ANN ARBOR (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 18 points, leading No. 3 Michigan in a 90-80 win over No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday to give the Big Ten champions a 15th straight conference win.

The Spartans (25-6, 15-5) were swept by their rivals in the regular season, but might get a third shot against them in a week at the Big Ten Tournament final.

Lendeborg, a preseason All-America selection, was the best player on the court for the second time in the series.

The UAB transfer was 8 of 12 from the field, matched a career high with five 3-pointers, had three assists and also made winning plays at the other end of the court.

After Jeremy Fears Jr. made a jumper to pull Michigan State within three points with 3:47 left, Lendeborg made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to start a 10-2 run that sealed the victory.

Fears had 22 points and nine assists, Jaxon Kohler matched a career high with 23 points and Carson Cooper added 19 points.

Fears drew attention for another kick toward an opponent’s groin. He was called for a technical after a video review showed he swung his right leg backward and into Elliot Cadeau.

When the Wolverines won the first matchup earlier this season, Fears appeared to intentionally trip Lendeborg and Michigan coach Dusty May said there were several dangerous plays in the game.

Up next

Michigan State: Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday.

Michigan: Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday.

Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan fired their basketball coaches on the same day, parting ways with former assistants under Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

The Eagles and Broncos were both 10-21 overall and 4-14 in the Mid-American Conference this season, tying Northern Illinois for last place.

Heath and Stephens were previously assistants for the Spartans. Stephens also played for the program.

Heath, a former Eastern Michigan player, had a 57-99 record over four seasons with the Eagles. Stephens was 42-84 over four seasons.

Heath was previously the coach at Kent State, leading that MAC program to the Elite Eight in 2002. He also guided Arkansas to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2007 and did the same at South Florida in 2012.

Stephens was on Izzo’s staff for 19 seasons, including the last decade as an associate head coach. He has coached in six Final Fours, including 2003 when he was an assistant for Tom Crean at Marquette. Stephens also was an assistant at Oakland University.

By Ansar Khan, Tribune News Service

The Detroit Red Wings made a pitch for Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers, but it appears he’s not willing to waive his no-trade clause.

Now they must turn their attention elsewhere.

Acquiring a second-pair defenseman, preferably a right-shooter, by Friday’s trade deadline is a priority.

The Red Wings need someone to pair with Ben Chiarot, enabling them to move rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka down to the third pairing, where he’ll face fewer difficult matchups.

Here are nine possibilities, with age and contract status after this season:

Justin Faulk, St. Louis (age 33, one year at $6.5 million): A solid two-way player who might be at the top of the Red Wings’ wish list. Problem is, several teams are in on him, elevating the cost. He has a partial no-trade list.

Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey (age 32, two years at a $9 million AAV): He’s one of the more offensively dynamic defensemen who might be moved. He has a no- movement clause.

Nick Jensen, Ottawa (age 35, unrestricted free agent): The former Red Wing is a serviceable stay-at-home defender.

Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia (age 31, one year at $5.1 million): Speaking of having played for a lot of bad clubs, this longtime Sabres and Flyers stay-at-home defender has appeared in 798 regular season games and no playoff games.

Luke Schenn, Winnipeg (age 36, unrestricted free agent): Physical defenseman has played for nine teams in 18 NHL seasons and could be on the move again.

Braden Schneider, N.Y. Rangers (age 24, restricted free agent): This young, physical, shutdown defender, drafted 19th overall in 2020 won’t come cheap as an impending RFA. The Rangers have no urgency to move him now.

Logan Stanley, Winnipeg (age 27, unrestricted free agent): Even though he shoots left, this 6-7 defender experiencing his best season might be the Red Wings’ most realistic trade target. He’ll be moved if the Jets can’t re-sign him this week.

MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary (age 32, five years at a $6.25 million AAV): He scored 20 goals in 2023-24, but that was an outlier, as he’s mostly valued for his defense. That’s a huge contract to assume for a player that age, however. He has a full no-trade clause.

Zach Whitecloud, Calgary (age 29, two years at a $2.75 million AAV): Traded from Vegas to Calgary on Jan. 18 in the Rasmus Andersson deal, Whitecloud could be on the move again.

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Jacob Richman, Tribune News Service

The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers had two thrilling matchups over the past week, splitting the results and offering a sneak peak of what could be a matchup in this year’s playoffs.

Both matchups have featured intense play, but off the court the Cavaliers drew some attention as cleveland.com reported an anonymous Cleveland player said after Friday’s game that the Pistons “aren’t in our class.”

The words caught some attention on social media after the game and before Tuesday’s matchup, coach J.B. Bickerstaff was asked for his response.

The second-year Pistons coach didn’t need many words to react.

“I have no response,” Bickerstaff said. “If you mean it, don’t say it anonymously.”

It’s no surprise that a playoff caliber team like Cleveland — or Detroit for that matter — would have plenty of confidence in their ability to compete.

The Pistons (45-15) firmly believe the Eastern Conference runs through them right now as they’ve held tight to the top spot since early November. But the Cavaliers (39-24) have now backed up some of their words by winning the rematch with a returning James Harden.

To suggest the two teams are separated by a considerable margin is hard to give much credence, given they split the regular-season series 2-2 and the past two games have come down to the very end.

