Bessette said it turned out to be a great move for the company

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. 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 Glenn Robinson Warriors Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Alec Burks Warriors Jersey . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. https://www.warriorsrookiesshop.com/Alfonzo-Mckinnie-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. DAngelo Russell Warriors Jersey . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Mitch Richmond Jersey . LOUIS -- St.CROMWELL, Conn. - U.S. Open champion Justin Rose has no plans to take any time off after winning his first major championship. Nathan Grube, the tournament director at the Travelers Championship, said Roses wife, Kate, called shortly after he won his first major title, to confirm they would be in Connecticut for this weeks tournament. "She called last night at about 9:30 and I looked down at the phone and said, This is either going to be a really good call or a really bad call," Grube said Monday. "It was fine. She said, Were coming, were just trying to rearrange our schedule a little bit because of all the media (commitments)." The Travelers held its opening ceremony on Monday morning, marking the 61st straight year the PGA Tour has visited greater Hartford and the seventh under its current name. Andy Bessette, the chief administrative officer and executive vice-president of the insurance giant, said the company is in negotiations to remain the title sponsor of the Connecticut PGA stop, and expects to finalize a deal before this summer. "As long they want us, were going to figure out how to make this work, and get this done before September 30th," Bessette said. The company took over the title sponsorship in 2006, after the tournament had been eliminated from the 2007 PGA schedule because of a lack of a sponsor. The TPC River Highlands was set to beecome a Champions Tour stop, when another tournament dropped out of the PGA schedule, opening a window for Hartford.dddddddddddd Travelers agreed to help get the event back in the PGA mix, and Bessette said it turned out to be a great move for the company and the region. "Were only one of five community-based sponsors on the Tour, five out of 45," he said. "So to be a hometown sponsor and do good for the community, give back to charity, its critical." Travellers also has committed to fund a special program that the tournament and PGA plan to run in Newtown, Conn., site of the December massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, Grube and Bessette said. The tournament will provide golf lessons in the towns elementary schools and through summer camps as part of the First Tee program, a youth development organization designed to teach values such as honesty and integrity through the sport. "There were a lot of ideas on the table," Grube said. "This was something the town told us would help in healing process. Were doing some other things, but the town has asked that we keep those off the radar." The golf tournament begins Wednesday with the annual pro-am, and a new twist this year, a celebrity mini-golf pro-am. Actors Alec Baldwin and CJ Adams, former UConn basketball players and WWE stars are among those scheduled to participate. ' ' '