Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 15

1 Lansing State Journal Business PORTS Saturday March 2, 2002 www.lsj.com -k I Riding high Sports Desk 377-1071 E-mail: sportsSlsj.com Strong truck sales lift GM's February sales figures Page7C RIO Y2k mm mm Inside I Game summary, CCHA scores and standings. Page2C mm "I thought we played hard. But tonight we didn't get a lot of bounces." Phil LewandoWski broke a 2-2 tie at 8:08 of the third period when he got behind the Spartan defense and cruised in alone from the right wing boards and beat MSU goalie Ryan Miller with a backhander for his 13th goal of the season. With the defeat, the No. 5 Western Michigan.

MSU can still tie for the championship if it defeats FSU in the regular-season finale tonight at 7 at Munn Arena and the Wolverines lose to Western in Kalamazoo. "It's really frustrating, but we have to put that aside and think about tomorrow's See HOCKEY Page3C And so did Michigan State's hopes for an outright Central Collegiate Hockey Association championship. The Bulldogs overcame a 2-0 deficit, skated off nine of 10 Spartan power plays and held on for a 3-2 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 2,450. "It's a classic example of a team that's really playing to win the game as opposed out the best in struggling teams. Ferris State skated into Friday's game against the Spartans with four straight losses.

The Bulldogs hadn't beaten MSU in the last six games and had not defeated the Spartans at home at Ewigleben Arena in more than 11 years. Those streaks ended here Friday. Outright CCHA title hopes gone after 3-2 setback By Neil Koepke Lansing State Journal BIG RAPIDS There's something about playing Michigan State that brings Goldie Maloney Spartans (15-6-4, 23-7-5) fall into second place, two points behind Michigan (16-5-4, 21-9-5), which clinched at least a tie for first place with a 4-2 home win Friday over to playing for a championship," MSU coach Ron Mason said. "I won't take anything away from my team. Tm stuck in the middle of everything that's happening and loving every second of it." MSU senior guard Mat Ishbia Breslin Center crowd favorite about his career as a Spartan Richardson era ends at Arkansas Spartan favorite says farewei MSU walk-on Ishbia gets set for last Breslin game: Tve lived my dream' ByJackEbung Lansing State Journal EAST LANSING Mat Ishbia arrived at Michigan State in 1998 as an unre-cruited walk-on.

Today, in his final home game as a player and his first as a starter, he will walk to center court By Harry King Associated Press FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. Arkansas bought out Nolan Richardson's contract for $3 million Friday, capping a week in which the outspoken coach complained he was treated differently because he is black. Richardson won the national championship in 1994, took Arkansas to the title game the next year and led the Ra- zorbacks into the postseason 15 of the last 16 seasons. But they are 13-14 this season and could miss the postseason for the first time since his first year at Arkansas in 1985. Richardson had no comment and referred Richardson questions to Little Rock civil rights attorney John Walker, whom he hired this week.

"We believe it's time for a change in leadership for the best interests of the basketball program," said athletic director Frank Broyles. Arkansas had the option of buying out Richardson's contract for each of the remaining six years of his seven-year pact. with his family to celebrate Senior Day. "I've lived my dream," the 5-foot-10 point guard and crowd favorite said. "I can't imagine what it'll be like with (14,759) people cheering for me.

When I was in high school, if there were 14 people there, it was a big day." With a victory over Iowa at 430 p.m. and four more in postseason play, Ishbia would have 116 triumphs, the wirmingest four-year career in The Ishbia file Player: Mat Ishbia, senior point guard (junior eligibility) Career numbers: Has 10 points and eight assists in 10 games this season, 24 points and 12 assists in 45 career appearances (41 wins) Academics: Business (general management) major with nearly a 3.6 grade-point average, already a two-time Academic All-Big Ten pick Career goal: To become a college basketball coach or a successful businessman or both Ishbia says: "My reward has been to play a couple of minutes every so often. But I couldn't have written a better script I feel like I've been at fantasy camp for four years. I'm living The Life." Okemos wins hockey regional By Matthew Horn Big Ten history. "I'm stuck in the middle of everything that's happening and loving every second of it," Ishbia said.

"So many people have gone out of then-way to help me. I'm a good player, not a Big Ten stud. But I told Marcus (Taylor) I See Ishbia Page 6C G.L. KOHUTH For the Lansing State Journal A few pointers: Michigan State senior guard Mat Ishbia (right) talks with freshman Kelvin Torbert on the bench during the Spartans' win over Indiana last Sunday. Ishbia, the Spartans' only senior, may go into coaching when his college career ends.

For the Lansing State Journal DIMONDALE Matt Kaufman scored two goals to help lead Okemos past East Lansing 4-2 in the Division 2 prep hockey regional final at the Summit on Friday. Okemos advances to play the winner of the Novi regional at 730 p.m. Tuesday at the Summit. "Everyone worked as hard as they could tonight," Okemos coach Bill Sipola. "Our top scorers came through.

East Lansing played with emotion as we knew they would. Up-and-down MSU season full of surprises We had three great games with them this year. They never stop skating." Todd Estry scored the Inside Prep roundup. Page 5C Todd Schulz tschulzlsj.com 377-1051 Bograkos is Mat Ishbia with more ability. He leads the team in bruises, skinned knees and field-goal percentage Watching his evolution from pine brother to full partner has been a privilege.

