BASKETBALL

Nix, Payne work together, see results

Pat Evans

January 29, 2012

Last year, Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman made for a unique friendship. This season, with Sherman now at Notre Dame, Nix — a junior center for the No. 10 men’s basketball team — has paired with sophomore center Adreian Payne to make up a new age Bash Brother combination. Nix and Payne have utilized their vastly different styles of play to help the Spartans (17-4 overall, 6-2 Big Ten) stay atop the conference standings.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans swept at Ferris State

Dillon Davis

January 29, 2012

In its first true road series since December 9th, the No. 16 hockey team was swept in two games this weekend by Ferris State.

ICE HOCKEY

Column: MSU is two-faced, real identity unknown

Dillon Davis

January 29, 2012

Whenever I start to get a grasp of the MSU hockey team, it makes a quantum leap in a different direction. Like a schizophrenic uncle or a cranky girlfriend, the team shifts personalities on a dime and leaves spectators and media wondering which version is the real one. So, which one is it?

SPORTS

Women's tennis tops Eastern Michigan, 5-2

Katie Harrington

January 29, 2012

The MSU women’s tennis team defeated Eastern Michigan 5-2 for its second win of the season Sunday at the Indoor Tennis Facility and now boasts a 2-1 record for the season.

BASKETBALL

Lineup changes give women's basketball 83-77 win over No. 18 Penn State

Josh Mansour

January 29, 2012

Following the MSU women’s basketball team’s fourth straight loss on Thursday, MSU head coach Suzy Merchant sat at the podium, wondering aloud where her team that opened the conference season with four straight wins had gone. On Sunday, Merchant said she might have found her squad.

SPORTS

MSU suffers weekend losses, moves to 3-8

Jesse O'Brien

January 29, 2012

Ann Arbor — It was another tough weekend for the MSU wrestling team as the Spartans dropped both their weekend duals to fall to 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten.

SPORTS

Gymnastics earns first season win against Illinois State

Jesse O'Brien

January 28, 2012

The MSU gymnastic team got its first win of the season Friday night over Illinois State at the sixth annual Jan Howard Memorial Flip for a Cure meet, 194.400-193.625. The mark is the Spartans’ highest of the season and helped them to improve to 1-3 overall.

SPORTS

No. 7 Nebraska takes down Spartans, 27-8

Jesse O'Brien

January 28, 2012

The MSU wrestling team dropped another Big Ten dual Friday night, falling 27-8 against No. 7 Nebraska.

BASKETBALL

Women's basketball comes back against Illinois, drops overtime 71-62

Josh Mansour

January 26, 2012

After getting blown out by Purdue in the last game and riding a three-game losing streak, the MSU women’s basketball team expected a return home to face one of two Big Ten teams without a conference win to help solve the offensive problems.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hopes to improve power-play results against Ferris State

Dillon Davis

January 26, 2012

With 10 games to play and a series rematch with Michigan looming, the No. 16 MSU hockey team (13-9-4 overall, 8-7-3-2 CCHA) hopes to continue its four-game unbeaten streak and seize momentum heading into February.

SPORTS

Spartans host 6th annual Flip for a Cure Meet on Saturday

Jesse O'Brien

January 26, 2012

The MSU gymnastic team’s return to Jenison Field House hopes to be a successful one as the Spartans (0-3 overall) prepare to welcome Illinois State for the sixth annual Jan Howard Memorial Flip for a Cure Meet.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Izzo's job more than wins

Pat Evans

January 26, 2012

Four hundred college basketball wins. That’s 400 more wins than I’ll likely ever accumulate in my lifetime, but still more than 500 less than Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. And that’s enough to make Tom Izzo feel like 400 isn’t very many.

Dillon Davis ·

BASKETBALL

Spartans celebrate Izzo's 400th win

Dillon Davis

January 26, 2012

Despite having as impressive a resumé as there is in college athletics, Tom Izzo never has been one to grandstand his personal accomplishments.

SPORTS

Spartans host Nebraska, travel to Michigan

Jesse O'Brien

January 25, 2012

The MSU wrestling team is in for another big weekend as it prepares to welcome Big Ten newcomer No. 7 Nebraska to Jenison Field House before heading to Ann Arbor for its much anticipated match against in-state rival No.

BASKETBALL

MSU looks to avoid four-game losing streak Thursday

Josh Mansour

January 25, 2012

Riding a three-game losing streak, including two straight games on the road, the MSU women’s basketball team will return home, trying to snap its recent losing skid.

FEATURES

Former MSU, NFL player overcomes obstacles to complete degree years in the making

Darcie Moran

January 25, 2012

MSU alumnus and former NFL player Josh Shaw is used to tension.

ICE HOCKEY

CCHA more competitive, raises level of play

Dillon Davis

January 24, 2012

As commissioner of the CCHA, Tom Anastos didn’t take to the concept of parity in the conference. To him, parity portrayed a connotation of weakness among the teams in the CCHA.

BASKETBALL

Izzo prepares Spartans for tipoff against Gopher depth

Pat Evans

January 24, 2012

When Trevor Mbakwe went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in November 2011, many thought Minnesota was in for a rough season. Instead, the Minnesota men’s basketball team (15-5 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) comes into Breslin Center for a game against the No. 11 Spartans (16-4, 5-2) as one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten. Tipoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. tonight.

SPORTS

Column: Wrestling dual outcomes independent of singles success

Jesse O'Brien

January 24, 2012

The one thing MSU wrestling head coach Tom Minkel has been adamant about all season long is that if his wrestlers focus on taking care of their individual matches, the duals will take care of themselves. But unfortunately for Minkel, despite several wrestlers taking care of business, the duals haven’t fallen the way of the Spartans (3-6 overall, 1-4 Big Ten).

BASEBALL

Morrall, Gibson to be honored

Dillon Davis

January 24, 2012

The Spartan baseball program will honor Earl Morrall as its Alumnus of the Year at the annual First Pitch Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Kellogg Center. In addition, former Spartan All-American and current Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson will be on hand for a jersey recognition.