Sports - The State News

ICE HOCKEY

Swedish MSU hockey player Villiam Haag finds home at State

Stephen Olschanski

January 13, 2016

For talented hockey players in Sweden, there is a pretty standard route to making it big. First, they play for junior or youth teams operated by professional clubs. And next, if they are good enough, they advance to the professional level of club play. That wasn’t the case for MSU junior forward Villiam Haag, though, because he packed his bags and moved 4,007 miles and six time zones away from his hometown of Gothenburg.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Breaking down past and present injuries of MSU men's basketball

Ryan Kryska and Josh Thall

January 12, 2016

An injury breakdown of the MSU men's basketball team.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Catching up with the No. 23 MSU women's basketball team

Ryan Kryska and Casey Harrison

January 12, 2016

MSU women's basketball is off to a great start this season. As the team gets deeper into Big Ten play, lets recap some highlight thus far.

FOOTBALL

MSU football finishes No. 6 in the final AP Top 25 Poll

Ryan Kryska

January 12, 2016

After Alabama defeated Clemson in the national championship, 45-40, the Associated Press released its final college football poll of the 2015 season. MSU wound up ranked No. 6 overall, which is a three-spot drop after losing to the Crismon Tide 38-0 in the College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

SPORTS

Meet MSU's next wrestling coach, Roger Chandler

Souichi Terada

January 11, 2016

Current associate head coach of MSU wrestling, Roger Chandler, has been with the Spartan wrestling program for nearly two decades and will take over as the program's director next season.

FOOTBALL

MSU fourth-string quarterback Tommy Vento agrees to play overseas in France

Casey Harrison

January 11, 2016

Now that fifth-year senior and walk-on Tommy Vento has graduated from MSU, he is taking his talents to eastern France. Sources confirmed on Wednesday that Vento has agreed to play for the Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Matt Costello rises to the occasion in Valentine's absence

Josh Thall

January 10, 2016

Over the course of his 21 years at MSU, head coach Tom Izzo has built his program the old fashioned way.

FOOTBALL

Despite disappointing loss in Cotton Bowl, MSU football's future is bright

Matthew Argillander

January 10, 2016

MSU’s 65 wins since 2010 are tied for fourth most among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams and Dantonio and his staff are recruiting some of the most talented young players MSU has ever seen. So, even with MSU's heartbreaking loss in the Cotton Bowl, the program's future is still bright.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 23 MSU defeats No. 16 Northwestern, 74-51

Casey Harrison

January 10, 2016

On a busy Sunday where the students of MSU were returning to campus to get ready for the new semester, the No. 23 MSU women’s basketball team pulled an upset over No. 16 Northwestern by a score of 74-51.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU blows out Penn State in Valentine's return, 92-65

Josh Thall

January 10, 2016

MSU beat Penn State Sunday afternoon 92-65 for its second straight 20-point win. The Spartans move to 3-1 in Big Ten play in senior Denzel Valentine's first game back after a four-game absence.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hockey loses to rival U-M 9-2 in front end of back-to-back games, rematch tonight

Stephen Olschanski

January 9, 2016

MSU hockey (5-14-2) was in the game for all of about 10 minutes before five Michigan (12-3-3) goals in a span of 5:40 would boil over into 9-2 Wolverine rout of the Spartans.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU basketball shows a complete effort despite injuries

Josh Thall

January 8, 2016

With senior Denzel Valentine missing his fourth straight game after having surgery on his knee, the MSU basketball team might have put together their most complete effort of the season in defeating Illinois 79-54 on Thursday night.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Valentine is questionable to return Sunday against Penn State, Izzo says

Ryan Squanda

January 8, 2016

It's been an interesting few weeks for MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo as his No. 5 MSU basketball team has navigated the beginning part of its Big Ten season without the services of star senior guard Denzel Valentine. On Thursday, the Spartans defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini, 79-54, in their fourth consecutive game without Valentine, who's currently sitting two-to-three weeks to recover from a minor knee surgery he had a few days before Christmas.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans click on all cylinders, defeat Illinois 79-54 without Valentine

Josh Thall

January 7, 2016

No. 5 MSU defeated Illinois 79-54 in its Big Ten home opener and first home game since defeating Florida on Dec. 12, 2015.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Halftime: MSU gets out in front of Illinois, 47-22

Josh Thall

January 7, 2016

No. 5 MSU leads Illinois 47-22 at halftime.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

LIVE BLOG: Michigan State vs. Illinois

Ryan Squanda

January 7, 2016

Welcome to the live coverage blog for the basketball game between the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans (14-1) and the Illinois Fighting Illini (8-7). Follow along and participate below:

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans prepare for Big Ten home opener against injury plagued Illinois

Josh Thall

January 6, 2016

After not playing at Breslin Center for nearly a month, the No. 5 MSU basketball team returns home for its Big Ten home opener Thursday night at 9 p.m.