There are no more regular-season meeting for the Central Division foes, so if there’s going to be more to this saga, it’s going to come in the playoffs.

With the Pistons holding the No. 1 seed and Cleveland currently the No. 4, a second-round playoff matchup would be in the cards if the first round went chalk.

It’s hard to think of a better way to decide which team is a class above than a playoff series.

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Detroit Lions have had a busy week, making multiple roster moves that have shaken up their plans for free agency.

On Monday, the team traded veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks, then released center Graham Glasgow. As a result, the team has added some cap space and could be more active in free agency.

While the team may not be in position to make a massive move, there are certainly marginal mid-tier players who could have big roles on the team’s 2026 roster.

Here are six potential free agent targets for the Lions when free agency begins next week, ranked by potential impact in 2026 and beyond.

6. S Jalen Thompson

The Lions have some uncertainty at the safety position due to injuries, as Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are both nursing significant injuries. While both could wind up returning to form, at this stage of the offseason there’s no guarantee that they’ll be ready to go by the start of the regular season.

As a result, the Lions should be proactive and go get a veteran capable of starting in the back-half of their defense. Thompson is a seven-year veteran who has spent the duration of his career in Arizona, and has notched nine interceptions in that span. A willing run defender, Thompson would be an effective veteran addition who could provide insurance on a short-term deal.

5. OT Braxton Jones

Having already made an external addition to their interior offensive line by acquiring Scruggs, but could also be looking to add veteran help at tackle. Swing tackle Dan Skipper retired and joined the team’s coaching staff, and this could be a role the Lions look to a veteran to fill.

Enter Jones, who has starter upside but at the very least will be a serviceable depth piece behind Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell. With Decker being hampered by injuries last year, it would be a good investment by Detroit to add a veteran who has 44 starts under their belt like Jones.

4. CB Kader Kohou

Kohou may be a forgotten name amongst fan circles, as he missed all of last season with a knee injury. However, the Lions have pursued players with similar profiles over Holmes’ tenure as head coach, and the Lions have a need for secondary depth.

Amik Robertson, who has been the team’s slot corner for the better part of the last two years, is set to be a free agent. As a result, any addition the team could make would likely need to have some versatility. Kohou’s background is in the slot, as he had predominately played nickel for the Dolphins.

In an ideal world, the Lions are able to get the best out of Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw along with a strong year from D.J. Reed. However, Kohou has some upside at age 27 and could be a nice addition to the mostly young secondary.

3. RB Brian Robinson Jr.

The trade of Montgomery shakes up the Lions’ backfield, and breaks up what had been one of the league’s most prolific duos. As a result, the Lions could be in the market for another back to pair with the dynamic Jahmyr Gibbs.

Robinson is a big-bodied back who has fit nicely in a tandem throughout his career. He was a feature back at times for the Commanders, but was most recently a complimentary piece behind Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.

In four seasons, Robinson has totaled 662 carries and 2,729 yards. With a career average of 4.1 yards per carry, he’s a big back who can be a nice second option behind Gibbs.

2. EDGE Boye Mafe

Aidan Hutchinson is one of the unquestioned top pass-rushers in the game, but the Lions will need to be sure to add or retain players around him at the position. Both Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport are free agents, and the Lions would be well-suited to look externally.

Mafe doesn’t have eye-popping statistics, but a closer look at his impact for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks indicates that he could fit Detroit’s defense well. He plays with a high motor, and could thrive working opposite of Hutchinson.

1. IOL Cade Mays

Even after acquiring Scruggs, the Lions still have some uncertainty on the interior offensive line. For starters, the release of Glasgow leaves them without a true center. Dan Campbell and company may be inclined to give Tate Ratledge another shot at the position, but Mays seems to be an ideal fit.

Mays started 27 of his 52 appearances over four seasons in Carolina, and impressed in 2025 when given the opportunity to start at the pivot position. The Tennessee product has the chance to blossom in a more consistent role, and the Lions’ current vacancy is the perfect fit for him.

Detroit may be out of the price range on top centers Tyler Linderbaum and Connor McGovern, but a player like Mays is a mid-tier, affordable option with plenty of upside to help stabilize the offensive line.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions/onsi

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 29 points and 11 assists, Tobias Harris scored 23 points and the NBA-leading Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 106-92 on Sunday night for their sixth straight road victory.

Jalen Duren added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit.

Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 24 points and 11 rebounds, but also had nine turnovers. Tristan da Silva added 19 points and Desmond Bane had 17, but the Magic shot 30.7% in the second half and experienced a third-quarter collapse for the second time in three nights. They squandered a 19-point lead in less than four minutes in a loss to Houston on Friday night.

After missing their first 15 3-point attempts, the Pistons were down 57-50 at halftime. They moved ahead for the first time on a 3-pointer by Harris midway through the third quarter, and took command with an 11-0 run.

Detroit forward Isaiah Stewart served the final game of a seven-game suspension for an altercation at Charlotte on Feb. 9. Magic guard Anthony Black missed a game for the first time this season, sitting out with a strained right quad.

Up next

Pistons: At Cleveland on Tuesday night.

Magic: Host Washington on Tuesday night.

