MEN'S BASKETBALL
Men's basketball falls to Wisconsin 68-61
The men's basketball team lost by seven points, but the game was nowhere near as close as the final score indicated.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball tops Purdue 61-56
Tori Jankoska has once again proven to be the much needed catalyst for a team looking for a confidence boost late in the season. In a game that saw constant lead changes and momentum swings, the sophomore forward would send the dagger through the hearts of the Boilermakers with 14 seconds left on the clock. Up by three, a steal by the 5-foot-8 guard followed by an uncontested layup was the bitter end to Purdue's resurgent run to a close upset, finishing the season on a three-game wins streak thanks to a 61-56 final score. Jankoska, the Freeland native, capped off the regular-season by recording her tenth 20+ points game of the season to make her the MSU leader in points down in West Lafayette, giving the Spartans an undefeated record whenever she sits on top of the leaderboard. The offensive firepower of Jankoska and Aerial Powers combined for 43-points, the only two players that recorded more than five points before the final buzzer.
BASKETBALL
HALFTIME: Women's basketball leads Purdue 29-28
Tori Jankoska has picked off where she left off this past Wednesday against the Purdue Boilermakers, garnering 14-points before heading back into the locker room to give MSU a 29-28 lead before halftime. With the ninth seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament on the line Saturday afternoon, the Spartans came out of the gates early with a head of steam, quickly going on a 15-6 advantage at the 10:24 mark. But the Boilermakers, who are sitting dead last in the conference standings with Penn State, went on a 22-14 run to make it a one possession game. Andreona Keys would end the first 20-minutes of play by hitting an uncontested layup right before the buzzer to cut the deficit to one, following a turnover by freshman Kennedy Johnson with two seconds remaining. Jankoska is shooting 75 percent (3-of-4) from beyond the arc and 57 percent (4-of-7). She has also posted two rebounds and two assists. Meanwhile, sophomore forward Aerial Powers has broken the MSU single-season rebounding record after grabbing her 337th of the season.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
One of the greats
Senior forward Branden Dawson came into MSU with all the hype in the world and, as a result, has had blessings and curses during his career in East Lansing.
BASKETBALL
Aerial Powers breaks single season Spartan scoring record
C. Vivian Stringer, the head coach of No. 20 ranked Rutgers, closed the locker room for media members following their defeat at the hands of MSU this past Sunday in East Lansing. When the 2009 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee had her run-in with reporters inside the tunnel, the conversation quickly focused on the performance of Aerial Powers. Stringer said that if she could go back and change her preparations for last season's Big Ten regular-season champions, she would have shown less film on the conference's leading scorer, knowing that her players would be less intimated and less fearful at the Breslin Center. Barely being edged out by No.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Men's basketball uses hot perimeter shooting to take 41-36 lead over Minnesota at halftime
Minnesota's size was too much for MSU in the first half, so the Spartans made them pay on the perimeter.
BASKETBALL
Despite .500 record, women's basketball still ranks in the top 10 in attendance nationally
The product on the floor may not have been as well decorated this season in comparison to years past, but that hasn't stopped loyal supporters in walking through the turnstiles. According to the MSU athletic department, the Spartans rank first in the Big Ten and eighth in the country in total attendance for women's basketball games as of Feb. 17. This was evident during Sunday's upset victory over No.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball tops Illinois 67-65
Tori Jankoska is further proving to her critics that Aerial Powers isn't the only superstar in the making on the Spartans roster. Playing a major role in last Sunday's upset over first-year Big Ten participant and No.
