Sunday, November 24, 2024

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Basketball

BASKETBALL

MSU claims share of Big Ten title

It’s taken Goran Suton five years to get a share of a Big Ten Championship. And while a share of the title is all well and good, excuse the senior center if he and his teammates want the whole thing for themselves.

BASKETBALL

Team fought back to earn No. 2 seed

With its 57-55 victory over Purdue on Sunday, the MSU women’s basketball team locked itself into the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and gave itself a solid chance at getting into the NCAA Tournament to play as many as two more games at Breslin Center.

BASKETBALL

Morgan getting healthy at right time for MSU

Junior forward Raymar Morgan’s health is still a concern, but his play on Sunday was a sign that it might not be for much longer. Morgan played his best game in nearly six weeks against Illinois, scoring 14 points and adding six rebounds off the bench to help the Spartans defeat Illinois 74-66 at Assembly Hall.

BASKETBALL

Spartans shock Purdue

It was all a giant screwup. With 19 seconds on the clock in a 55-55 basketball game against Purdue, MSU senior guard Mia Johnson brought the ball up the court to run the final play for the Spartans.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Lone senior keeps focus as season winds down

Even as her last few games as a Spartan come closer to reality, senior guard Mia Johnson is strictly focused on the importance of winning the Big Ten Championship. After all, intensity and focus have been Johnson’s trademarks at MSU and have allowed her to leave an indelible mark on the program.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Freshmen carry Spartans in win

With several veterans battling injuries or fighting shooting slumps Wednesday night, No. 9 MSU’s freshmen picked up the slack and saved the day. Forward Delvon Roe scored a team-high 16 points, guard Korie Lucious added 12, and forward Draymond Green added four for the Spartans, who slipped past Iowa 62-54 at Breslin Center.

BASKETBALL

Iowa comes to E.L. fresh off OT win over U-M

With games against Purdue and Wisconsin in the books and a road game against No. 20 Illinois on Sunday, tonight’s game against Iowa could be viewed by some as the perfect time for the MSU men’s basketball team to overlook its competition. Then you remember senior guard Travis Walton is the captain of this team, and taking any opponent for granted won’t happen under his watch.

BASKETBALL

With league title on mind, MSU has tough close to year

Staring down second place with two tough games to play following a heartbreaking 54-51 loss to Wisconsin on Sunday, MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant said her team would have to be much better if it wanted a chance to win the Big Ten regular season championship.

BASKETBALL

Izzo proud of Sunday's defensive effort

After Sunday’s win against Wisconsin, MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo couldn’t stop gushing about his team’s defensive performance. A day later, Izzo was still downright giddy about the job his team did against the Badgers, especially in the second half when the Spartans limited their opponents to just two field goals in the final 12:30.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Sliding into second

The MSU women’s basketball team took a hit to its Big Ten championship chances Sunday, losing 54-51 at Wisconsin. That, combined with Ohio State’s win against Indiana on Sunday, put the Spartans one game back with two to go.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans stage comeback in front of '79 champs

With 12:31 remaining and his team trailing Wisconsin 41-29, MSU head coach Tom Izzo called a 30-second timeout with a very simple message for his team — play defense. The sixth-ranked Spartans did as their coach asked, outscoring the Badgers 32-9 the rest of the way to win 61-50 on Sunday at Breslin Center.

ICE HOCKEY

Prognosticators

It’s once again that time to guess the outcome of this weekend’s games with the State News prognosticators.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Izzo's three laws of basketball

Whatever Michigan guard Manny Harris tried to do, it simply wouldn’t work. The Wolverines’ 6-foot-5 guard tried to drive through the lane, post up in the paint and spot up from three, but wherever he went on Feb. 10, MSU senior guard Travis Walton was there in his face.