— By DICK SCANLON, Associated Press

Here are the girls basketball district pairings for Oakland County teams. Postseason play starts this week across the state:

DIVISION 1

District 13

(At Howell)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Hartland vs. Brighton, 6 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Milford vs. Fenton, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Howell vs. G1 winner, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 4 at Northville)

District 14

(At South Lyon East)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Walled Lake Western vs. Novi, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Northville vs. South Lyon, 5:30 p.m.

G3: South Lyon East vs. G1 winner, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 6 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 4 at Northville)

District 22

(At Livonia Stevenson)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Redford Thurston vs. Farmington, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Livonia Stevenson vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Farmington Hills Mercy vs. Livonia Franklin, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 6 at Detroit Renaissance)

District 23

(At Southfield A&T)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Warren Fitzgerald vs. Berkley, 5:30 p.m.

G2: Southfield A&T vs. Oak Park, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G3: Detroit Renaissance vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G4: Detroit Mumford vs. G2 winner, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G5: G3 winner vs. G4 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 6 at Detroit Renaissance)

District 24

(At Bloomfield Hills)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: North Farmington vs. Birmingham Seaholm, 5:30 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Birmingham Groves vs. G1 winner, 5 p.m.

G3: Bloomfield Hills vs. Bloomfield Hills Marian, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 6 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 6 at Detroit Renaissance)

District 25

(At Lakeland)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Walled Lake Northern vs. Walled Lake Central, 6 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G3: West Bloomfield vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 6 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 7 at Davison)

Girls basketball postseason preview: A district-by-district look at the 2026 contenders

District 26

(At Oxford)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Lapeer vs. Holly, 6 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Davison vs. G1 winner, 5 p.m.

G3: Oxford vs. Grand Blanc, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 7 at Davison)

District 27

(At Lake Orion HS)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Waterford Kettering vs. Auburn Hills Avondale, 5 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Clarkston vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Lake Orion vs. Rochester Adams, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 7 at Davison)

District 28

(At Utica Eisenhower)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Rochester vs. Utica, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Utica Eisenhower vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Stoney Creek vs. Romeo, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 7 at Davison)

District 29

(At Warren Mott)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Warren Cousino vs. Warren Mott, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Troy Athens vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Troy vs. Royal Oak, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 8 at Warren Cousino)

————

DIVISION 2

District 60

(At Detroit Country Day)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Hazel Park vs. Ferndale University, 5:30 p.m.

G2: Center Line vs. Ferndale, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G3: Detroit Country Day vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G4: Madison Heights Lamphere vs. G2 winner, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G5: G3 winner vs. G4 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 15 at Detroit Edison)

District 61

(At Warren Regina)

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G1: Warren Regina vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 5:30 p.m.

G2: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Macomb Lutheran North, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G3: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 16 at North Branch)

District 62

(At Linden)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Ortonville Brandon vs. Flint Kearsley, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Goodrich vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Linden vs. Lake Fenton, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 16 at North Branch)

—————

DIVISION 3

District 85

(At Plymouth Christian)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Detroit Communication Media Arts vs. Westland Universal Learning Academy, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Plymouth Christian Academy vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Wixom St. Catherine vs. Detroit Community, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 22 at Clawson)

District 87

(At Madison Heights Bishop foley)

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G1: Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 2, Detroit Northwestern 0 (forfeit)

G2: Madison Heights Bishop Foley vs. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 5:30 p.m.

District final Friday, March 6

G3: Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett vs. G2 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 22 at Clawson)

District 88

(At New Haven)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Mount Clemens vs. New Haven,  7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Clawson vs. Royal Oak Shrine, 7 p.m.

District final

Friday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 22 at Clawson)

—————

DIVISION 4

District 123

(At West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy)

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G1: Southfield Christian vs. West Bloomfield FJA, 5:30 p.m.

G2: Lutheran Westland vs. Novi Christian Academy, 7 p.m.

District final

Thursday, March 5

G3: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 31 at Petersburg Summerfield)

District 125

(At Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian vs. Burton St. Thomas More Academy, 5:30 p.m.

G2: Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes vs. Flint Michigan School for the Deaf, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G3: Clarkston Everest Collegiate vs. G1 winner, 5:30 p.m.

G4: Genesee Christian vs. G2 winner, 7 p.m.

District final Friday, March 6

G5: G3 winner vs. G4 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 32 at Akron-Fairgrove)

District 126

(At Marine City Cardinal Mooney)

First round

Monday, March 2

G1: Chesterfield Austin Catholic vs. New Haven Merritt Academy, 7 p.m.

District semifinal

Wednesday, March 4

G2: Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart vs. Marine City Cardinal Mooney, 5:30 p.m.

G3: Sterling Heights Parkway Christian vs. G1 winner, 7 p.m.

District finalFriday, March 6

G4: G2 winner vs. G3 winner, 7 p.m.

(Winner advances to Regional 32 at Akron-Fairgrove)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Jaxon Kohler scored a season-high 21 points and Jeremy Fears Jr. added 21 points and nine assists to lead No. 13 Michigan State past Indiana 77-64 on Sunday.

The Spartans never trailed in winning at Assembly Hall for just the second time in six trips to complete a road sweep this week. They also won at No. 8 Purdue 76-74 on Thursday. It was coach Tom Izzo’s first trip to Bloomington since he broke the league record for conference wins in February 2025, breaking the mark held by former Hoosiers coach Bob Knight.

