THE PAINTNick Ward had 13 points and eight rebounds a g

There are 10 horses likely to face California Chrome in Saturdays Los Alamitos Winter Challenge. Or, at least 10 horses willing to take a chance at decent prize money for finishing second.The Winter Challenge is run at 1-1/16 miles and was developed in recent months as a final start in California for California Chrome before his last career race in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28. California Chrome is scheduled to go to stud in Kentucky in February.As of Wednesday morning, Aint Misbehavin, Air Pocket, Avanti Bello, Ground Rules, Howdy, Mishegas, Papacoolpapacool, Point Piper, Unusual Meeting, and Wrightwood were expected to enter. Realistically, they are running for second-place money of $30,000.The race will pay $50,000 to the winner, $20,000 to third, and $15,000 to the fourth- and fifth-place finishers. All other finishers will receive $10,000. If all those horses run, the race will be worth $180,000, much higher than the advertised purse of $100,000. The track boosted prize money for the second- through fifth-place finishers and guaranteed $10,000 per finisher to entice participation.Aside from California Chrome, who was second to Arrogate in the Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, Point Piper has the best form this year. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the 6-year-old Point Piper won the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in August, was sixth in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, and ran second in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 27.Owned by a partnership that includes Gatto Racing and Hollendorfer, Point Piper has won 5 of 27 starts and earned $436,635. The Longacres Mile is his only win in nine starts this year.Hes been a bit of an in-and-out horse, Hollendorfer said Wednesday. Hes doing really good. Well enter and see what happens.California Chrome has won 6 of 7 starts this year, including the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March and the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August.Aside from California Chrome and Point Piper, the only other 2016 stakes winner among the expected runners is Avanti Bello, who won the Tiznow Stakes for California-breds at Santa Anita in May. Trained by Doug ONeill, Avanti Bello won an allowance race at Santa Anita on Oct. 30 and is the only projected starter who won his last start.California Chrome had a routine training session at Los Alamitos on Wednesday. He galloped and schooled in the paddock.He wont do much before the race, trainer Art Sherman said.Sherman is concerned about weather conditions in the coming days. Rain was expected Thursday and early Friday, although Saturdays conditions were expected to be clear, cool, and windy.Im hoping we dont have to worry about it, he said. Custom Senators Jersey China . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Senators Jerseys China . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. http://www.customsenatorsjersey.com/ . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Custom Senators Jerseys . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Custom Frank Finnigan Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Josh Langford was challenged by Tom Izzo to play better at both ends of the court, and the freshman responded well enough to satisfy his hard-to-please coach.Langford had a season-high 15 points and improved his play defensively, helping Michigan State bounce back from a poor performance with a 77-57 win over Youngstown State on Tuesday night.The Spartans (6-4) were coming off a four-point win over Oral Roberts in which Izzo lamented the play of Langford publicly and privately.I knew I hadnt done a good job for Michigan State, and my teammates, Langford said. This time, I didnt care about scoring.Langford has gotten off to a slow start this season, scoring in single digits in his first nine games, in part because of a hamstring injury that made it look like he was laboring to run fluidly with his ailing left leg. Izzo said Langford isnt in pain, but also is not in good condition because of how limited he has been physically this season.Im trying to get him more shots, more playing time and get him in better shape, Izzo said.The Penguins (5-5) were led by Matt Donlan, who scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half, and Francisco Santiago, who had eight of his 13 points after halftime. Youngstown State made just 33 percent of its shots.We just dont have that third guy, Youngstown State coach Jerry Slocum said.Both teams were without their leading scorers, both of whom are from Flint, Michigan.Michigan States Miles Bridges missed a second straight game with a sprained left ankle. Youngstown States Cameron Morse sat out a third consecutive game with an injured right wrist.The Spartans led by seven points at halftime before pulling away in the second half.BIG PICTUREYoungstown State: The Penguins had enough energy to hang with Michigan State in the first half with one tie and one lead change, but they didnt have enough to keep it close without Morse.dddddddddddd. He is averaging 23.7 points.Hes a special offensive player, Slocum said.Michigan State: Izzo didnt like how any of his wings played in the previous game, and wasnt thrilled with any of them besides Langford even though senior Eron Harris and sophomore Matt McQuaid also scored in double figures. Harris had 13 points and McQuaid scored 11, but they were a combined 10 of 26 overall and 4 of 15 on 3-point shots and didnt play well enough at the other end for Izzo.When I got two freshmen playing better defense than a sophomore and a senior, thats not too settling for me, Izzo said.IN THE PAINTNick Ward had 13 points and eight rebounds a game after the freshman forward scored a season-high 24 points and matched his best game on the boards with 10 rebounds. Ward played 20 minutes, coming in and out of the game more frequently than Izzo would like because hes not in good enough shape to play more consistently.Nick has got to be able to play more than 3, 4 minutes in a stretch, Izzo said.BRING THE BUZZWithout Miles, the Spartans are lacking a playmaker that fires up the team and the crowd.He makes a lot of electric dunks, McQuaid said. We have to find that energy he brings.PUT ME IN, COACHMatt Van Dyk grabbed a career-high nine rebounds, more than doubling his previous high.Im trying to figure out if that is good news or bad news, Izzo said. We put that kid in a tough situation.The 6-foot-5, 220-pound former walk-on was needed in the post because Ward was often too tired to play more and Kenny Goins fouled out in just 15 minutes.UP NEXTYoungstown State: Plays at American on Saturday.Michigan State: Hosts Tennessee Tech.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '