Ford Field Matchup Could Attract 80,000

When Michigan State plays host to Kentucky today, a crowd of close to 80,000 is expected to pack into indoor Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.

The eighth-ranked Wildcats (4-0) will play the No. 21 Spartans (3-3) on a three-foot platform above the 50-yard line. With no seats behind the baskets, thousands of students will stand -- and jump -- on the artificial turf to watch the game and be seen by a national television audience.

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Illinois guard Deron Williams is expected to be sidelined three games after undergoing surgery for a broken jaw. Williams, a sophomore who is averaging 12.9 points, fractured his jaw in two places in a collision with another player in No. 14 Illinois’ 85-43 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday. Coach Bruce Weber hopes to have Williams back in the lineup for the Jan. 3 game against Illinois State.

MEN

Pepperdine 95, Lipscomb 74 -- The Waves (3-4) won easily at Nashville despite being called for four technical fouls, including three on Coach Paul Westphal, who was ejected. Westphal was upset that the Bisons (1-5) were allowed to run an in-bounds play late in the second half before the Waves were ready to play. Glen McGowan led Pepperdine with 24 points.

WOMEN

No. 6 Stanford (6-0) defeated Pacific, 86-25, at Palo Alto. It’s the fewest points allowed by the Cardinal since it yielded a school-record 23 to Santa Clara on Feb. 21, 1976. The Tigers (0-6) have lost five in a row to Stanford.... No. 11 Kansas State (6-2) took an 18-2 lead en route to an 82-60 victory over Iowa (5-3) at Iowa City.... Keasha Cannon-Johnson’s three-point basket with 2:07 left at Lincoln, Neb., gave Nebraska (6-1) the lead for good, and the Cornhuskers defeated No. 13 Ohio State (4-1), 60-55.... Corrie Mizusawa’s running jumper with 13.7 seconds gave No. 22 Oregon (7-1) a 53-52 victory over Montana (5-2) at Eugene, Ore.