The No. 19 MSU men’s basketball team (8-2) overcame foul trouble to both of its point guards to knock off a relentless Loyola-Chicago (6-3) 73-61 Saturday afternoon, behind a career-high 20 points from freshman guard Gary Harris.
The MSU women’s basketball team’s winning streak came to an end as they lost to No. 19 Dayton 60-53 Saturday afternoon.
Three hours before Saturday’s game against Loyola-Chicago, Gary Harris was ready. Setting his feet, checking his mechanics and firing shot after shot at the rims of Breslin Center, Harris wanted to be comfortable playing for the first time since his Nov. 20 shoulder injury without his shoulder brace.
After a first half that saw the No. 19 MSU basketball team head into the locker room trailing Loyola-Chicago, it seemed the Spartans were in line for another lackluster performance against a non-conference opponent. However, there was nothing lackluster about what Gary Harris had in mind Saturday at Breslin Center.
It was clear from the opening tip that the Ramblers (6-2) came to play, leading the No. 19 MSU men’s basketball team (7-2) 32-30 at halftime.
After starting the past two seasons in unique venues, MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo is learning not to take anything athletics director Mark Hollis says lightly.
It’s been one day since an emotional Tom Izzo addressed the media following his team’s 32-point victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where the head coach promised his playing rotation would be shortened. After watching the film, a more subdued Izzo hadn’t changed his stance.
The MSU women’s basketball team (8-0) has accomplished more with their backs against the wall this year than was expected of them, and now they have another obstacle to hurdle when they take on No. 19 Dayton at 1 p.m. Saturday in Dayton, Ohio.
Before the No. 19 MSU basketball team took the floor Wednesday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Tom Izzo vowed he’d have a much fairer evaluation of his team than he did on Saturday against Nicholls State. But even after the No. 19 Spartans thoroughly routed the Golden Lions on Wednesday evening at Breslin Center, the veteran head coach didn’t like what he saw.
Holding an opponent scoreless for the opening 10 minutes of a game, as part of a 32-point victory would have most basketball coaches excited. But Wednesday night, Tom Izzo was anything but.
There was a distinct holiday flavor in the air at Breslin Center on Wednesday, as the Izzone student section taunted visiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff with Christmas songs for much of the evening. Unfortunately, the No. 19 MSU basketball team wasn’t exactly in the mood for gift giving.
As is the case for many college basketball teams this time of year, there still are kinks to be worked out by head coach Tom Izzo and the No. 19 MSU basketball team. However, in the nonconference season, aside from a few games, it’s often hard to find a fair point of evaluation.
When the MSU women’s basketball team lost to Notre Dame on Dec. 11, 1999, it already was off to the best start in program history.
In 17 years of coaching, MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant has never experienced something like she has this season.
Nearly two weeks ago, Tom Izzo tried to shake things up, but fate wouldn’t let him.
After a stressful opening month to the season that began with the No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team (6-2) traveling across the pond to Germany, flying to Atlanta four days later to face the then No. 7 team in the country, then playing a stretch of four games in one week, the Spartans needed a laugher, and Saturday they got one.
The game was over and Milwaukee wanted to leave the floor, but glass lying across the court stood in their path, leaving the Panthers didn’t know what to do. A light bulb in Breslin Center appeared to have shattered in fitting fashion: the Spartans had shot the lights out and Milwaukee didn’t have an answer.
For just the second time in school history, the MSU women’s basketball team is 7-0 after demolishing Milwaukee (3-4) 81-50 on Saturday evening.
It was a total team effort as the MSU women’s basketball team improved to 7-0 for only the second time in program history with a 81-50 win over Milwaukee (3-3) on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, the No. 13 MSU basketball team was paid a visit by a familiar face.