Tuesday, January 6, 2026

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Sports

ICE HOCKEY

Newton expects to remain at U

MSU assistant coach Tom Newton, who expressed interest in becoming Bowling Green’s next head coach, said Wednesday that he doesn’t expect to be offered the job. “It would really shock me,” Newton said from his home.

BASEBALL

Spartans pound Lakers with offensive explosion

Not even a 7-foot fireballer could cool down the Spartan bats Wednesday night at Kobs Field.When southpaw Nathan Barden took the mound against the MSU baseball team (20-6 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) he couldn’t have imagined the Spartans would outscore his Grand Valley team 20-2.But Barden lasted just three innings for the Lakers (14-7, 6-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), surrendering six runs and eight hits.Six different Spartans hit home runs as the team launched a season-high seven over the fence.

SPORTS

Lugnuts close out series with 8-3 win over Whitecaps

The Lansing Lugnuts continued its trend of scoring early and often in its 8-3 victory Wednesday over the West Michigan Whitecaps. The Lugnuts (5-2) took three of four from the Whitecaps (3-4) in the opening series at Oldsmobile Park. Lansing scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, only to follow with two more in the bottom of the second inning.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans join U.S. national team

The red, white and blue of the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team added a little green and white for its upcoming exhibition season. Former Spartan outside hitter Erin Hartley and assistant coach Todd Dagenais will represent America on April 18-20 as the national team begins the exhibition season with three games against China’s Tianjin. “Ever since I was little I wanted to play for the U.S.

SPORTS

U offers online classes to NBA minor-leaguers

At the same time the quality of Tom Izzo’s men’s basketball program is suffering from players leaving school early for the NBA, the university is pioneering a way for athletes to continue their education while playing professionally.MSU and the National Basketball Development League jointly announced a “landmark” program Tuesday that will allow the league’s players to take adapted online classes through MSU’s Global Online Connection during the basketball season.The NBDL, which is wrapping up its inaugural season this week, is the only minor-league organization governed by the NBA.

BASKETBALL

Top recruit agrees to go green

The MSU basketball team received its first verbal commitment in a top 25 recruit for its 2003 recruiting class.Detroit DePorres junior point guard Brandon Cotton, widely considered a top prospect, told Spartan head coach Tom Izzo Monday that the two-year starter plans to don the green and white.Cotton said Izzo was the deciding factor in choosing MSU.“Coach Izzo wins a lot and produces good players,” Cotton said Monday night.

SPORTS

Women earn 2 wins

The women’s tennis team. (11-8, 3-4) claimed two singles wins, but lost 5-2 to Ohio State on Sunday at the Indoor Tennis Facility. The Buckeyes (16-3, 4-2) swept the three doubles matches and also won at No.

SPORTS

Men fall to Penn State

The men’s tennis team (13-9 overall, 1-6 Big Ten) split six singles matches against underdog Penn State, but the Nittany Lions claimed the team doubles point and a 4-3 victory over MSU on Sunday in State College, Pa. Freshman Andrew Formanczyktm (No.

SPORTS

Lugnuts host doubleheader at Oldsmobile

The Lansing Lugnuts are hoping that even a solid rainfall and 24 hours won’t extinguish their red-hot bats when they continue their series versus West Michigan tonight. After rain forced the two teams to cancel Monday’s game, the Whitecaps (2-2) and Lugnuts (3-1) will play a doubleheader with game one beginning at 6:05 p.m. A 10-run first inning propelled Lansing to a 12-3 win over the Whitecaps on Sunday.

SPORTS

Fans go nuts for home opener

Lansing - It only took fans two innings to soak in the sights, sounds and smells of baseball at Oldsmobile Park for the Lansing Lugnuts’ home opener. After a 42-minute, 13-run first inning, rain and sleet set in as fans bolted toward the exits and out of the 46-degree weather.

SPORTS

Lugnuts pound Whitecaps 12-3 at Oldsmobile

Lansing - The Lansing Lugnuts got off to the right kind of start in their home opener Sunday, using a lot of offense early on to bury the West Michigan Whitecaps 12-3 in front of 7,013 at Oldsmobile Park.It’s just the second win for the Lugnuts in home openers in their seven-year history.

SOFTBALL

Team pitches Spartans 1st perfect game

A perfect game at any level is historic. A perfect game at MSU was unheard of - until Saturday. Senior pitcher Becky Gray and sophomore pitcher Jessica Beech combined to throw the first perfect game in MSU history, a 2-0 no-hitter - with no walks - over Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne in the first of two games at IPFW Softball Field.

SPORTS

U takes 19 top-five finishes in Spring Opener

The men’s track and field team came away with 15 top-five finishes at Notre Dame’s Spring Opener on Saturday. In the field events, sophomore Steve Manz led MSU with first-place finishes in shot put (56 feet, 3 1/4 inches) and discuss throw (157 feet, 6 inches). He also placed third in hammer throw (162 feet, 8 inches). Senior Paul Terek finished with a second-place finish in javelin throw (187 feet, 9 inches). Terek also placed fifth in shot put and long jump. Sophomore Kevin Yokom won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14 minutes, 38.04 seconds. The women’s track and field team also produced top-five finishes at Notre Dame.