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Sports | Basketball Men's 1000

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Seeing the light

Sometimes on the big stage, when nobody expects it, the curtain opens up and the spotlight shines on whoever is standing at the center. With senior guard Keith Appling out indefinitely with a wrist injury, junior guard Travis Trice has joined one of the most scrutinized student groups at MSU — the basketball team’s starting lineup. In his two games as a starter against Penn State and Wisconsin, Trice has protected the ball like he owns it, dishing out nine assists and committing zero turnovers. Although there are facets the Huber Heights, Ohio native can improve on, head coach Tom Izzo likes what he sees out of his new starting point guard. “I think he’ll get better this week,” Izzo said.

ICE HOCKEY

Hockey defenders providing valuable contributions in conference play

With goals not coming in bunches for MSU hockey, there only is one way the Spartans continue to remain in tight games each night out — defense.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Badgers top Appling-less MSU in Madison

MADISON, Wis. — The Spartans blew their only chance to beat Wisconsin in the regular season, as Traevon Jackson hit a 10-foot jump shot with 2.1 seconds left in the game to give the Badgers a 60-58 win. “(I’m) disappointed we didn’t find a way to win it,” head coach Tom Izzo said.