Sports
No. 18 Michigan State meets Western Michigan, aims to extend win streak
Michigan State’s Jase Richardson, left, talks with head coach Tom Izzo during a break in the action in the game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in East Lansing. Tom Izzo isn’t sure what conclusions can be drawn from the first two months of this college basketball season.
The longtime Michigan State coach guided his team to a 10-2 record before the Christmas break. The Spartans are ranked No. 18 heading into their non-conference home game against Western Michigan in East Lansing on Monday afternoon, but Izzo still has several questions about his team — and everyone else’s, for that matter.
“If you remember the first big press conference in here, I said you probably are not gonna know where you’re at until after Christmas. I still feel that way because I don’t know what comparative scores (do) anymore,” he said. “I’m still too confused on what’s going on out there as far as who’s good and who’s not good. Comparative scores have been very difficult, and the scores have been so up and down.”
What’s indisputable is that before the layoff, the Spartans were heading in the right direction. They enter Monday’s contest on a five-game winning streak.
No one has emerged as a go-to scorer on the team, but it clearly has good balance — seven different players have led the Spartans in scoring this season. Forward Coen Carr came off the bench in Michigan State’s most recent game on Dec. 21 and scored 17 points in an 86-69 victory over Florida Atlantic. He was one of four Spartans in double figures.
Guard Jaden Akins, at 13.3 points per game, is the only Michigan State player averaging double figures in scoring, while seven other players are averaging at least 6.8 points.
“We’re 10-2. Good enough to beat a lot of teams, not great enough to not lose to a lot of teams,” Izzo said. “I think we’ve got to shore up our defense a little bit. … We are shooting the ball a little better. I’m not as concerned with that. We’ve got to defend and rebound. And if we do that, we’ll get our run game going and we’ll be a better team.”
The Broncos (3-8) carry a four-game losing streak into Monday’s game, with their wins this season coming against Division II Davenport, Canisius and Youngstown State. Western Michigan hasn’t played since Dec. 20, when they lost to Valparaiso 76-73.
Western Michigan held a 16-point halftime lead and a 22-point advantage with less than seven minutes remaining, then wound up losing on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Broncos have received a boost from Chansey Willis Jr., who missed the first eight games of the season due to injury. The 6-foot-2 guard is averaging 17 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the three games he’s played.
Western Michigan, coached by former Michigan State assistant Dwayne Stephens, has three other players averaging double figures in scoring and three more averaging at least seven points.
“I feel like we’re all an unselfish group. No one’s really saying, ‘I’ve got to get my 20 shots,’ so it comes from a different person almost every single night,” forward Max Burton said in a recent TV interview. “Every person is going to have a good game here and there.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
