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Sports

BASKETBALL

Spartans try to cool off Golden Gophers

Patrick Walters
February 26, 2003

MSU is walking into a win-lose situation heading into tonight's matchup with Minnesota. Win and keep hopes of an NCAA Tournament berth alive; lose and consider its dance card lost in the mail.A loss at the Breslin Center tonight for the Spartans (14-11 overall, 6-6 Big Ten) could be catastrophic and running the table in the Big Ten Tournament might be the Spartans only hope for reaching the NCAA Tournament.The Golden Gophers, on the other hand, are looking to steal a conference game on the road to keep their own tourney hopes afloat.Minnesota (16-7, 8-4) strung several lopsided runs together en route to a 77-69 win in January when the teams met at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

BASKETBALL

Spartans convert must-win, down Minnesota, 71-61

Chris Mackinder
February 26, 2003

The Spartans were in a must-win situation Wednesday night and they didn't let the opportunity slide by.MSU (15-11 overall, 7-6 Big Ten) kept its NCAA Tournament hopes alive by defeating Minnesota 71-61 in front of a boisterous Breslin Center crowd.Sophomore forward/guard Alan Anderson led the Spartans with 18 points, while sophomore guard Kelvin Torbert added 17.

ICE HOCKEY

'Cats special to Comley; Slater 'doubtful'

James Jahnke
February 26, 2003

MSU head coach Rick Comley's second go-around with Northern Michigan still felt weird. However, it wasn't quite as strange as his first encounter with the team he coached for 26 seasons before coming to East Lansing this year. This weekend, Comley and his family reacquainted themselves with several old friends from Northern who traveled to MSU for the teams' two-game series. Of course, he saw many of the same people when the Spartans traveled to Marquette for a series in October.

ICE HOCKEY

Falardeau content as a grinder

James Jahnke
February 25, 2003

It's OK by Lee Falardeau if no one ever confuses him with Jaromir Jagr or a similarly skilled, speedy hockey player.The 6-foot-4, 211-pound sophomore center knows his role on the MSU hockey team extends beyond racking up goals and assists.There's defense to be played.

SPORTS

Kobe Bryant can be 'Like Mike'

Most of us Generation-Y kids grew up watching the untouchable and ever-so-alluring, Michael Jordan. We stared at the TV in awe and amazement as the 6-foot-6 guard would fly to elevated extremes and execute a never before seen dunk.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Benita Mehta
February 24, 2003

Grapplers win 1 of 2 The MSU wrestling team closed out the Big Ten portion of its schedule with a split of two road matches. The No.

ICE HOCKEY

Split hurts slim CCHA title hopes

James Jahnke
February 24, 2003

Rick Comley doesn't claim to be a soothsayer, but he made a prediction Saturday night: The MSU hockey team is in big trouble. After the Spartans dropped a lackluster 4-2 decision to Northern Michigan on Saturday, the MSU head coach said he doubts his team can still get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. "I couldn't imagine (getting in) now unless we win the CCHA Tournament," Comley said.

SPORTS

Donors may have to pay more for better seating

Kristofer Karol
February 24, 2003

MSU officials are looking to give the best seats in Spartan Stadium to the top money donors, however, Athletics Director Ron Mason said student seating will likely be untouched.Under the plan, fans that pay more money would get seats closer to the 50-yard line for football games.

BASKETBALL

Hill shines as team fades in 76-75 loss

Patrick Walters
February 24, 2003

Down just one point with 17 seconds left to play in Sunday's game against No. 15 Syracuse, MSU called a time-out to set up an open look at the game's winning basket. It wouldn't come. The Spartans (14-11 overall, 6-6 Big Ten) dropped their second home game of the season against a nonconference opponent Sunday afternoon, narrowly losing to the Orangemen (19-4) in frantic fashion, 76-75. MSU had three short-range chances - albeit obstructed ones - from sophomore guard Kelvin Torbert, senior forward Adam Ballinger and sophomore forward/guard Alan Anderson to nail the game-winning shot in the game's final seconds.

BASKETBALL

King of the Hill

Chris Mackinder
February 24, 2003

Sophomore guard Chris Hill delivered a dynamite performance Sunday afternoon, but the rest of his teammates dropped the bomb. The Spartans couldn't take advantage of Hill's spectacular 34-point game, falling in a 76-75 thriller. Hill set a Big Ten record with 10 3-pointers en route to his career-high 34 points.

BASKETBALL

Home court could remedy problems

Chris Mackinder  and  Patrick Walters
February 21, 2003

When the Spartans are struggling, one medicine always seems to provide the cure - Breslin Center. It's no secret MSU has struggled on the road this year (1-6 in the Big Ten and 3-9 overall). But playing in front of the 14,759 home fans, including the boisterous Izzone has been the answer to the road woes. Aside from one home blemish - an 81-76 defeat to Toledo on Dec.

SPORTS

Williams sisters dominate sport using strength

Serena and Venus Williams seem to have it all. They're ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in singles, respectively, they're a tough combo to beat in doubles and they've even designed their own tennis attire. But what makes Serena and Venus truly great?

FOOTBALL

Former players under pro scope

Kristofer Karol
February 21, 2003

Every year, hundreds of former college players push their bodies to the point of exhaustion, in hopes of obtaining their dreams. Such is the life of more than 300 prospects at the NFL's combine in Indianapolis this week.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Grapplers target 7th consecutive victory The MSU wrestling team heads into the last weekend of Big Ten action on a six-match winning streak. The ninth-ranked Spartans (9-5 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) take to the road after they bested five top-25 teams at Jenison Field House, including No.