(Undated)  --  Here is the latest sports news:  Blues blast Blue Jackets.  SLU tops Butler.  Mizzou takes on Auburn.

Blues Best Blue Jackets

(Columbus, OH)  --  The Blues scored three times in the opening period and they held on to top the Blue Jackets, 4-1.  Barret Jackman, Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Tarasenko each lit the lamp in the first frame for St. Louis, which improved to 6-and-1.  David Backes added an empty-netter late in the game.  Brian Elliott stopped 24 shots in the win.  The Blues are at Detroit tonight.

Billikens Blast Butler

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Jordair Jett tallied 19 points off the bench to help Saint Louis level number-10 Butler, 75-58.  Dwayne Evans added 15 points and five rebounds for the Billikens, who improved to 15-and-5 and 4-and-2 in the Atlantic 10.  SLU hosts Dayton on Saturday.

Missouri Home For Auburn

(Columbia, MO)  --  It's a battle of Tigers tomorrow in Columbia when number-18 Missouri hosts Auburn.  Mizzou seeks to rebound from an upset loss at LSU earlier this week.  The Tigers are 15-and-5 overall and 4-and-3 in the SEC.

Illinois Upset Bid Falls Short

(East Lansing, MI)  --  Keith Appling scored 24 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists to lead number-nine Michigan State to an 80-75 comeback win over Illinois Thursday night.  The Fighting Illini led by 10 at halftime but gave up 53 second-half points.  Tracy Abrams led the Illini with 16 points but Illinois lost its fifth game in the last six.  Illinois is 15-and-7 overall and 2-and-6 in the Big Ten and hosts Wisconsin on Sunday.