Here's hoping he's not forgotten in the rush of new recruits next year. They missed it by 'that much': Give MSU back .2 of a second and it might be playing today for a record fifth consecutive Big Ten crown. Torbert's hoop with .2 of a second left against Wisconsin was waved off, giving the Badgers a 64-63 win. NCAA rules say it's impossible to catch and shoot with less than 3 of a second. Geez, where was a friendly timekeeper when MSU needed one? Hey, this wasn't football season.

Chris Hill has wowed us: Hill plugged a huge hole for the Spartans by playing 27 minutes per game and averaging 113 points. He was easily the least heralded and most successful of MSLPs freshmen. His defense and ballhandling need work. But Hill is on his way to stardom. Better yet, 4-year stardom.

Izzo has only one For a guy that relentlessly works the officials, Izzo has drawn only one whistle -against Fresno State. That's a tribute to the respect he's earned around the league. Tim Bograkos has mattered: If you guessed the skinny walk-on from Flint would earn a key spot in the MSLPs rotation, you also nailed the New England Patriots, Sarah Hughes and Enron. We need to talk. son and probably cost them the league crown.

MSU averaged nearly four more turnovers than its opponents per game dead last in the Big Ten. "They should put us on our own (stat) page," MSU coach Tom Izzo joked last week. Youth excuses some of the sins. But sloppy play always reflects poorly on a program and its coach. Kelvin Torbert hasn't wowed us: Torbert's freshman season was solid but far shy of the explosive expectations that accompanied him to East Lansing.

His defense was surprisingly good. But Torbert was often unsure and ineffective on offense, providing only rare peeks at his sky-walking prowess. Who would have thought he'd manage only four dunks? EAST LANSING Somehow, college basketball's regular season has slipped through our collective fingers And somehow, the finished product never quite matches our original expectations. That, of course, is why we watch. As MSU wraps up its 29-game campaign today against Iowa, the time seems right to peek at the surprises of a wild ride that's taken us so far through New York City, a Florida swamp, a Virginia ice rink and the brutal beauty of Big Ten Country.

Along the way, the 18-10 Spartans have treated us to twists and turns, both tragic and triumphant. As the green machine rolls into -postseason play, we inventory the unexpected. Chieftains' first goal when Craig Murphy slid a pass across the Trojans' goal mouth. Brian Chapman also assisted on the goal. "I was about to shoot but elected to pass," Murphy said.

"I knew Todd would finish." Kaufman's first goal came with 4.5 seconds remaining in the first period as he stuffed the puck under East Lansing goal-tender Rob Hartsuff. Kaufman added his second goal on a deflection less than two minutes into the second period. Mike McDaniel and Estry assisted. Chapman scored Okemos' final goal on an assist from Estry. Matt Zolkowski and Ryan Davis scored East Lansing's goals.

Jeff Gartner had two assists. So far, we're surprised that: MSU has shot so well: Young, inexperienced teams often shoot too quickly and force up bad shots. Not so with these fresh-faced Spartans, who make smart decisions. They've sunk 47 percent of their shots, just a whisker off last season's league-leading 49 percent Oh, yeah, MSU is also draining 42 percent of its 3-pointers and 78 percent of its free throws. MSU has cared for the ball so poorly: Turnovers have plagued the Spartans all sea Mason, Eaton Rapids reach wrestling semifinals son City-Crystal lost its Division 4 quarterfinal match, to Whittemore-Pr escort.

Friday's Division 2 matches started at 112 pounds, and Mason had its win nearly secure with a 30-0 lead after the 145-pound match. Eaton Rapids pulled away late for its win. Sophomore Nathan Smith's major decision at 112 coupled with decision wins by freshman Josh Chapman (125) and sophomore Marcus Suesz (130) By Geoff Kimmerly Lansing State Journal BATTLE CREEK So much for youth and inexperience. The combination didn't hinder area squads in Friday's Division 2 wrestling quarterfinals at Kellogg Center. Mason downed Auburn Hills Avondale 48-17 and Eaton Rapids beat Southgate Anderson 34-24 to advance to today's semifinal at noon.

gave the Greyhounds an early 10-4 advantage. Eaton Rapids later won of the final seven weight classes to secure the victory. "This whole season we've had half of our team out with injuries, but now we're pulling it all together," said senior John Dickerson, who led 14-4 before winning by injury default "Against Lowell we'll have to wrestle with all our heart Hopefully we'll get some upsets." The Greyhounds got 13 points from their eight underclassmen starters Friday, while Mason got 16 points from its underclassmen. "If been nice to see (the young wrestlers) grow throughout the year," said senior Tony Greathouse, who will wrestle at Michigan State next season. "At the beginning of the year, sometimes they'd show up, but now they know their jobs." Mason (21-1) takes on Mid- Inside I Complete Division 2 results.

Page2C Shepherd wins; CC-Crystal falls. PageSC dleville Thornapple Kellogg (34-5) while Eaton Rapids (16-9) will battle No. 1 Lowell (35-4). Also at noon, Shepherd will take on Constantine in Division 3 after a 39-26 win over Gladstone Friday. Car GREG DeRUITER Lansing State Journal Looking for an edge: Carson City-Crystal's Tim Brown (right) makes a move against Whittemore-Prescott's Lloyd Miller on Friday..