Wednesday, January 14, 2026

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Sports

SPORTS

Hawkeyes' leading scorer off team for alleged assault

Iowa's leading scorer has been dismissed from the basketball team after facing legal charges for the second time in his college career. Guard Pierre Pierce is under investigation by West Des Moines police for intent to commit sexual abuse, burglary, criminal mischief and false imprisonment.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers gear up for final 10 games

Ten games. That's all that's left for the MSU hockey team in CCHA play, making it ever so crucial for the Spartans to string together some wins. It's no mystery that the season thus far has been plagued with inconsistency and misfortune for MSU, but finding itself in a sixth-place conference tie and the thought of not having home ice for the CCHA playoffs is not something the Spartans want to welcome. "As games diminish, your chances to affect where you are obviously start to evaporate," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

BASKETBALL

Falling short

An unruly Izzone student section and several late runs by MSU weren't enough to stop No. 1 Illinois and its talented trio of guards. Fighting Illini guards Luther Head, Deron Williams and Dee Brown combined for 54 points, each finding ways to dash any hopes of an MSU comeback.

FOOTBALL

Football team adds Birmingham recruit

Football team adds Birmingham recruitThe MSU football team picked up another recruit during the weekend, and the Spartans didn't have to go far to secure him. Adam Decker, a linebacker from Birmingham Brother Rice, committed to the Spartans over Georgia Tech, Princeton and Boston College.

BASKETBALL

Final tuneup

In a warm-up match before Tuesday's tilt with No. 1 Illinois, the No. 15 MSU men's basketball team cruised to a 92-75 win over Oakland on Saturday night at Breslin Center. It was the calm before the storm. "On a one-day prep, we tried to pick a couple things we wanted to accomplish," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

ICE HOCKEY

Under-18 team gets best of MSU

It was the same old story for the MSU hockey team when the Spartans met the US National Under-18 team in exhibition play Friday at Munn Ice Arena. They outshot USA 49 to 23 but lost, 4-3, and although the game won't count in the standings, senior captain Jim Slater called the loss "embarrassing." "I'll admit it - I'm embarrassed to really talk about it," he said.

SPORTS

Izzone: Remember hoops team is what matters most

Thursday's game against Michigan was the first real basketball game I've been to this year since the new Izzone rules were implemented. It's not as if I didn't want to go to any regular-season games before that, I just couldn't - prior commitments to this thing you're reading. I very well knew I could not attend many games this year.

SPORTS

Women's track finishes in 3rd place in meet

Yvette Lanier The State News The women's track team placed third at the Michigan Intercollegiate. Junior Taren James placed first in the triple jump, which was the fifth-best indoor distance in MSU history.

BASKETBALL

2nd-half surge

Down 7-0 within the first few minutes of the game, the No. 15 MSU men's basketball team quickly fought back and never let Michigan regain the lead in a sloppy 64-53 win Thursday night at a packed and boisterous Breslin Center. The Spartans committed 17 turnovers in the game, a figure that had head coach Tom Izzo scratching his head. "We're getting down to crunch time here," Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Spartans seniors see 4th win against U-M

Senior guard Chris Hill held his hands high in the air a little past midcourt - the same spot he threw a lob pass that sailed over several Michigan defenders and into junior guard Maurice Ager's hands for a high flying dunk with more than six minutes left. It was another moment on the highlight reel for MSU's senior class, winning 64-53 against the Wolverines.

SPORTS

Q&A Player of the week: Bryan Lerg

Freshman Bryan Lerg recorded his first career hat trick last week against Lake Superior. He tallied four points in the win and tie. The State News: What has been the big difference in your recent play from your play earlier in the season? Lerg: I think I'm getting used to the environment around here.