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MSU athletics ride highs and lows in an eventful week

February 13, 2026
Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill. Photo (left) by Quinn Shell. Photo (middle) by Ari Saperstein. Photo (right) by Fatih Gorkem Imamoglu.
Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill. Photo (left) by Quinn Shell. Photo (middle) by Ari Saperstein. Photo (right) by Fatih Gorkem Imamoglu.

Men’s Basketball

This week, No. 10 MSU rebounded from back-to-back losses for the first time this season with a thrilling overtime win against No. 5 Illinois. In MSU’s loss to Minnesota last week, Divine Ugochukwu suffered a season-ending foot injury, which elevated freshman Jordan Scott to the starting shooting guard spot. In Scott’s first two starts, he has averaged 12.5 points, showcasing his skills as a shifty scorer and staunch defender.

MSU now heads to Wisconsin for a Friday night matchup that tips at 8:30 p.m. Wisconsin, 17-7 (9-4), ranks sixth in the Big Ten but has pulled off wins in eight of its last ten games. MSU sits at third in the conference behind Illinois and Michigan with a 20-4 record and a 10-3 conference mark.

Hockey

Last weekend, then No. 2 Michigan State hockey competed against No. 1 Michigan in Ann Arbor and Detroit. The Spartans led 3-1 in the opening game but ultimately lost 4-3 in overtime. In the series finale at Little Caesars Arena, MSU took an early lead and finished strong with a 5-2 statement victory. The Spartans moved to No. 1 in the USCHO and USA Hockey rankings, as well as No. 1 in the Big Ten standings with 39 points. 

Women’s Basketball 

After falling to then-No. 22 Maryland, the MSU women’s basketball team responded with an 81-70 road win over Penn State on Saturday. The Spartans struggled early, but freshman guard Amy Terrian provided a spark off the bench in the second half, knocking down three triples in a two-minute span.

MSU slipped to No. 13 in the rankings before welcoming No. 2 UCLA to East Lansing on Wednesday. One of the nation’s best teams, the Bruins were led by one of the country’s top players in senior center Lauren Betts. UCLA controlled the game from start to finish, handing the Spartans an 86-63 blowout loss.

Next up is a second matchup with Michigan on Sunday at 4 p.m., this time in Ann Arbor.

Gymnastics

After a strong performance against rivals Michigan, No. 11 Michigan State gymnastics earned its second straight road win with a 197.125 victory over No. 14 Penn State last Sunday, marking the team’s second-highest score of the season. The Spartans improved to 3-4 overall, led by senior Nikki Smith, who captured the vault, floor, and all-around titles. Junior MaKayla Tucker shared the vault title with Smith, and senior Sage Kellerman earned a share of the bars title. MSU will return home to host Maryland on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. inside the Jenison Fieldhouse as part of its National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration.

Women’s Tennis

MSU women’s tennis continued its dominant run by extending its winning streak to five matches with home victories over Xavier, Gonzaga, and Ball State at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center. The Spartans swept Gonzaga without dropping a single point in either doubles or singles and bounced back from early setbacks to secure 4–2 wins over both Xavier and Ball State. The singles portion proved especially strong, highlighted by Ellie Blackford’s performances, as MSU controlled key matchups and built momentum ahead of upcoming away matches against Ivy League opponents Princeton and Columbia.

Softball

MSU softball ended its NFCA Leadoff Classic run on Sunday with a 5-2 win over No. 13 Clemson, the highest-ranked opponent the Spartans have defeated since last May against No. 3 Oregon. MSU continued its strong start to the season at the Queen City Classic, beating Virginia Tech 7-6.

The Spartans will play a total of five games over the weekend, starting and ending with Virginia Tech, with a pair of games against Charlotte and one game against Villanova in between.

Wrestling

MSU wrestling continued its home stand in a packed Jenison Fieldhouse but fell 40-6 to No. 8 Iowa, unable to build on last week’s win against Northwestern. It was the first meeting between the schools since 2020. With the defeat, the Spartans now have a 15-41-2 all-time record against the Hawkeyes and have not beaten them since 2005. MSU’s record drops to 4-7 overall and 1-5 in Big Ten duals on the season. The Spartans will return to Jenison Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 13, to face Rutgers.

Track & Field

MSU track & field had a successful day at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor, recording six first-place finishes. Elle Adrian and Xavier Griffiths dominated the weight throw, taking first in the women’s and men’s events, respectively. Dillon Morlock won the shot put, Adam Blue claimed the pole vault, Logan Allen captured the first track event with a victory in the 60-meter hurdles, and Cameron Cheetham won the men’s 60 meters with the fourth-best time in MSU history. The Spartans will compete at the Heartland Invitational in Indianapolis this weekend.

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Baseball

MSU Baseball opens up the 2026 season this weekend in their first series against No.8 Louisville. The Spartans face off against the Cardinals in a three-game series starting Friday, Feb. 13, and ending Sunday, Feb. 15. Following the first series of the season, MSU heads to No.3 Texas for another three-game series next weekend against the Longhorns.

Men’s Golf

The MSU men’s golf team continues its spring season by traveling to Panama City Beach, Florida, for the Watersound Invitational. The invitational will be played at Sharks Tooth Golf Course from Monday to Wednesday.

Women’s Golf

The MSU women’s golf team will also look to continue its spring season as it travels to Sarasota, Florida, for the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational. The invitational will take place at the Palm Aire Champions Course, taking place Sunday and Monday.

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