SPORTS

Five MSU swimmers set to compete in Winter National Championships

Mason Bailey

December 2, 2015

Five MSU swimmers are looking to take a big step in their careers as they compete in this year's AT&T Winter National Championships in Federal Way, WA.  The event is an opportunity for the best swimmers in the nation--from high school athletes to olympians--to showcase their talents and, hopefully, post a time fast enough to earn them a spot on the Olympic team.  This competition is especially important for senior Ian Rodriguez, last year's Puerto Rico National Champion, who is looking to post a time in the 100m backstroke good enough to earn him a spot on the Puerto Rico Olympic team.

BASKETBALL

MSU basketball's busy schedule continues with No. 24 Louisville on Wednesday night

Ryan Squanda

December 2, 2015

The No. 3 MSU basketball team (7-0) is off to a fast and busy start to its 2015-16 campaign and is currently in the midst of a stretch which, when it's all said and done, will include seven games in 15 days. What started as a 79-73 victory over Kansas on Nov. 17 in Chicago, was followed by a 92-46 victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and continued with a four-game week, where the Spartans finished a Wooden Legacy championship. But MSU's busy stretch doesn't stop there. The Spartans, after getting back from California at 6:30 a.m. Monday morning, will turn right back around and take on the No. 24 Louisville Cardinals (5-0) Wednesday at 7:15 p.m.

FOOTBALL

MSU football leads Big Ten with four First Team All-Big Ten offensive selections

Stephen Olschanski

December 1, 2015

Eight Spartans received all conference offensive recognition, four received First Team All Big Ten Honors, and two received individual awards Tuesday night during a special broadcast of the conferences all league selections and awards selections on BTN.

BASKETBALL

Eron Harris finding role with MSU basketball

Ryan Squanda

December 1, 2015

Two years ago, as a sophomore at West Virginia University, Eron Harris was about as talented a scorer as they come.

BASKETBALL

Valentine and Davis each receive weekly Big Ten honors following Wooden Legacy

Casey Harrison

December 1, 2015

Following the basketball team's 77-64 victory over Providence for the Wooden Legacy trophy, both Denzel Valentine and Deyonta Davis received Big Ten honors for their performances last week.

FOOTBALL

Football runs in the family for MSU wide receiver Monty Madaris

Ryan Kryska

December 1, 2015

Monty Madaris, redshirt-junior wide receiver and defensive back at MSU, played for the skinny bricks alongside his cousin Rodriguez. Lined up across the backyard on the roughnecks were the boys’ other cousins, Greg and Michael Means Jr. While also in the Eastside of Cincinnati, their cousin Isiah Gentry was growing up a few years behind the six-year-olds’ makeshift league. Madaris, Means Jr. and Gentry, all products of Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati and all wide receivers, now play NCAA Division I football across the Midwest, with Means Jr. being a redshirt-junior at Akron and Gentry a redshirt-freshman at Minnesota.

BASKETBALL

MSU basketball takes Wooden Legacy crown with 77-64 victory over Providence

Nathaniel Bott

November 30, 2015

The No. 3 MSU basketball team (7-0) used a 20-7 run in the last five minutes Sunday night to defeat the Providence Friars (6-1), 77-64 to take the Wooden Legacy crown in Anaheim, Calif.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hockey swept by North Dakota, falls 4-1 in series finale

Stephen Olschanski

November 29, 2015

What started out as a chance for MSU hockey (4-7-2) to turn their luck around quickly became another disappointing result as North Dakota (12-2-2) defeated the Spartans handedly, 4-1. “I thought we played really hard,” head coach Tom Anastos said.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Getting to know women's basketball center and Czech Republic native Hana Vesela

Casey Harrison

November 29, 2015

Being a college freshman can be overwhelming as it is.  But for basketball player, and international student Hana Vesela, she's ready to take the world on and help the women's basketball team as much as possible.

SOCCER

MSU women's club soccer team reflects on national championship

Emma Hausbeck

November 29, 2015

The MSU Women’s Club Soccer Team headed down to nationals in Phoenix, AZ on Nov. 17 and won the national title for the first time since 2012, but like their entire season, it wasn't as easy as it looked.

FOOTBALL

Five takeaways from No. 5 MSU's victory against Penn State

Ryan Kryska

November 28, 2015

The No. 5 MSU football team (11-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) defeated Penn State (7-5 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) 55-16 Saturday evening at Spartan Stadium, solidifying a share of the Big Ten East Division Championship.

FOOTBALL

ESPN's College GameDay to visit Big Ten Championship game between MSU and Iowa

Stephen Olschanski

November 28, 2015

ESPN’s College GameDay will be making another stop at game featuring MSU as it announced via twitter that it would be traveling to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game between Iowa and MSU on Dec.

FOOTBALL

FINAL: No. 5 MSU defeats Penn State, 55-16

Matthew Argillander

November 28, 2015

No. 5 MSU (11-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) defeated Penn State (7-5 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) 55-16 Saturday night at Spartan Stadium to clinch a share of the Big Ten East Division title and a showdown against No. 4 Iowa (12-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten). 

FOOTBALL

HALFTIME: No. 5 MSU leads Penn State, 20-10

Matthew Argillander

November 28, 2015

No. 5-ranked MSU (10-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) leads Penn State (7-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) 20-10 at halftime.

FOOTBALL

LIVE BLOG: No. 5 Michigan State vs. Penn State

Ryan Kryska

November 28, 2015

Tag-a-long with The State News as we cover the No.5-ranked Spartans (10-1) home game and senior day against Penn State (7-4).

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hockey dominated by North Dakota, falls 3-1

Stephen Olschanski

November 28, 2015

North Dakota (11-2-2) was better in just about every facet of the game than MSU hockey (4-6-2) and though a late push by the Spartans made it seem close, it was too little too late.

COMMENTARY

COLUMN: MSU and Penn State is a forced rivalry, not genuine

Stephen Olschanski

November 28, 2015

When Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862 into law, he unknowingly created all that is great about college football.

BASKETBALL

Denzel Valentine shines again in MSU basketball's 77-67 victory over Boise State

Ryan Squanda

November 27, 2015

A night after notching his second triple-double of the season in a victory against Boston College, MSU senior guard Denzel Valentine had another big game, finishing with 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists to help the Spartans to a 77-67 victory over the Boise State Broncos.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hockey to face tough test in No. 5 North Dakota

Stephen Olschanski

November 27, 2015

For the first time since 1980 North Dakota hockey (10-2-2) will skate at Munn Ice Arena. Part of Friday and Sunday series MSU hockey (4-5-2) will face the newly nicknamed Fighting Hawks.

BASKETBALL

Valentine triple-double helps Izzo to 500th victory in MSU rout of Boston College

Ryan Squanda

November 26, 2015

MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo earned his 500th career victory at MSU on Thanksgiving night as his No. 3 MSU basketball team (5-0) defeated the Boston College (3-1), 99-68, in the first round of the Wooden Legacy tournament in Fullerton, Calif. Senior guard Denzel Valentine led the Spartans with his second triple-double of the year, finishing Thursday’s contest with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.