The MSU football team’s return to postseason play was unsuccessful, as they lost 24-21 to Boston College in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 28.

The game began on a high note for MSU as junior wide receiver Devin Thomas brought back the opening kickoff 79 yards to set the Spartans up with a short field.

While Thomas’ future was up in the air for the past month, he declared for the NFL draft on Saturday, according to The Associated Press.

Down 24-13 in the fourth quarter, freshman defensive lineman Oren Wilson recovered Eagles quarterback Matt Ryan’s fumble on Boston College’s 37-yard line.

After a 23-yard completion to Thomas, junior quarterback Brian Hoyer found junior wide receiver Deon Curry in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown and successfully converted for two points, making the score 24-21.

The Spartans had two chances in the final minutes to tie or take the lead, but Hoyer threw his fourth interception of the game to end MSU’s comeback hopes.

Men’s basketball

During winter break, the men’s basketball team ran the table, winning all four of its nonconference games — boosting the Spartans to a No. 6 ranking.

MSU defeated IPFW 79-57 Dec. 15 in a game in which senior guard Drew Neitzel knocked down a game-high 18 points.

On Dec. 19, MSU was on the positive end of a 40-point blowout, racking up a win against San Jose State, 85-45. Five Spartans scored in double figures while junior guard Travis Walton dished out 10 assists.

Then it was on to No. 4-ranked Texas on Dec. 22, an unbeaten squad coming into The Palace of Auburn Hills at a so-called “neutral” site. MSU grinded out a 78-72 victory thanks to 18 points from both sophomore forward Raymar Morgan and freshman guard Kalin Lucas.

The Spartans then whomped on UW-Green Bay, 93-75, Dec. 29 – when Morgan posted 24 points and eight rebounds.

Hockey

The MSU hockey team returned to the ice Dec. 28-29 for the 43rd annual Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit. After the 20-day holiday break, the Spartans lost to Michigan Tech, 4-1. It was the first time in five years MSU would not play in the final round of the GLI.

A 5-3 loss to visiting Providence College sent the Spartans back to Munn Ice Arena with a fourth-place tournament ranking.

The losses bumped MSU from No. 5 to No. 10 in rankings.

In a blowout six-goal game, the icers headed into their first home appearance of the new year against Lake Superior State, defeating the Lakers 8-2. But the teams tied the second game of the weekend series 3-3.

The Spartans take on Notre Dame in a two-game weekend series.

The first meeting is at 7:35 p.m. Friday at Munn Ice Arena. On Saturday, the teams head to South Bend, Ind. for the second game.

Women’s basketball

The MSU women’s basketball team struggled during the break, going 1-3 in Big Ten play.

The Spartans lost their first conference opener in five years, falling to Minnesota, 74-63. MSU then came back tenfold for a 60-53 upset victory against then-No. 17 Ohio State.

Falling to Wisconsin and Penn State by more than 10 points in the final two games of the break, the Spartans consequently fell into a trap of turnover and rebound trouble. In Big Ten play thus far, MSU averages 19.75 turnovers.

While the Spartans remained in the driver’s seat — or close to it — after the first half of the games, they tended to lose composure and intensity late in most of the second halves.

—Compiled by the sports desk