Lamar Wilkerson scored 19 of his game-high 29 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Indiana (17-12, 8-10) from a fourth consecutive loss. Tucker DeVries finished with 20 points and six rebounds, while Sam Alexis added eight points in a game Indiana’s bench players were shut out.

Michigan State used a hot start to take a 14-5 lead, then relied on its long-range flurry to thwart the Hoosiers from mounting serious challenge. The Spartans extended the margin to 39-26 on Teng’s fourth 3 of the game late in the first half.

Indiana managed to cut the halftime deficit to 45-37, then quickly fell into a 52-41 hole early in the second half. The Hoosiers got as close as 54-48 with 13:41 to play, but Teng answered with another 3 and the Spartans went on a 10-3 spurt to rebuild a 67-55 lead.

The Hoosiers never fully recovered.

Up next

Michigan State: Hosts Rutgers in its home finale Thursday.

Indiana: Closes out its home schedule Wednesday against Minnesota.

— By MICHAEL MAROT, Associated Press

EAST LANSING (AP) — Jaloni Cambridge scored 33 points, Chance Gray added 21 and No. 13 Ohio State hit a program record 18 3-pointers in a 87-68 win over No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday afternoon in the regular season finale for both teams.

Elsa Lemilla recorded a double-double for the Buckeyes (24-6, 13-5 Big Ten) with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Kennedy Cambridge put up 10 points.

The Buckeyes had a 15-0 run in the second quarter, putting them up 38-11, and they went into halftime leading 49-26.

The Spartans (22-7, 11-7) were led in scoring by Grace VanSlooten, with 17. Rashunda Jones scored 16 and Ines Sotelo added 11.

Up next

Michigan State: Will be the No. 7 seed in the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. The Spartans play on Thursday.

Ohio State: Can be the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament with a Minnesota loss against Illinois, or the No. 5 seed if Minnesota wins.

By Kory Woods, Tribune News Service

INDIANAPOLIS — Miami’s Keionte Scott didn’t answer if he met with the Detroit Lions at the NFL scouting combine, likely because he missed the start of the question. Still, he shared what it would mean to join Lions defenders Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, a pair many defensive back prospects admire.

With Branch and Joseph both dealing with injuries, it’s uncertain when any new Lions defender from this year’s draft will get to play alongside them. The Lions’ secondary is also in flux because of those injuries and possible departures, such as Amik Robertson, who was their main nickelback over the past two seasons.

That makes Scott an interesting candidate.

At 6 feet and 193 pounds, Scott is already bigger than Robertson and more similar in size to Branch. Last year at Miami, he played 756 snaps, with 489 in the slot and 196 at other spots on the field. This kind of versatility should help him in the NFL.

Scott believes this is the key to succeeding as a hybrid defensive back, a role Miami called the “STAR,” where he covered receivers, blitzed, and defended against the run.

“When you look at the position, it’s a very unique position. At times, you’ve got to be a defensive end, you’ve got to be a linebacker, you’ve got to be a safety, you’ve got to be a corner,” Scott said. “So I think it’s just the ability to be a Swiss army knife and be able to do multiple things and also thrive at it. I feel like it’s a key to defenses at times, and I feel like it needs to be evaluated that way.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Scott is a well-rounded nickel defender who could fill in if Branch needs more time to recover.

His 91.2 run defense grade shows he’s strong in the box, and his 87.1 coverage grade proves he can handle coverage duties. While he may not be a pure man-coverage specialist, his balanced skills make him a good fit as a versatile, every-down slot defender.

Last season, Scott recorded 42 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. He returned both interceptions for touchdowns.

Scott has a second-round grade and could be a Day 2 option for the Lions, depending on how they handle their other needs in free agency. He’s especially likely if the team adds another second-round pick.

The main concern teams like the Lions could have about Scott is his age.

He’ll be 25 when the NFL season starts, after playing several seasons at Snow and Auburn before his final year at Miami. When asked, Scott said he wasn’t worried about it.

“I’ve heard that going around, but I feel like this game we play now is a win-now game,” Scott said. “And I feel like that takes a lot of the age things away. Some of these teams, some of these coaches don’t have time to wait. So I feel like you evaluate players as they can play the game of football, because if you play this game, it doesn’t matter how old you are…I don’t think age is something that teams should be worried about.

“I know it’s obviously contract-wise, but when you’re in a win-now situation, you get the best guys.”

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Andrew Kahn, Tribune News Service

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Giving a postgame interview in the bowels of the State Farm Center, Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. spotted former Illinois teammate Tomislav Ivisic.

Johnson was in mock disbelief as Ivisic flashed a particular finger in his direction. They would later chat as old friends do.

Against his former school, Johnson balled out: 19 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes of a 84-70 victory that clinched a Big Ten regular-season title.

“Morez got every ball,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said, not with any disdain but matter-of-factly. Johnson is a beast and he played like one.

Last season, he did that for Illinois. This year, he’s doing that and more for Michigan. The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward is averaging 13.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

On Friday, he ignored — or at least blocked out — all the noise surrounding his return to Champaign. And there was a lot. Students were let in two hours before tip and they made their presence known during pregame warmups and through all but the final seconds of the game.

One fan held a fat head of Johnson’s face painted with clown makeup. Another had him in a navy blue jersey that read “TRAITOR.” Obscenities were shouted his way before and during the game. Johnson said his phone number was leaked Friday morning and he received a lot of messages as a result. His hotel room Thursday night was suspiciously warm.

