95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Thursday, January 25, 2018
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 – OT
Maple Leafs 3, Blackhawks 2 – OT – Nylander’s penalty shot in OT lifts Leafs over Blackhawks
William Nylander scored on a penalty shot 6 seconds into overtime to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-2 win over the sagging Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Nylander was awarded the attempt after he broke in alone on Jeff Glass from the opening faceoff in the extra period, but was hooked from behind by Chicago’s Duncan Keith. Nylander scored the game-winner and his 10th goal by faking Glass and then burying a high backhander to send the Blackhawks to their fourth straight defeat. Toronto’s Nazem Kadri connected for his 15th goal, a power-play score that snapped a seven-game scoring drought and was just his second goal in 20 games. Mitch Marner also scored for the Maple Leafs, who won the second time in seven games. Brent Seabrook and Nick Schmaltz scored power-play goals for Chicago, which snapped an 0-for-16 drought with the man advantage. Schmaltz’s goal, at 7:55 of the third period, tied it at 2. Glass finished with 33 saves.
Tonight
Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Utah Jazz 98, Detroit Pistons 95 – OT
Philadelphia 76ers 115, Chicago Bulls 101
Indiana Pacers 116, Phoenix Suns 101
Jazz 98, Pistons 95 – OT – Jazz rally late in 4th, beat Pistons 98-95 in OT
Joe Ingles made a tying layup in the final seconds of regulation, then added two straight 3-pointers in overtime to lift the Utah Jazz over the Detroit Pistons 98-95 on Wednesday night. The Pistons lost their sixth straight by blowing a nine-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Detroit had a chance to tie at the end of overtime, but Tobias Harris missed from the left corner, and the rebound went out of bounds off the Pistons. Andre Drummond had 30 points and 24 rebounds for Detroit, and he fueled a 10-0 run that put the Pistons ahead 88-79, but Utah closed strong in the fourth quarter.
Sixers 115, Bulls 101 – Simmons’ triple-double helps 76ers top Bulls 115-101
Ben Simmons had 19 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 115-101 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. Dario Saric added 21 points and 10 rebounds and Joel Embiid had 22 points for the 76ers, who have won seven of 10. Bobby Portis scored 22 points and Zach LaVine had 21 for the Bulls.
Pacers 116, Suns 101 – Pacers take easy path to get past fatigued Phoenix 116-101
Thaddeus Young scored 22 points, Victor Oladipo had 21 points and nine assists and the Indiana Pacers pulled away from the Phoenix Suns for a 116-101 victory on Wednesday night. The Pacers have won five of six, blowing out the Suns for the second time in 10 days. Josh Jackson had 20 points while Greg Monroe had 16 points and a season-high 17 rebounds to lead Phoenix, which never led and didn’t get closer than 10 over the final three quarters. The Suns have lost two straight and five of six.
NBA – Cleveland Cavaliers to begin arena makeover in February
Cleveland Cavaliers officials say a $140 million renovation project for Quicken Loans Arena will begin next month. The Cavaliers said Wednesday that barriers defining construction zones will start going up on Feb. 5. Officials say the project’s initial phase will focus on the outside of the building and affect entrances and exits for fans attending events at the arena. There also will be changes in vehicle traffic patterns in the arena area that will last until approximately mid-2019. The Cavs say expansion of the north side of the arena will add an atrium space of roughly 42,500 square feet that will be enclosed by a glass facade. The south expansion will add about 6,300 square feet to the arena’s main concourse.
NCAAMBB – Men’s College Basketball
Tonight
(25) Michigan at (3) Purdue, 7:00 p.m. 95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports 6:30
NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night
Western Michigan 59, Akron 51
Miami (OH) 73, Eastern Michigan 69
Tonight
(5) Notre Dame at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.
NCAA – MSU president resigns following Nassar sentencing
Michigan State President Lou Anna Simon has submitted her resignation amid outcry over the school’s handling of allegations against Larry Nassar, a former doctor for the university and USA Gymnastics. Simon’s decision was announced hours after Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting women and girls under the guise of medical treatment. The sentence followed a weeklong hearing in which more than 150 women and girls offered statements of abuse by him. Nassar admitted molesting some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said it was her honor and privilege to sentence Nassar, telling him, “I just signed your death warrant.” Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette (SHOO’-tee) last week accepted Michigan State’s request to investigate how the school handled complaints about Nassar when he worked there. The NCAA is also looking into it. The CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee has announced an independent investigation to determine how the sexual abuse attributed to Nassar could have gone on as long as it did.
