michigan State beat Nebraska 88-72 Thursday night in East Lansing. Miles Bridges and Nick Ward each scored 20 and Joshua Langford had a career-high 17 points. The game was close until MSU’s 21-5 run just before halftime. The Spartans are 17-11, 9-6 in Big Ten play and boosted its chances of earning a 20th straight invite to the NCAA tournament. MSU moves into a fourth-place tie with Minnesota and Northwestern in the conference. The Spartans host Wisconsin on Sunday. Broadcast time is 3pm on 95.3 WBCK. State will also be on the road for games next week at Illinois and Maryland. Hear the Tom Izzo Show Monday at 7 on 95.3 WBCK.
Michigan is home against Purdue on Saturday and then on the road next week at Northwestern and Nebraska.
Women’s Basketball
Katelynn Flaherty made five 3-pointers and scored 25 points and Number 25 Michigan defeated Nebraska 88-60 Thursday night to clinch third place in the Big Ten. Kysre Gondrezick added 21 points and nine rebounds and Hallie Thome 20 points and seven rebounds.
Tigers
The Tigers beat Florida Southern 8-0 at Joker Marchant Stadium. It was a dress rehearsal for Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium with their annual exhibition against their neighbors at the local College. Today is the official Grapefruit League opener with the Orioles at Lakeland.
Bowling
Team regionals in Bowling are being held today. In Division 1, Lakeview bowls at Royal Scot in Lansing. In Division 2, Coldwater, Gull Lake, and Marshall all bowl at Continental Lanes in Kalamazoo.
In Division 3, Pennfield and Olivet will compete at Eastland Bowl in Kalamazoo.
High School Girls’ Basketball
Springport 40, Athens 21
Olivet 66, Bronson 34
Tekonsha 43, Burr Oak 24
Reading 41, Union City 24
Waldron 66, Litchfield 18.
Boys Basketball
Battle Creek Academy 62, Calhoun Christian 42.
Tonight in boys and girl’s action:
Loy Norrix at Battle Creek Central.
Gull Lake at Lakeview.
Jackson Lumen Christi at Pennfield.
St. Philip at Bellevue
Harper Creek is at Marshall, on 95.3 WBCK.
Also on the schedule:
Colon at Climax-Scotts
Delton at Schoolcraft
Springport at Athens
Union City at Reading
Burr Oak at Tekonsha
Concord at Homer
Maple Valley at Stockbridge
Lansing Christian at Olivet
Lawton at Galesburg-Augusta
Cassopolis at Bronson
Red Wings
The Red Wings are off until next Tuesday night, when they play at Vancouver. The Wings are last in the Atlantic Conference and there are seven teams ahead of them for the final Wild Card spot. Detroit has 22 games left to try to make the playoffs for a 26th straight season. They are 8 points behind the Islanders, who currently hold the final Wild Card spot.
Daytona 500
Daytona 500 pole-sitter Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin were the winners in the Twin 150s on Thursday. NASCAR's new format this year including a provision that awards points on a 10-to-1 declining scale to the top-10 finishers in the pair of qualifying races.
Nassar in Court
A Michigan sports doctor charged with sexually assaulting nine young gymnasts has heard the charges against him at a pair of arraignments. Doctor Larry Nassar was charged Wednesday with 22 crimes in Ingham and Eaton counties. Not-guilty pleas were entered in two courts Thursday. Nassar won't be released. He's in jail without bond in an unrelated child pornography case in western Michigan.
Lions Sign Lineman
The Detroit Lions have signed offensive tackle Pierce Burton. Detroit made the move Thursday. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Burton was on the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad last year.