After it appeared to be a virtual lock that No. 8 MSU (10-2 overall) was heading to South Beach for New Year’s Day, the selection committee threw a curveball as now the Spartans can set their sights on the lone star state this holiday season. MSU will take on No.
The volleyball team was not able to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for a third consecutive season.
Less than 24 hours after suffering a 5-0 loss to the No. 3/6 Minnesota Gophers (9-4-1, 1-0-1-0 Big Ten), MSU hockey (5-9-1, 1-2-1-1 Big Ten) was back to redeem themselves.
Bryn Forbes has been on fire for the men's basketball team over the last couple weeks, but head coach Tom Izzo isn't entirely satisfied with his overall performance on the court. A few days after scoring 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the floor Wednesday against Notre Dame, Forbes scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting on Saturday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
MSU raced out to an early lead against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and after 40 minutes of punishment for the visiting Golden Lions, the Spartans came away with an imposing 85-52 victory. Junior guard Bryn Forbes continued his hot shooting, making his first two three-pointers of the game.
The men's soccer team (12-5-6 overall, 4-2-2 Big Ten) was defeated 3-2 Saturday afternoon, in the Elite Eight by the Providence Friars (16-4-2 overall, 5-2-2 Big East). This was the Spartans second loss in the quarterfinals in as many years. The Spartans struck first on a goal by senior forward Adam Montague at the 7:40 mark on an assist from senior forward and midfielder Tim Kreutz and junior midfielder Jay Chapman. MSU played with the lead for most of the first 45 but the Friars equalized at the 36:33 mark on a goal by freshman midfielder Daniel Neustadter with an assist from sophomore forward Mac Steeves. Providence wasn't done with their first half scoring, the Friars took the lead late, scoring on a goal by sophomore midfielder Dominik Machado with an assist from senior forward Fabio Machado and sophomore forward Mac Steeves. Providence took seven shots and four corner kicks in the first half compared to just five shots and one corner kick from the Spartans. In the second half Providence picked up where they left off in the first, scoring the first goal of the half at the 61:53 mark, on a goal by Fabio Machado with an assist from senior defender Thomas Ballenthin.
By Troy Jefferson tjefferson@statenews.com Two sophomores came to the rescue for the Spartans on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Thanks in large part to opposite hitter Allyssah Fitterer and outside hitter Chloe Reinig, MSU (19-13 overall) defeated Loyola Marymount (23-8 overall), 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21) in Palo Alto, Calif.
MSU hockey (5-9, 1-2 Big Ten) lost its first of a two-game home series against No.
With finals week coming up, the swimming and diving team will send only three athletes to the AT&T Winter National Championships this weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina.
MSU hosted Georgia Tech as part of the ACC/Big Ten challenge, and after falling behind early, the Spartans needed overtime to claw out a tough 79-73 victory. The Spartans (5-1) got off to a very slow start and appeared out of sync as Georgia Tech (5-4) jumped to a 20-11 lead at the 11:45 mark.
As the No. 3-seeded men’s soccer team (12-4-6 overall, 4-2-2 Big Ten) prepares for its second Elite Eight game in as many years, the team has to be confident that what they’ve done all season will lead them to a win over the No. 11-seed Providence Friars (15-4-2 overall, 5-2-2 Big East) Saturday at noon in DeMartin Soccer Stadium.
It’s dancing time for the volleyball team. MSU (18-13 overall, 11-9 Big Ten) will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night against Loyola Marymount (23-7 overall, 11-7 West Coast Conference) at Stanford’s campus in Palo Alto, California at 7:30 p.m.
MSU finished the season 10-2 and most likely will play in one of the New Year’s Day six non-playoff bowl games. That’s a pretty successful season and something Spartan fans should be pleased with in the end. However, MSU gets only a B+ grade simply because the Spartans didn’t live up to the high expectations.
After splitting all five of their two-game series this season, MSU hockey (5-8, 1-1 Big Ten) will look to string together two wins this weekend.
With the regular season over, MSU football now turns its attention to bowl game season. Here's a breakdown of the bowl games MSU could potentially play in on New Years or New Years Eve.
Not since the 2010-2011 season has an MSU hockey (5-8, 1-1 Big Ten) player scored more than 15 goals in an entire season. If a few current Spartans can keep up the pace they’ve set this season, MSU could have two players with more than 18 goals.
Clutch play by junior guard Denzel Valentine could save the Spartans (5-3 overall) from falling to Notre Dame (7-1 overall) 79-78 in overtime in the ACC/Big Ten challenge Wednesday night. The Fighting Irish were led by senior guard Jerian Grant, who had 27 points and six assists.
While some of America was shopping on Black Friday and getting rid of Thanksgiving leftovers, MSU hockey (5-8, 1-1 Big Ten) was facing off against Princeton University (2-7-1) in New Jersey. On Friday night, the Spartans were defeated 3-1 after allowing three unanswered goals. MSU rebounded Saturday and was able to defeat the Tigers 3-2.
Although MSU's College Football Playoff dreams may have ended with their Nov. 8 loss to Ohio State, the Spartans (10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) remain very interested in the College Football Playoff rankings. The top 10 teams in the rankings are in the running for one of the selection committee's non-playoff bowl games, also referred to as the "New Year's six" bowl games.
Women’s volleyball received four All-Big Ten honors for the 2014 season, announced Tuesday by conference coaches.