BASKETBALL
Halftime: Women's basketball leads Illinois 42-30
Whenever sophomore guard Tori Jankoska finishes a contest as the team's leader in the points column this season, the Spartans have come away with a victory. That was evident when MSU nearly caused a court storming this past Sunday in East Lansing when they knocked off No.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball prepares for crucial stretch before Big Ten tournament
Their first victory over a ranked program in more than two months couldn't come at a better time with a week into the Big Ten tournament. Currently sitting ninth in the conference standings tied with Illinois after knocking off No.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Men's basketball outlasts Illinois 60-53
The Spartans nearly let another sure win slip away, but an uncharacteristically strong night at the line helped MSU steal a road win from one of the best home teams in the Big Ten. MSU (19-8 overall, 10-4 Big Ten) drained 17 of 20 free throw attempts to defeat Illinois, 60-53.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball caps emotional senior day with upset over No. 19 Rutgers
Tears were shed and standing ovations were received before the opening possession occurred on Sunday. Battling with ACL tears on both of her knees, redshirt senior Madison Williams has spent the entirety of this season sitting on the bench, cheering for her teammates day in and day out. But on the final home game of the year for the Spartans, Williams would get the nod from head coach Suzy Merchant to be slotted into the starting lineup. Along with Williams, Kendra Lumpkin, seniors Kendra Lumpkin, Kelsey Kuipers, Anna Morrissey and Becca Mills were honored after the weekend matinee.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball upsets Rutgers 70-60
Tears were shed and standing ovations were received before the opening possession occurred on Sunday. Battling with an ACL on both of her knees, redshirt senior Madison Williams has spent the entirely of this season sitting on the bench, cheering for her teammates day in and day out. But on the final home game of the year for the Spartans, Williams would get the nod from head coach Suzy Merchant to be slotted into the starting lineup. Having her name called by the public address announcer brought the crowd to their feet in support of Williams, one of five seniors honored at the Breslin Center on Senior Day. Despite losing the opening tip off and being immediately taken out by freshman Lexi Gussert, it was the one shining moment that Williams deserved after not seeing the court all season. Still searching for that first quality win since their Dec.
BASKETBALL
Halftime: Women's basketball leads Rutgers 27-20
The Spartans supporters rose to their feet on two separate occasions before a single point was even scored. Both times for a player who made her first appearance on the court this season. Madison Williams, the senior who has been battling an ACL tear on both of her knees, got the start at center on Senior Day.
BASKETBALL
Tickets go on sale for Big Ten women's basketball tournament
A complete turnaround for the Spartans since the end of last year has finally taken shape with three games remaining of the regular-season. And it's not for the better. Unlike the 2014 program who fought their way to the second round of the NCAA tournament before falling short to North Carolina, MSU's long and treacherous journey in hopes of receiving a bid at The Big Dance starts at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill, the site of the 2015 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. If the season ended today, Suzy Merchant's squad would face last place Penn State in the first round as an 11th seed.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball ready to welcome No. 19 Rutgers to Breslin Center
To put the Rutgers' season into perspective, read the plot line of the Friday the 13th movie. Rutgers, otherwise known as Jason Voorhees, the hockey mask wearing serial killer who stalks and torments camp counselors, is the metaphor to how well the first-year Big Ten conference participant have performed since joining the conference. Just like Voorhees, the body count is towering this year for the Scarlet Knights, winners of eight of the last 10 games.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Halftime: men's basketball leads U-M 38-23
Ann Arbor, Mich. It took MSU five 3-point tries before their first make. But when senior guard Travis Trice sank a triple with 13:46 seconds left in the first half, the proverbial lid came off for MSU. The Spartans made 5-of-13 3-pointers and shot 59.3 percent in first half against rival U-M Tuesday night and lead 38-23 at halftime.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball comes close to pulling off upset, still falls to Maryland
Before the opening tip off, sophomore forward Aerial Powers was gven a standing ovation in front of the home crowd for her career setting record this past Wednesday. Standing alongside head coach Suzy Merchant on center court, Powers was given a commemorative basketball in recognition of her 1,000 point scored against Penn State, making her the 24th player in Spartan history to reach the milestone. "I was very excited," Powers said when asked to describe the emotions he felt during the pregame ceremonies.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball drops game to Maryland 75-69
Before the opening tip off, sophomore forward Aerial Powers was giving a standing ovation in front of the home crowd for her career setting record this past Wednesday. Standing alongside head coach Suzy Merchant on center court, Powers was given a commemorative basketball in recognition of her 1,000 point scored against Penn State, making her the 24th player in Spartan history to reach the milestone. A memorable moment for the No.
BASKETBALL
Aerial Powers on midseason watch list for Dawn Staley Award
15 other players are in the running for the award, but Aerial Powers' dominance on the basketball court in recent weeks will give her the necessary boost to claim the hardwood at the end of the season. Powers, who became the 24th Spartan in history to record over 1,000 points on Wednesday following the road victory against Penn State, was named to the midseason watch list for the Dawn Staley Award earlier this month. Given to the most outstanding collegiate guard in the country who exemplifies the skills that Staley endowed during her career, including ball handling, scoring and the ability to distribute the basketball. The Detroit native is one of four players from the Big Ten who were named to the watch list, along with Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell, Rutger's Tyler Scaife and Samantha Logic of Iowa. The sophomore's 26-points in Happy Valley puts her 33-points behind Liz Shimek (2002-06) for the MSU single-season scoring record.