Three top-25 teams were dealt losses in college hoops yesterday. Seton Hall downed fifth-ranked Xavier, 90-81. Ohio State edged eighth-ranked Iowa, 68-64, and Pitt pounded number-18 Duke, 76-62. Tonight marks the start of the final week of the regular season.
Illinois outscored Minnesota 52-31 in the second half to pull away for an 84-71 home win. Kendrick Nunn scored 25 points for the Illini, who improved to 13-and-16. The Illini will be on the road to meet Maryland Thursday.
The face of the Hurricanes is heading to New York. Carolina has traded captain Eric Staal to the Rangers in exchange for center Aleksi Saarela and two second-round picks. The 31-year-old Staal had spent his entire 12-year career with Carolina.
Jimmie Johnson won in overtime under caution at the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 yesterday. Johnson tied Dale Earnhardt Sr. for seventh on the all-time wins list with his 76th career victory. Johnson also won for the second straight time at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Dennis Rasmussen’s third-period goal was the difference as the Blackhawks clipped the Capitals, 3-2. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews [[ tayvz ]] also lit the lamp for the ‘Hawks, who snapped a two-game skid. Corey Crawford kicked aside 28 shots in the victory. The Blackhawks visit the Red Wings Wednesday.
Kyle Brodziak scored shorthanded midway through the second period to snap a 2-2 tie as the Blues went on to beat the Hurricanes 5-2 at Carolina. Robby Fabbri and Alex Pietrangelo scored 37 seconds apart in the third to put the game away. The Blues skate in Ottawa tomorrow.
Adam Scott captured a one-shot victory at The Honda Classic. Scott finished at nine-under-par to capture his first win since May 2014. He carded an even-par 70 in the final round. Sergio Garcia finished alone in second at eight-under.
The Colts have told backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck that they do not plan on resigning him, according to an NFL Media report. Indianapolis reportedly plans to have Josh Freeman backup Andrew Luck next season. The 40-year-old Hasselbeck went 5-and-3 as a starter last year, throwing for 1,690 yards and nine touchdowns.
The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis concludes today. Only defensive backs will be on the field for workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Defensive linemen and linebackers worked out yesterday.
Coming up tonight on Talk 101FM, it’s High School Basketball as the Talk 101 High School Game of the Week presented by World of Powersports makes it’s way to Lincoln High School as the Eisenhower Panthers take on Taylorville in Regional play. The Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy Pregame Show gets underway at 5:45p.m. and the tipoff follows at 6:00p.m. Join Scott Busboom and Glenn Purvis with all the action tonight from Lincoln High School on Talk 101, and online at decatur radio dot com.