Regardless, he was excited for Friday’s game. Before the game, he didn’t interact with as many Illinois personnel as Aday Mara had done during his UCLA reunion or Roddy Gayle Jr. when he faced Ohio State. That being said, Illinois, like Michigan, has a lot of transfers, so there aren’t many people there from his time in Champaign. He said there was no bad blood but beating his former school did make the Big Ten title even sweeter.

He welcomed the cooler poured on his back during the postgame celebration after his teammates waited for his arrival.

“Morez, from the jump ball, was a force,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “I thought his defense was equally as impressive as his offense. Being able to guard bigs, guard smalls. He’s such a competitor.

“His day to day, his minute by minute is as impressive as any player I’ve ever been around. And I know that the Illinois staff and program and players have helped him on his journey as well to get to where he’s at. He’s a heck of a player.”

Michigan’s starting frontcourt — Johnson, Yaxel Lendeborg, Mara — was dominant against Illinois. Johnson and his ability to elevate his play, as opposed to letting the emotions of the night weigh him down, was big reason for that.

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Matt Wenzel, Tribune News Service

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Michigan State won the opening tip, scored on its first possession then took one on the chin.

Purdue immediately put together a 9-0 run as the sellout crowd at Mackey Arena went bonkers.

“I think that we just understood the moment,” Michigan State freshman forward Cam Ward said.

Michigan State (23-5, 13-4 Big Ten) picked up its first top-10 road win of the season and snapped a seven-game losing streak at Mackey dating back to 2014. That qualifies as a successful trip to what was a house of horrors for the Spartans.

“All in all,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said, “we couldn’t play much better.”

The Spartans won with a balanced effort and shortened rotation at one of the toughest arenas in the nation. They’re unlikely to repeat as Big Ten champions but that was a strong performance heading into March.

“This win is huge, especially on the road,” said center Carson Cooper, who led the Spartans with 15 points and six rebounds. “Historically, this year we haven’t been great on the road, kind of had some nasty wins, some bad losses.”

A month ago, Michigan State was 19-2 overall before losing three of four to basically fall out of the Big Ten race. The Spartans have won three straight since and are still playing for a potential triple-bye in the conference tournament to go with March Madness seeding.

“I think it was the best in a couple years, if you really look at it,” Izzo said of the significance of Thursday’s road win. “I have enormous respect for this program, this place, those players and that coach. … I did think we played with a different mentality that we haven’t been playing with as much lately. Hopefully that can catapult us.”

Michigan State followed a recent lull with a players-only meeting on Sunday night after a lackluster win against Ohio State. It was an opportunity to gauge where everyone was at and goals remaining.

“We knew this whole week it was just sticking together, being together, being connected,” point guard Jeremy Fears said. “We just had to figure out why, what we needed to do, how were we getting off to slow starts and kind of look in the mirror. We have four games left in the Big Ten schedule and just understand how can we be better as a team, be better as a player, be better as a group? I think today we built and we bonded.”

Michigan State trailed at halftime on Thursday for the seventh time in the last eight games but the fight was there before and after the break. The Spartans shot 57.7 percent from the floor in the second half and led by eight with less than four minutes to play before holding on to win.

“We put ourselves in a position where now we have a measuring stick to say this is what you can do when you prepare well,” Izzo said. “This is what you can do when the walk-though in the hotel was good, film sessions are good and you played with some passion, some toughness and some togetherness and that’s what’s going to move us forward.”

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Macomb Dakota did something that few wrestling teams have been able to do against Detroit Catholic Central this season. Build an early lead on the Shamrocks.

But in the end, four-time defending state champion Catholic Central had the last laugh, winning 11 of the 14 weight classes and advancing to the next round with a 61-15 victory over the Cougars in the Division 1 state quarterfinals Friday at Kalamazoo Wings Events Center.

Top-seeded Catholic Central (18-5) advanced to the state semifinals Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. and will face fifth-seeded Rockford, 48-18 winners over fourth-seeded Temperance Bedford, in Kalamazoo.

Dakota, making its 12th trip to the state quarterfinals in 14 seasons, bows out of the team tournament with a 23-5 record.

Dakota, the eighth seed, won two of the first three matches against CC and took an 11-5 edge over the Shamrocks. Lucas Harper (144) recorded a technical fall victory over CC’s Xavier Wey and Maverick Hendricks (157) pinned Cole Schwegler in 3:50.

CC saw Grayson Fuchs (150) gain a 17-2 tech fall win over Blake De Stefano, as the Shamrocks trailed by six early.

Catholic Central picked up a couple of pins in the next two weight classes for an 17-11 lead, as Jack Moore (165) pinned Jaad Lorth to the mat in 3:44 and Braxten Roche stuck Dakota’s Tyson Dutt in 1:41.

Dakota picked up a major decision win from Benjamin Crowley (190) to trim the deficit down to two points at 17-15. That was the final points the Cougars could muster against the CC machine.

The top-ranked Shamrocks won the final eight weight divisions, including five via pin and two by technical falls, to pull away.  Caden Krueger (215), Gabriel Ryzyi (113), Brent Coak (120), Jamison Gregory (126) and Ryan Totten (132) all recorded pins for the Shamrocks, while Gavin Boller (106) and Wyatt Lees (138) recorded technical fall victories and Paxton Heitsch (285) won by major decision for Catholic Central.

DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 61, MACOMB DAKOTA 15

(Division 1 state semifinals at Kalamazoo Wings Event Center)

144: Lucas Harper (MD tech. fall Xavier Wey 17-2; 150: Grayson Fuchs (DCC) tech. fall Blake De Stefano 17-2; 157: Maverick Hendricks (MD) p. Cole Schwegler 3:50; 165: Jack Moore (DCC) p. Jaad Lorth 3:44; 175: Braxten Roche (DCC) p. Tyson Dutt 1:41; 190: Benjamin Crowley (MD) maj. dec. Owen Jurkiewicz 12-4; 215: Caden Krueger (DCC) p. Noah Raxter 2:30; 285: Paxton Heitsch (DCC) maj. dec. Jackson Hundrieser 10-1; 106: Gavin Boller (DCC) tech. fall Kevin Shamblin 19-4; 113: Gabriel Ryzyi (DCC) p. Kayson Spens 3:05; 120: Brent Coak (DCC) p. Lucca Guerrero 0:46; 126: Jamison Gregory (DCC) p. Bryce Mahar 0:38; 132: Ryan Totten (DCC) p. Leonardo Deacon 2:18; 138: Wyatt Lees (DCC) tech. fall Carl Nihranz 17-1

Stoney Creek dismissed girls basketball head coach Columbus Williams, who was in his third season with the program, on Monday.

The move, effectively immediately, also sees the majority of his staff let go, with the exception of freshman coach Joey Tocco, son of Dakota boys hoops head coach Paul Tocco.

From a distance, it’s an out-of-the-blue firing considering the Cougars are 16-4 overall and in most scenarios would be favored to win a district title this season were they not looking at a final against Utica Eisenhower, one of just 14 teams above them in Division 1 MPR. But sources told The Oakland Press that even though it wasn’t the only incident that may have led to his dismissal, the Cougars’ most recent game, a 48-29 loss at Rochester last Friday, Feb. 20, was likely a tipping point.

By the end of the weekend, a number of area coaches said they had viewed or shared footage of that game, which was (and remains) available to stream on the NFHS Network. At least a handful of technical fouls were assessed to the Cougars in the defeat — some to players or the bench, and others to coaches, including Williams, who was eventually ejected.

Stoney was at the free-throw line trailing just 34-27 with 3:53 remaining in that game when officials appear to issue a technical, and video shows one Rochester High administrator escorting out what looks to be a Cougars’ parent or fan. In a sequence that followed less than 10 game seconds later, the same administrator is seen giving Williams a similar directive after some degree of confrontation.

Players were notified of Williams’ dismissal on Monday afternoon in a meeting where they were able to ask questions and voice any concerns, and families of those in the program were also sent a statement later in the day. Part of that statement read, “At Stoney Creek, educational athletics are an integral extension of the classroom. Our mission is to maintain a student-centered, caring community with high expectations for conduct and sportsmanship.

“Following the incident at this past Friday’s Varsity game, we have determined that a change in leadership is necessary to uphold these standards.”

All of the Cougars’ previous losses this season have been to teams that range from very good to elite (Goodrich, South Lyon East, Clarkston), but emotions were probably high because of the repercussions of losing to Rochester. If Stoney Creek had won, it would have split a share of the OAA Red title no matter the result of Tuesday’s final league game at West Bloomfield.

Instead, if defending champion Clarkston wins at Rochester on Tuesday, the Wolves will also be 8-2 in the league and share the crown with whoever wins between the Lakers and Cougars. Stoney had been in the driver’s seat after it’d split its meetings with Clarkston, including a win in Rochester Hills, and also beat the Lakers at home back on Jan. 29.

Stoney Creek athletic director Todd Negoshian, a longtime boys hoops head coach at North Farmington before stepping down and taking his new post this year in Rochester Hills, will assume the interim role of head coach for the Cougars for the remainder of their season, at which point the vacant job will be posted.

Williams, who was in his first varsity head coaching role after most recently serving as an assistant at Utica Ford, compiled an overall 52-18 record with the Cougars. In his first year with the Cougars, he guided them to a 20-6 record that included a district title and the program’s first regional championship.

ORCHARD LAKE – The third time facing Huron Valley this year was lucky for South Lyon Unified, who defeated the Titans 7-3 Saturday night to advance to Wednesday’s D3 regional finals.

Huron Valley had won the two regular season meetings, including a 6-5 overtime thriller just under three weeks ago at Lakeland Ice Arena.

“We didn’t change much up (from the earlier matchups),” Unified head coach Dennis Gagnon said. “We just scored more than they did. The puck bounced our way. Hockey is a game of bounces, and we earned our bounces, for sure. But it still boils down to bounces and luck.”

Unified came out hot, needing just 1:16 to get on the board when Aiden Petrovich converted a center ice turnover, getting a breakaway and flipping a backhanded shot into the net for a quick lead. Barely three minutes later, Braden Hillebrand barreled down the win, cut behind the net and then found Alex Kero trailing the play for a quick shot and a 2-0 lead.

Hillebrand would score with 6:51 to play in the period, making it 3-0 and South Lyon Unified seemed to have things well in hand.

