Sports Digest: Novak, No. 20 Michigan down Purdue men's basketball team

Pro hockey

RINNE, PREDATORS BEAT HAWKS: Pekka Rinne made 24 saves for his ninth straight win, and the surging Nashville Predators beat the Blackhawks 3-1 Tuesday night in the teams' final game before the All-Star break.

The Predators are now 12-2 in their last 14 and have beaten the Blackhawks twice in the last four days. Rinne has played a major role in the run, going 12-1-0 since Dec. 28.

Dave Bolland had Chicago's goal on a power play in the final period.

Men's basketball

NO. 20 MICHIGAN EDGES PURDUE: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 19 points to help No. 20 Michigan defeat Purdue 66-64 on Tuesday night.

Chesterton grad Zack Novak added five points and eight rebounds for the Wolverines (16-5, 6-2), who entered the game in a tie for first place in the Big Ten.

Lewis Jackson scored 17 points, and Robbie Hummel, a Valparaiso graduate, added 16 for the Boilermakers (14-7, 4-4). Hummel missed a 3-pointer that could have given the Boilermakers the lead in the final seconds.

DIGGS, WALSH GUIDE AKRON OVER BALL STATE: Quincy Diggs and Brian Walsh scored 16 points each as Akron won for the sixth time in seven games with a 70-58 victory over Ball State.

Alex Abreu added 12 points, all on 3-pointers, and seven assists for the Zips (13-7, 5-1 Mid-American), who lead the MAC East. Demetrius Treadwell scored 11.

Jarrod Jones, a Michigan City graduate, had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Cardinals (12-6, 4-2), whose two-game winning streak ended.

Pro basketball

ANDERSON LEADS MAGIC OVER PACERS: Ryan Anderson had 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to a 102-83 victory over the Pacers on Tuesday night.

Dwight Howard had 14 points and nine rebounds and became the Magic's all-time leading scorer.

Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert scored 16 points each and Hibbert also had 12 rebounds for the Pacers (11-5).

Pro football

MANNING TRYING TO COPE WITH COLTS' TRANSITION: Peyton Manning still intends to play football.

He's also no fan of the Colts' big offseason overhaul that included the firing of coach Jim Caldwell and other executives.

In an interview that appeared Tuesday in The Indianapolis Star, Manning touched on everything from his future plans to the difficulty he's had coping with all the changes. He has not responded to interview requests made by The Associated Press.

"It's 20 degrees, it's snowing, the building is absolutely empty except when you see coaches cleaning out their offices," Manning said. "I guess it's the reality of the football world, just not something I've had to deal with very often. But I'm in there every day, so I have to sit there and see it. Everybody's being evaluated and I'm no different. It's not the best environment.

"It's unfortunate because so many of them have been such a big part of so many big wins here, and this is so ... sudden," Manning added. "Their keys didn't work the next day. There's no other way to do it? I don't know. That's hard to see, all these people leaving. And I may be behind them. Who knows?"

One thing Manning does know is that last week's discussion about his "impending" departure from football was premature.

He poked fun at the frenzy surrounding a Twitter post from actor Rob Lowe, who wrote Manning was expected to announce his retirement last week. Manning said the whole thing caught him off-guard.

"I never thought 'Sodapop Curtis' would announce my retirement," he said, referring to Lowe's character in the 1983 movie "The Outsiders." ''I always thought I would be the one to announce it."

Local bowling

GREATER CALUMET AREA USBC SLATES TOURNEYS: Bowlers in the new Greater Calumet Area USBC will have a chance at tournament titles with the annual Senior Singles Championships and the GCA Championships.

The Senior Singles Championships for GCA-sanction bowlers aged 50 and older will take place in three squads at 2 p.m. Saturday and at 9 a.m. and noon Sunday at Lynwood Bowl, 2581 Glenwood-Lansing Road in Lynwood. Cost is $25 per entry. The handicap tournament includes four divisions based on age and average.

The GCA Championships will take place Feb. 12, 19 and 26 at Plaza Lanes, 8101 Kennedy Ave., in Highland. Cost is $20 per event, which includes team (four person) event, singles and doubles men's and women's divisions. There will be no separate women's team event. Bowlers will have a choice of competing in pin over average or scratch divisions, or both for an additional $10 per event.

For details, or to make reservations for either tournament, call (219) 923-7240.

HIGHLAND YOUTH SOFTBALL TO HOLD BOWLING FUNDRAISER: Highland Youth Softball will hold a bowling fundraiser for adults from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Plaza Lanes. Tickets are $25 per person. Besides bowling, there will be food, a cash bar, an auction and a raffle for a chance to win Bulls and Blackhawks tickets. Raffle tickets are $10 each or three for $20.

For details, contact Dave Gizynski at (219) 808-6959 or president@highlandyouthsoftball.com, Terry Pierce at (219) 718-2066 or vicepresident@highlandyouthsoftball.com, Chris Ramirez at (219) 923-2169 allstarcoordinator@highlandyouthsoftball.com, Dave Bedka at (219) 680-7729 or secretary@highlandyouthsoftball.com, or Ed Sullivan at (219) 746-4424 or treasurer@highlandyouthsoftball.com.

VALENTINE TOURNAMENT AT OLYMPIA: Olympia Lanes, 4150 Calumet Ave., Hammond, will hold a Valentine Female/Child Tournament on Feb. 12. Bowlers aged 3 to 12 may bowl with an adult female. Cost is $9 per bowler. Squad time is at 6:30 p.m. For details, (219) 933-6677.

Pro baseball

FIELDER, TIGERS AGREE ON 9-YEAR DEAL: Free agent first baseman Prince Fielder and the Detroit Tigers agreed Tuesday on a nine-year, $214 million contract that fills the AL Central champions' need for a power hitter, a person familiar with the deal said.

The person told The Associated Press that the deal was subject to a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was not yet complete. Detroit boldly stepped up in the Fielder sweepstakes after the recent knee injury to star Victor Martinez.

Around the horn

Purdue Calument's women's basketball team received a vote in the latest NAIA Division II Coaches Top 25 poll. It's the third time this season they've received a vote. ... Seeking different strategies at both ends of the court and improvement from a roster filled with young players such as John Wall, the NBA-worst Washington Wizards fired coach Flip Saunders after a 2-15 start and replaced him with assistant Randy Wittman.