Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | Basketball Men's 1000

BASKETBALL

Spartans, Northern Iowa appear evenly matched

The No. 5-seed MSU men’s basketball team, with three players (junior guards Chris Allen and Kalin Lucas and sophomore forward Delvon Roe) suffering leg injuries, are hurting. No. 9-seed Northern Iowa battled its way to an upset of No. 1 overall seed Kansas, an easy pick for a national title winner.

BASKETBALL

What it takes to be Elite

One team came out of its last game with three injured players and a fourth with a chipped tooth, while the other has nine healthy players averaging 11 minutes or more per game. So who’s the favorite?

BASKETBALL

UNI beat writer picks Panthers

Kelly Beaton covers Northern Iowa for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Beaton is in his first season covering the Panthers and on Thursday spoke with The State News about Friday’s game with the Spartans.

BASKETBALL

With Lucas out, MSU becomes Green's team

With time winding down in the MSU men’s basketball team’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against New Mexico State last week, it felt like every Spartan and their next of kin was in dire foul trouble when MSU needed some big rebounds. Enter Draymond Green.

FOOTBALL

Nichol opens spring practice as starting WR

Fifteen years ago, Kordell Stewart made waves with his athleticism as a multiple-weapon threat with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. On Tuesday, the opening day for MSU football spring practice, head coach Mark Dantonio seemed convinced the Spartans have found their own “Slash.”

BASKETBALL

Kentucky derby daze

Louisville, Ky. – After a physical first half, No. 4-seed Kentucky’s aggressive, relentless attack was too much for the No. 5-seed Spartans to handle as fatigue took over and the Wildcats cruised to a 70-52 win Monday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Freedom Hall.

BASKETBALL

Breakdown: MSU vs. Kentucky

It’s been four seasons since MSU and Kentucky met in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That game, played in Chicago, saw the Spartans advance to their second straight Sweet 16 with a 67-63 win.