But the Titans would not go down without a fight. Unified had jumped out to a 3-0 lead the last time the teams met back on Feb. 2, and the Titans came back to win that one in overtime. And for a while, this looked like it could be a repeat.

“We had a slow start. They (Unified) were on fire. It’s hard to come back. At times, it looked like we were chipping away at it, and then they would get a goal right back,” Titans head coach Tim Ronayne said.

The Titans’ power play connected with 48.7 seconds to play in the first period when Nate Dell scored a one-timer from down low. Then, just 2:28 into the next period, the Titans scored again when Austin Scanlon won a faceoff clean back to Lucas Brethauser, whose shot from the top of the right circle seemed to have eyes for the net. Suddenly, it was 3-2 and the Titans had all the momentum.

But this time, Unified had the answers whenever the Titans pushed back. South Lyon Unified restored the two-goal margin just 24 seconds later on a goal from Grant Daugherty, then added another pair before the period had ended with Petrovich and Hillebrand each picking up their second goals of the game.

Huron Valley had a bit of a push early in the third period when Nate Dell got a power-play marker to cut things to 6-3. Even so, the final period was a penalty-filled affair with South Lyon Unified picking up a few penalties in the early stages of the third, and then Huron Valley took several late penalties, short-circuiting any late rally by the Titans.

Photo gallery of a D3 hockey regional semifinal between South Lyon Unified and the Huron Valley Titans

Both sides first met this winter on Dec. 17 in Brighton. In that initial showdown, unlike in the last two, scoring was scarce early as neither team found the back of the net in the first period. However, the Titans struck four times in the final frame in a 5-2 win. Dell and Scanlon assisted Tommy Colt for the game-winner in OT of the February matchup that decided the LVC.

South Lyon Unified (22-4-2) advances to Wednesday’s regional final where it will face Division 3 defending champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, who thrashed Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard on its own ice in the evening's first semifinal.

“We’ll just enjoy this one and look forward to the next one,” Gagnon said. “You can’t ask for anything better, can you?” he added.

Huron Valley finishes its first year as a unified team (Lakeland and Milford) with a 16-12-1 record and the Lakes Valley Conference Championship.

“it’s a disappointing way to end the year, but all said and done, we had a great year,” Ronayne said. “It’s our first year being unified, and it was a lot of fun coaching all these guys. The most impressive thing was that they all got along. They melded together, and they’re all brothers. That’s a life lesson in itself right there."

South Lyon Unified defeated the Huron Valley Titans 7-3 in the D3 regional semifinal played on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

ORCHARD LAKE – The Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Eaglets opened the defense of their D3 state title by rolling to a 10-2 victory over the Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard Fighting Irish.

St. Mary’s started strong with two goals in the first six minutes and never looked back. Sophomore Brandon Kondrat got things going for St. Mary’s, capitalizing on a turnover to snap a shot into the net from close range with 12:48 to play in the first period. Dominic Pizzo’s one-timer exactly 100 seconds later made it 2-0, and both goals would be typical of things to come.

St. Mary’s made a living down low in this one. The Eaglets scored most of their goals from point-blank range, getting tip-ins and close in shots early and often, but especially in the third period when they put the Fighting Irish away with four quick goals, ending the game with 6:55 still on the third period clock.

“That was really the goal after the first period – start getting more of that (getting shots in deep) and being able to move that puck across the whole zone rather than using just half of it,” Eaglets head coach Brian Klanow said.

Pizzo was the top scorer for the Eaglets with two goals and one assist, while Matthew Mourad also had three points (one goal, two assists). Charlie Roberts, J.T. Birkett, John Brown, Cam Sussex, and Daniel Ramos each had two points as the Eaglets spread the scoring throughout virtually the entire team. Nine different players scored and 17 Eaglets got at least one point.

Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard’s top line scored a pair of goals with Kai He and Stephen Joffe both scoring for the Fighting Irish. But that was about all the offense for the Fighting Irish, who mustered just 12 shots on goal for the night.

The Fighting Irish played hard throughout the game and battled up and down the line up, from goalie Zeke Talusan to a defense anchored by Jakub Sienkiewicz, right up to the forward lines. Gabriel Richard scratched and fought for every loose puck and every inch of ice they could get. But the young Fighting Irish just could not overcome St. Mary’s firepower.

Photos of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard in a D3 hockey regional

With the win, the Eaglets (22-4-2) move on to Wednesday’s regional final where they will host South Lyon Unified, winners of the second semifinal on Saturday night.

“We have to come out, put our heads down, and play like a team the whole game,” Klanow said.

Gabriel Richard finishes the year 14-13-1 overall, even with a roster loaded with freshmen and sophomores.

“Everyone gave it everything they had on the ice. I’m just proud of the effort and proud of the way the guys played today,” Fighting Irish head coach Clint Robert said. “We just wanted to be a family in the locker room, and I thought in the locker room the guys really bonded well. It felt like family, and I think that’s important especially with having the majority of the guys back next year. Despite the lopsided outcome here, I think the way the guys battled and for them to see what it takes and what a top team looks like, I think it’s going to be good for us moving forward,” he added.

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s defeated Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 10-2 in the MHSAA D3 regional semifinal played at OLSM on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.

WARREN – Jay’den Williams admits that his bedroom walls are getting littered with wrestling memorabilia and most of it is items he has earned.