MLB – Tigers GM Avila says Fulmer, Martinez having no setbacks
Tigers general manager Al Avila says right-hander Michael Fulmer and designated hitter Victor Martinez are expected to be at full strength at spring training. Fulmer had elbow surgery in September, around the same time Martinez underwent a surgical procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat. Avila provided an update on their status following a luncheon with Detroit Sports Media on Wednesday. Avila says the 24-year-old Fulmer has thrown out to 180 feet with no restrictions. After winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2016, Fulmer went 10-12 with a 3.83 ERA last season. Avila says the 39-year-old Martinez, who is entering the last season of a four-year contract, has not had any recent setbacks. He hit .255 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 2017.
MLB – Jones, Thome, Guerrero, Hoffman elected to baseball Hall
Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero and Trevor Hoffman have been elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. Designated hitter Edgar Martinez came close after a grass-roots campaign to boost him. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, both tainted by the steroids scandal, edged up but again fell far short. Jones and Thome made it 54 players elected in their first year of eligibility by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Jones was an eight-time All-Star third baseman for the Atlanta Braves. Thome hit 612 home runs, putting him eighth on the career list, and played mostly for the Cleveland Indians. Guerrero was elected in his second try. The nine-time All-Star slugger played half his career with the Montreal Expos. Hoffman was chosen in his third year. The former San Diego Padres closer had 601 saves, second all-time to Mariano Rivera’s 652. The Hall announced the voting results Wednesday. The four new members will be inducted on July 29 in Cooperstown, New York.
NFL – NFL says Panthers properly handled Newton injury in playoffs.
The NFL and the Players Association say the Carolina Panthers correctly followed concussion protocol guidelines when handling Cam Newton’s injury during a first-round playoff loss to the Saints. After walking off the field with a second-half eye injury, the quarterback stumbled to the ground. The league has determined that stumble was caused by a previous knee injury. The NFL said Newton had an MRI on Jan. 8 that “confirmed ligament and cartilage damage and very extensive swelling in the knee.”
Tennis – Wozniacki advances
Caroline Wozniacki has advanced to the Australian Open women’s final for the first time by downing Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6. The second-seeded Wozniacki double-faulted twice while serving for the match at 5-4, allowing Mertens to break serve. The Danish player later fought off two set points before closing out the tiebreak to reach her third Grand Slam final. Wozniacki will take on either top-ranked Simona Halep or two-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber in the final.
ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
Last Night
Reading Royals 4, Toledo Walleye 3 – Shootout
Wheeling Nailers 6, Kalamazoo Wings 2
NJCAA – Junior College Basketball
Last Night
Women’s Basketball
Lake Michigan College 85, Glen Oaks 37
- The Lake Michigan College Lady Red Hawks moved into a first place tie in the MCCAA Western Conference with an 85-27 win at Glen Oaks. Leading by six after one quarter, LMC pulled away in the middle two quarters, outscoring the Vikings 21-9 in the second and 24-7 in the third. Jade Mosier led the Red Hawks with a game high 22 points, Danielle Shaffer added 19. Glen Oaks got 15 points from Lakara Taylor. The win lifts LMC to 14-3 on the season and 4-1 in the conference and tied for 1st place with Mid-Michigan, Ancilla, and Muskegon.
Men’s Basketball
Lake Michigan College 90, Glen Oaks 69
- James Smith poured in 22 points to help lift Lake Michigan College to a 90-69 win over Glen Oaks. 14 of Smith’s 22 points came in the first half. With the Red Hawks leading by 21, Glen oaks pulled to within seven, but LMC withstood the rally and pulled away in the end. With the win, the Red Hawks improve to 10-8 on the season and 6-1 in the conference. They remain tied for 2nd place, one game behind Ancilla.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Boys Basketball
Muskegon Heights 75, Dream Academy 48
Girls Basketball
Niles 46, Benton Harbor 26
- Alicia Patterson had a game high 23 points to lead Niles to a 46-26 win over Benton Harbor. The Tigers were led by Shaliyah Perkins who scored 10 in the loss. The two teams will meet again on Friday night at Benton Harbor, live on 95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports.
Schoolcraft 59, Saugatuck 30
Wrestling
Lakeshore 60, Portage Northern 6
Portage Central 58, St. Joseph 22
Tonight
Boys Swimming and Diving
St. Joseph at Portage Northern, 6:00 p.m.
Bridgman Co-Op at Mattawan, 6:00 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Lake Michigan Catholic at New Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
