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Sports | 1000

SPORTS

Spartans five wins from national title

James Jahnke
March 12, 2001

The top-ranked Spartans took the first step of what they hope will be a monthlong climb to a national championship this weekend at Munn Ice Arena.With the two-game sweep of Alaska-Fairbanks in the first round of the CCHA playoffs under its belt, MSU is likely five wins away from its first national title in 15 years.“We came out and needed to get on the board (in the playoffs) and we did,” MSU head coach Ron Mason said.

SPORTS

Its a great time to be a hoops junkie

Eric Lacy
March 12, 2001

I’ll never forget the first time I realized why - besides that first 60-degree day of spring semester when Spartan women start sunbathing on the banks of the Red Cedar - this is the most special time of the year.

SPORTS

Icers squeak out win in CCHA playoff series

James Jahnke
March 12, 2001

John Nail is glad the top-ranked Spartans had to play Alaska-Fairbanks in the first round of the CCHA playoffs.Not because the senior right wing and his teammates wanted a pushover to start their postseason run - as one might have expected from the 10th seed in the tournament - but because Nail wanted a challenging series right away.“On your way to the championships, there’s always going to be games like this,” Nail said.

SPORTS

Spartans sent packing early

Eric Mckinney
March 12, 2001

CHICAGO - Instead of providing a tune-up for the NCAA Tournament, the Big Ten Tournament served as a breakdown for the third-ranked Spartans.MSU (24-4, 13-3 Big Ten) went to Chicago hoping to capture its third-straight tournament title, but a 65-63 loss to Penn State (19-11, 7-9) in the Spartans’ first game Friday left players hanging their heads.During the post-game press conference, senior forward Andre Hutson had little to say with his shoulders slouched and a blank stare upon his face.“We just have to accept it,” Hutson said after a brief pause.

SPORTS

Guards struggle in loss to Lions

Eric Lacy
March 12, 2001

CHICAGO - Despite MSU’s lack of floor leadership in its 65-63 loss to Penn State Friday, there looks to be no changing of the guards for the squad’s upcoming first round game in the NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS

Senior night win could grab title

Eric Lacy
March 2, 2001

Even though Michigan (10-16 overall, 4-11 Big Ten) is having a down year - losing 10 of its last 13 games - MSU head coach Tom Izzo is convinced the struggling Wolverines will step up their play Saturday in an attempt to spoil No.

SPORTS

Big Ten could make or break grapplers

Keith Dunlap
March 2, 2001

For the MSU wrestling squad, its version of March Madness is about to begin. The Big Ten Wrestling Championships will take place this weekend in Evanston, Ill., while the NCAA Championships are March 15-17 in Iowa City, Iowa.

SPORTS

Team must win Big Ten tourney to get NCAA bid

Krista Latham
March 1, 2001

The MSU women’s basketball team has one hope of getting a berth in the women’s NCAA Tournament - it must win the Big Ten Tournament, which begins today at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.Ninth-seeded MSU plays in the first game of the tournament against eighth-seeded Ohio State at 4 p.m.

SPORTS

W-hoops seniors finishing strong

Krista Latham
March 1, 2001

For five MSU women’s basketball seniors, today marks the beginning of the end.Guards Christie Pung and Donita Johnson and center Erin Skelly will have at least one more chance to finalize their career totals and make a mark in Spartan history, as MSU begins Big Ten Tournament play today against Ohio State.But no matter what the outcome will be, all three, along with forward Becky Cummings, have ended their careers listed in the top 10 in at least one category.

SPORTS

Seniors to play last game at home

James Jahnke
March 1, 2001

The finality is starting to hit Sean Patchell.The senior left wing - and five of his classmates - will step on and off the ice at Munn Ice Arena for the last time tonight against arch-rival No.

SPORTS

Track stars earn Big Ten honors

Keith Dunlap
March 1, 2001

The team may have finished eighth out of 10 teams, but that didn’t stop junior Andy Lixey and senior Paul Terek from putting MSU at or near the top of the podium at the men’s track Big Ten Indoor Championships in State College, Pa.

SPORTS

Miller ranks third in Hobey fan balloting

James Jahnke
February 28, 2001

Sophomore goaltender Ryan Miller is currently in third place in the online fan voting for the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey’s most prestigious individual trophy.Miller trails North Dakota forward Jeff Panzer, the vote leader, and Maine forward Niko Dimitrakos in the standings.

SPORTS

Major-leaguers share gripes, debate salaries

The Associated Press Frank Thomas seems to have done the impossible. He’s united baseball players and owners - against him. Mark McGwire is incredulous that players making $9 million or $10 million a season are grumbling they’re underpaid. “Nobody puts a gun to your head to sign a long-term deal,” the St.

SPORTS

Baseball loses opening weekend

Keith Dunlap
February 27, 2001

It wasn’t a good start to the season for the MSU baseball team this weekend as it dropped two games to Troy State, in Alabama, both by identical 5-4 scores, according to MSU Sports Information. The two teams were supposed to play a three-game series, but Sunday’s game was canceled because of severe weather.

SPORTS

Seniors win in last home game

Krista Latham
February 26, 2001

A barrage of three-pointers gave the MSU women’s basketball team a 58-50 win over Minnesota on Sunday, as five senior players graced Breslin Student Events Center for the last time.Senior guard Christie Pung had a career day, hitting a season-high 15 points on a career-high five three pointers.

SPORTS

Offense skates circles around competition

James Jahnke
February 26, 2001

COLUMBUS, Ohio - If you ask MSU head coach Ron Mason what the key factors have been to his top-ranked Spartans’ success this year, he’ll tell you it’s rock-solid defense and phenomenal goaltending. But it was MSU’s unappreciated offense that skated circles around the baffled Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend in Columbus. The Spartans tallied 12 goals in the two-game series - a total the team probably would be happy with during a normal four-game stretch. “There’s been different ways we’ve scored all year,” Mason said Saturday.

SPORTS

Hoops team rallies for strong finish

Eric Mckinney
February 26, 2001

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - One after another, the MSU men’s basketball team continues to stack up records. Saturday’s 76-57 win over Penn State (16-9 overall, 6-8 Big Ten) gave MSU’s seniors - Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson, David Thomas, Mike Chappell and Brandon Smith - their 109th career win, a new Big Ten single-class record. The old class record of 108 was held by two separate Indiana classes, the 1972-73 through 1975-76 class and the 1990-91 through 1993-94 class. “It builds a bond between these seniors that will never be broken,” guard Thomas said.