College basketball conference tournaments continue. Opening day in the Big Ten Conference men’s tournament in the nation’s capital saw Penn State beating Nebraska 76-67 in overtime and Rutgers upsetting Ohio State 66-57. Four games are on the schedule today in the B1G in Washington, beginning with Illinois against Michigan at 11:00 with Illini Sports Network pre-game on 98.9 WJEZ at 10 a.m. Penn State faces Michigan State in the second contest while the evening session involves Indiana-Iowa and Rutgers-Northwestern.
Another ticket was punched Wednesday night as Bucknell defeated Lehigh 81-65 to earn the Patriot League bid.
Illinois State opens play in the Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball tournament today in Moline. The Redbirds carry the ninth seed against eighth-seeded Indiana State at 4:00, followed tonight by Bradley against Loyola. Quarterfinals are Friday, semifinals Saturday and the championship game is Sunday, all at iWireless Center.
Bloomington carries the area banner into the boys’ basketball Class 3A Sectional championship game after cruising past Rock Falls 76-46 at Bradley University’s Renaissance Coliseum. The Purple Raiders return to Peoria Friday night for a 7:00 title game tip against Washington.
The Orlando Magic beat the Bulls 98-91.
The Blackhawks host the Anaheim Ducks tonight.
Illinois Wesleyan freshman first baseman Garrett Shea earned honorable mention in this week’s Division III Hitter and Pitcher of the Week voting by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association.
