Riding the momentum of Wednesday night's 82-75 defeat of No. 22 Virginia, the MSU men's basketball team is looking forward to a challenging road schedule over the holiday break.

The Spartans (3-2) will host Cleveland State on Sunday at Breslin Center before being tested on the road by two perennial basketball powerhouses.

The team rolls into Lexington, Ky., on Dec. 14 to visit No. 18 Kentucky and then travels to Oklahoma City to challenge No. 6 Oklahoma on Jan. 4.

The Spartans are undefeated against Cleveland State, posting a 6-0 all-time record. MSU has not played the team since an 85-54 drubbing in 1997.

MSU can expect to face a tough game in Lexington. The Wildcats (3-1) lead the all-time series against the Spartans 11-8 and hold a 7-3 advantage at home.

The last time the Spartans played Kentucky, they won a narrow 46-45 victory at Breslin Center on Dec. 16, 2000.

MSU head coach Tom Izzo said Monday he expects freshman guard Maurice Ager to be ready to return from his ankle injury against Kentucky.

The Wildcats are expected to be without guard Antwain Barbour, who is sidelined for at least five weeks with a broken hand.

The only opponent MSU and Kentucky share is Virginia. The Cavaliers (3-3) beat Kentucky in the Maui Invitational tournament 75-61 late last month.

The Spartans will play a four-game homestand after returning from Kentucky, hosting Loyola (Ill.), South Florida and Toledo. MSU is a combined 12-4 against those schools and will play Jacksonville State for the first time on Dec. 28.

Oklahoma (3-1) is next on the docket for MSU, hosting the Spartans for the first game of 2003 for both squads.

MSU has the all-time edge against Oklahoma 4-1, the last MSU victory happening Nov. 14, 2001 in East Lansing.

The Jan. 4 game will mark the Spartans first away game against Oklahoma since 1993.