The Roseville senior 165-pounder, ranked first in the state, brought home some more poster brackets and a medal to add to his growing collection Saturday at Warren Cousino High School.

Williams – who is 37-1 for the season and 186-4 for his stellar four-year career – recorded a 20-3, technical fall victory over Rochester Adams’ Dominic Beccari in the finals at the Division 1 Individual Regional.

“I have too many,” laughed Williams, a three-time state finalist and a sate champion as a junior. I don’t have room anymore. Let’s see – I have four from (Macomb County), four from districts, four from regionals and one from (the state finals).”

Williams was one of 14 regional winners Saturday at Cousino, as standout wrestlers tangled for some eight hours to determine state qualifiers. The top four individuals in each weight class advance to the MHSAA Division 1 state finals March 6-7 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Rochester Adams’ Deacon Morgan will be joining Williams and 55 others from the Cousino regional at the state finals in two weeks and he was impressive ripping through the field in the 144-pound weight class. Last year’s state runner-up has been ranked in the top three in the state and his aggressive fast-paced style helped him record a 19-3, technical fall victory over fellow state-ranked opponent Lucas Harper from Macomb Dakota. 

“I try my best to keep the pace. I just keep my head in the game and keep working and be relentless,” said Morgan. “I do keep up the pace and try to wear my opponent down.”

With last year’s state champion now in college, the door is open for Morgan this season.

“Last year I was second in the state, so the goal is still to win a state championship,” he added.

Rochester Stoney Creek produced one champion, as Jawad Bazzi outlasted Romeo four-sport star Owen Perry 7-3 in the finals at 150. Romeo produced five finalists and tied Adams for the lead with three champions.

Warren Mott had a pair of champions on the day. John Kaminski recorded a 13-5 major decision win over Dax Fegley of Troy in the 157-pound finals. Two weight classes later, Ethan Drozdowski emerged as the 175-pound champ when he defeated Fraser’s Mitchell Nash.

Romeo’s Tommy Jaynes’ quest for glory in the 190-pound division continued, as he added three more wins Saturday to give home 153 for his career and ended his day with a 17-2 technical fall win over Darnel Boyd of Roseville.

“This is the next step,” said Jaynes, a state runner-up last season who is 49-1 this season. “I just have to keep pushing, eating right and manage my nutrition. But I don have to thank God. He gives me the ability to be able to go out there and do this. I just need to keep working hard and remain focused on the goal.”

Adams’ Maxim Vostryakov (215) improved to 39-9 on the season and his major decision victory of 9-1 over Troy’s Selah Houston gave him his first individual regional title.  He came three days after his team captured its first regional title since 1999. Adams’ John David Quinlan (126) prevailed with a 9-5 victory over Romeo’s Ethan Miller in the finals match.

“Personally, for me, I’ve had blast this season. I love my teammates and I love the fact that we won a team regional and that I was able to get one as an individual, too,” said Vostryakov. “Last year I lost in the blood rounds and I’m excited to be able to win today and also win that team regional in the same week.”

Quinlan is also a big part of the Adams success story this year.

“All of this is a great feeling. This team is a close as a team I’ve been one and to win a individual regional here today and to win team regionals earlier this week is amazing. We had three winners today and Max (Vostryakov) clinched it against Romeo the other day for us to win the first regional match,” noted Quinlan. “We have a lot of very good wrestlers and I think we had seven qualify today (for the state finals).”

Landon Cooke of Utica pinned Dearborn Fordson’s Mehdi Beydoun in 4:00 with a broken hand to improve to 22-3. Cooke was injured over the Christmas break with a broken bone in his right hand and missed nearly a month of action.

“I think this title is big because this will help with my seeding at state,” said Cooke. “I missed quite a bit of time and sat out nearly a month because I broke (a bone in) my hand. I won the county meet and then the injury happened right after Christmas. This is my second tournament win, but it is the regional and that’s important. My goal is to try to get up there (on the podium) and be All-State, maybe even top three.”

Sterling Heights Stevenson 106-pounder Anthony Bertollini won his finals match via forfeit after his opponent, Tristan Ciaramitaro of Chippewa Valley, picked up a minor injury at the end of his semifinals victory and opted out. Detroit Cass Tech’s Cyrus Woodberry edged Dearborn Fordson’s Rasoul Charafeddine 4-3 in the 113-pound title bout, while Roseville’s Branden Halsey (132) defeated Fraser’s Connor Wilson 9-4 to win his division.

Romeo sophomore Nico Adamo pinned Fraser’s Zack Courtney in 3:48 to win his 120-pound weight class, while his older brother Valentin Adamo captured a thrilling, 3-1 overtime victory over Dakota’s Carl Nihranz to end the marathon day. Both wrestlers are ranked in the top 10 in the state.

“I just had to trust myself and keep pushing out there,” said Valentine Adamo. “Carl is one of my wrestling partners (outside of high school) and we’re friends. We train together a lot and we’ve wrestled each other a couple of times before. I knew it would be a close match.”

The younger Adamo captured his first regional title.

“This should help me with my seeding. I want to be All-State and I think winning regionals is a big step towards that,” said Nico Adamo. “I didn’t start off the season too well. I only finished seventh at the county meet. I would love to have that day back. But I think that motivated me because I am wrestling a lot better now.”