• Ball State stays on BCS path with win at CMU
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Championship teams convert even the most brow-arching fourth-and-inches decisions, control fourth quarters with indomitable running attacks and win every time. If Ball State should continue meeting all those standards, it wants the opportunity to prove itself alongside other champions.

• No. 14 Ball State runs over CMU
MOUNT PLEASANT -- MiQuale Lewis did not need to score a touchdown to make an impact.

• Griffins meet familiar face in Bylsma
GRAND RAPIDS -- Dan Bylsma has ensured there will be at least a few Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fans in attendance at Van Andel Arena on Friday night.

• Scoreboard: College basketball
MEN

• End of the road for Paterno?
Joe Paterno's usefulness as an active college football participant came under full frontal assault not too long ago, which seems ridiculous today, with Penn State one faulty second at Iowa away removed from an undefeated season and one home win Saturday against Michigan State removed from the Rose Bowl.

• CMU, Ball State fight for MAC West Division title
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Butch Jones and Brady Hoke would like nothing more than to play on a short field tonight -- and stop the other guy from doing that.

• Griffins can't solve Admirals
MILWAUKEE -- The Grand Rapids Griffins still can't figure out a way to beat the Milwaukee Admirals.

• MSU's Dantonio sticks to guns: No cheers for U-M
If No. 17 Michigan State is to earn its first outright Big Ten championship since 1987, the Spartans must win Saturday at seventh-ranked Penn State, and those dreaded Michigan Wolverines must pull off a major upset at

• Basketball roundup: GVSU tops Lake Erie
K'Len Morris scored 15 points and Pete Trammell (Jenison) added 12 points as Grand Valley State defeated Lake Erie, 65-63 on Wednesday.

• All the pieces fit for Red Wings in shutout
DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have been waiting all season for a complete, 60-minute team effort at home.

• Reward regular-season winner in Big Ten basketball
CHICAGO -- Tom Izzo would rather not talk about the rough-and-tumble Big Ten Conference's 18-game league schedule.

• Local college teams begin postseason play
Natalja Stanski is aware that the Grand Valley State women's soccer team is expected to win the national championship

• Harlon Hill finalist Iciek keeps focus on Ashland
ALLENDALE -- Grand Valley State's Brad Iciek is a finalist in voting to determine the top football player in Division II, but he would rather talk about Saturday's playoff game against Ashland University.

• Holland go-kart racer heads to Italy for world finals
Tim Lobaugh was well aware of what Marc Miller of Holland could do with a go-kart long before the two ever became teammates.

• Red Wings' Cleary plagued by eye irritation
DETROIT -- Dan Cleary can't drive, and his depth perception still is a little off.

• Poker: Tread lightly with low pot odds
In tournament play, it's generally advisable to avoid risking large sums of chips in coin flip situations, like pocket sixes vs. A-K.