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Column: 20-win men's basketball team still searching for identity

Josh Mansour

February 10, 2013

West Lafayette, Ind. — When Tom Izzo looked out on practice Friday and saw two of his top guards sitting out injured and several other players hobbled, he didn’t know what he had. Could they be healthy enough to compete in a tough road environment? Would they be mature enough to focus on the game at hand and avoid getting caught looking ahead to a matchup with arch-rival Michigan on Tuesday? It didn’t take long for Izzo to get his answer. The No.

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Dawson leads men's basketball to road win against Purdue

Dillon Davis

February 9, 2013

West Lafayette, Ind. – By now, Branden Dawson should know what to expect when he visits Purdue’s Mackey Arena. A season ago, the Gary, Ind.

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Men's basketball leads Purdue 31-23 at half

Dillon Davis

February 9, 2013

West Lafayette, Ind. – Branden Dawson is ready to move on. But even though a year has passed since Dawson signed with the MSU men’s basketball program, the Purdue faithful still hasn’t forgotten.

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Women's basketball prepares to face Penn State

Stephen Brooks

February 9, 2013

Arguably the biggest challenge of the season looms Sunday in State College, Pa., in the second stop of what MSU women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant calls the “February fight.”

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Harris shows heroism in MSU victory

Dillon Davis

February 7, 2013

It certainly wasn’t a pretty showing by the No. 12 MSU men’s basketball team Wednesday at Breslin Center.

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Men's basketball rallies from sluggish start, defeats Minnesota

Josh Mansour

February 6, 2013

After plodding through an ugly first half, the No. 12 MSU men’s basketball team (19-4 overall, 8-2 Big Ten) used an energetic second half to come from behind and defeat No. 18 Minnesota (17-6, 5-5), 61-50, on Wednesday night at Breslin Center.

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Men's basketball trails Minnesota, 20-18, in low-scoring rematch

Josh Mansour

February 6, 2013

Sometimes two teams get entangled in a rugged defensive struggle, where both teams fight to exert their will on the opposition. This was not one of those times.

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Live chat: MSU men's basketball versus Minnesota

Dillon Davis

February 6, 2013

Join our live chat as the MSU men’s basketball team takes on Minnesota at Breslin Center in a rematch with implications for the rest of the Big Ten season.

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Harris probable, Trice unlikely to play in Minnesota rematch because of injury

Dillon Davis

February 5, 2013

Tom Izzo has developed many friends in the coaching business. After 18 years with the MSU men’s basketball program, it’s bound to happen.

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Column: U-M win gives MSU control of own destiny

Stephen Brooks

February 5, 2013

The MSU women’s hoops team really needed Monday’s victory over Michigan. It needed it to maintain dominance over the Spartans’ arch rival.

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Dawson looks to step up

Josh Mansour

February 5, 2013

When Branden Dawson thinks about his performance in MSU’s past game, Thursday against Illinois, one word sticks in his mind — “embarrassing.”

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Injuries might sideline Harris, Trice

Dillon Davis

February 4, 2013

The bench continues to shrink for the No. 12 MSU men’s basketball team. After battling the injury bug earlier this season, freshman guard Gary Harris and sophomore guard Travis Trice both left Thursday’s 80-75 win against Illinois with a new set of ailments.

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Valentine appears to be past freshman wall

Josh Mansour

February 4, 2013

Weaving his way through the defense, Denzel Valentine spotted his teammate open in the corner on the opposite side of the court — yet, that wasn’t where he passed the ball.

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Women's basketball ahead, 29-22, at half against Michigan

Stephen Brooks

February 4, 2013

The only thing pretty in the first half of tonight’s installment of the MSU – Michigan series was the special pink jerseys each team was sporting. It was a typical low-scoring, gritty rivalry game you would expect in a matchup of the No. 1 and 2 scoring defenses in the Big Ten.

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The Mittens come off

Stephen Brooks

February 3, 2013

Pink jerseys, Breslin Center, arch rivals. The last time those three factors for the MSU women’s basketball team came together was Feb. 13, 2011, and culminated in a 69-56 victory against Michigan in front of the first sellout crowd in program history.

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Searching for his wings

Dillon Davis

February 3, 2013

From the moment he steps on the Breslin Center floor, Russell Byrd hears everything.

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Appling leads comeback charge in 80-75 win over Illinois

Dillon Davis

February 1, 2013

When the game is on the line, MSU head coach Tom Izzo has few question where the ball belongs. A slick pass here. A layup there. And not to mention, pure ice in the veins at the free throw line.

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Trice, Harris leave Illinois game after injuries; statuses unknown

Josh Mansour

February 1, 2013

A lineup initially altered to address off the court issues now faces serious on the court concerns, as the Spartans wait to learn of the fate of guards Gary Harris and Travis Trice.

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Women's basketball rights the ship with road win against Northwestern

Stephen Brooks

January 31, 2013

It wasn’t the dominating, confidence-boosting win the Spartans were hoping for, but they’ll take it. The MSU women’s basketball team (17-4 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) avoided a three-game skid by beating Northwestern 67-62 on the road tonight behind junior forward Annalise Pickrel’s career-high 21 points.

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Men's basketball trails Illinois by 10 points at half

Dillon Davis

January 31, 2013

After one half of play at Breslin Center, the No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team trails Illinois, 37-27.