BASKETBALL
MSU avoids Minnesota scare
MSU overcame a Big Ten opener scare to defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 65-59, Saturday night at Breslin Center.
ICE HOCKEY
MSU icers tie Lake Superior State, 3-3
It’s like kissing your sister. Despite Friday’s six-goal blowout against Lake Superior State, Saturday’s hockey game headed into overtime as the Spartans and Lakers tied at three. The Spartans are now unbeaten in their last 18 overtime games, posting a 6-0-12 record.
ICE HOCKEY
Icers thrash Lakers
MSU junior forward Tim Crowder and sophomore defenseman Mike Ratchuk know how to ring in the new year.
SPORTS
Emotional Spartans overcome Buckeyes, 60-53
After dropping two straight games to unranked opponents, the MSU womens basketball team rebounded its way to an emotional 60-53 win over No. 17 Ohio State on Sunday at Breslin Center.
ICE HOCKEY
MSU icers lose to Providence
MSU head coach Rick Comley summed up his disappointment in the Spartans’ game Saturday against Providence during the 43rd Great Lakes Invitational at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. “The whole game,” a clearly agitated Comley said, as he rested his hand on his cheek.
FOOTBALL
Gutter ball
Orlando, Fla. — In a testament to their fighting mentality, MSU battled No. 14 Boston College until the end, but then, the Spartans blinked.
ICE HOCKEY
Struggling to score, Spartans fall to Huskies in GLI, 4-1
Detroit – It was not a very good day for Spartans sports.
ICE HOCKEY
Michigan Tech to play U-M in GLI championship game
Detroit – Michigan Tech has finally broken through in the Great Lakes Invitational.
BASKETBALL
Spartans lose Big Ten opener to Minnesota, 74-63
After winning its last five Big Ten openers, the No. 23 MSU women’s basketball team dropped this season’s Big Ten opener to Minnesota 74-63, Saturday.
FOOTBALL
Playtime over, Dantonio, MSU prepare for gametime
With the trip to Disney World and all of the bowl festivities drawing to a close, the Spartans now face the task of battling adversity one last time this season. MSU announced Monday that five players, including senior defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic, are ineligible for the Champs Sports Bowl against No. 14 Boston College.
FOOTBALL
Saint-Dic and four other Spartans out for bowl
Five Spartans, including senior defensive lineman Jonal Saint-Dic, will not play in the Champs Sports Bowl on Friday due to academic ineligibility or violating team rules.
SPORTS
Neitzel surpasses Magic in assists
On a night in which MSU senior guard Drew Neitzel needed a single assist to pass Spartan great Earvin “Magic” Johnson for a career total, Neitzel did one better.
SPORTS
Spartans upset Longhorns
It was The Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan Show Saturday night as MSU upset No. 4 Texas 78-72 in the Spartan Clash in front of a sold-out crowd of 22,076 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
BASKETBALL
Road woes continue for Spartans
The No. 23 MSU women’s basketball team suffered another road loss. In a battle until the end, Hartford (10-2) clinched the 54-51 win in a second-half comeback thanks to its 17 points off of the 15 Spartan turnovers and Hawks forward Danielle Hood’s 19 points and eight rebounds.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
MSU defeats San Jose State with 40-point win
During Wednesday’s men’s basketball game at Breslin Center, it was all Spartans – the MSU Spartans, not the San Jose State Spartans.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Sooners' second-half surge defeats women's basketball team
The MSU women’s basketball team held on until the end, when Oklahoma clinched the win 66-55. After claiming the lead for good just under three minutes left in the game, the Sooners handed the Spartans their first home loss of the season. Oklahoma point guard Jenna Plumley sunk the 3-point game-winner with 2:42 left on the clock to start the 10-2 Sooner run.
SPORTS
Spartans take out Mastadons, 79-57
Senior guard Drew Neitzel had 18 points and junior forward Marquis Gray had a season-high 15 to lead the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team over IPFW, 79-57, Saturday at Breslin Center.
FOOTBALL
Big Ten football teams to add bye week
Big Ten football teams will add a bye week to the schedule beginning in 2009, Big Ten spokesman Scott Chipman said, potentially extending the conference’s season past Thanksgiving.
FOOTBALL
Hoyer studies Eagles quarterback, eager for matchup
All season long, junior quarterback Brian Hoyer said he has been flipping through his TV stations trying to find the Boston College games. He watched as Eagles quarterback Matt Ryan drove his team to two fourth-quarter touchdown drives in a come-from-behind 14-10 win against Virginia Tech. He paid close attention to Ryan’s mechanics, admiring the little things like his footwork.
ICE HOCKEY
No. 5 Spartans enjoy best first-half start under Comley
It’s been a successful first half of the season for the MSU hockey team. The Spartans head into the holiday break with a 12-3-2 record – the best such start under head coach Rick Comley – with all three losses coming to teams ranked No. 1 in the country at the time of the game.