Sports Update 2/3/11

 

Missouri S&T's success on the baseball diamond last spring has netted the

Miners a higher spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference's pre-season

coaches poll and some national recognition as well, as the Miners were picked

to finish third in the West Division for the upcoming 2012 season.

 

No. 10 Murray State remained unbeaten with an 81-73 win over Southeast

Missouri State on Thursday night.

 

No. 8 Kansas has turned its attention squarely to fourth-ranked Missouri and

one of the biggest meetings between the two border rivals in years.  The

Jayhawks took care of business against Oklahoma on Wednesday night. First

place will be on the line when they meet Missouri in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday

night. Kansas has won the last five overall against the Tigers.

 

Well past the halfway point of the season, the St. Louis Blues are in great shape.

They return from the All-Star break with a record that's close to the NHL's best.

The Blues are 21-3-4 at home, leading the league in victories and points, and can

build on that tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. After that, they hit the road.

 

Peyton Manning has been cleared to play by the doctor who operated on the

quarterback's neck. A spokesman for Dr. Robert Watkins sent a one-paragraph

email to reporters late Thursday night after ESPN first reported that Colts' star had

been cleared to play. The Colts contend it is nothing new because Manning was

cleared to practice in December.

 

Four Los Angeles players have been voted to the Western Conference team for

the February 26 NBA All-Star game in Orlando.

 

The Chicago Bulls avoided their first losing streak of the season by grinding out a

road win against the New York Knicks 105-102.