SPORTS
Denzel Valentine trying to do it all for Spartans
With 17 seconds left, junior guard Denzel Valentine missed a potential game-tying shot from no more than five feet away from the rim.
SPORTS
Alvin Ellis earning minutes after tough start to season
It's been a difficult season for sophomore guard Alvin Ellis II. After being set back by a sprained ankle in mid-November, he's struggled to find his place in the rotation.
SOFTBALL
Softball opens season strong by taking four of their first five games
MSU Softball finished opening weekend with a 4-1 record, and a four-game winning streak. They traveled to DeLand, Florida to participate in the Westin Lake Mary Leadoff Classic at Stetson to play Akron, Rhode Island, Morehead State and Stetson.
BASKETBALL
Women's basketball falls to 11-13 with loss to Minnesota
The Spartans saw a major contribution from a player outside of Aerial Powers and Tori Jankoska, two of the top five leading scorers in the Big Ten. Lexi Gussert, who got the start in replacement of Anna Morrissey on Sunday against Minnesota, recorded a career-high 20-points, 16 of which came in the first half. The freshman was responsible for the first 13-points of the afternoon for MSU (11-13, 3-10 Big Ten) before Kennedy Johnson's jumper botched the streak at the 12-minute mark. Gussert's electrifying performance was good enough for the Spartans to go up as high as 10 midway through the first half, but a resurgent effort by the Golden Gophers extends MSU's losing streak on the road to six straight games, falling short at Williams Arena, 86-79. Powers, the redshirt sophomore from Detroit, fell short of reaching her 20th straight double-double game, recording a team-high 31-points who also grabbing nine rebounds in the process. Jankoska followed suit with 21-points and eight rebounds.
ICE HOCKEY
The Cold War
For most, the Cold War refers to the post-World War II hostility between world powers. But for MSU and U-M hockey fans, it means game time.
ICE HOCKEY
Men's hockey drops outdoor game to U-M 4-1
Outdoor hockey games always come with unknown variables and on Saturday night, U-M (16-8, 8-2 Big Ten) handled the elements much better than MSU (10-12-2, 4-4-2-2 Big Ten). The Wolverines scored just 1:43 into the game and never looked back on their way to a 4-1 victory over the Spartans at Soldier Field in Chicago.
ICE HOCKEY
Hockey drops Hockey City Classic to U-M 4-1 in Chicago
MSU hockey (10-12-2, 4-4-2-2 Big Ten) had its three-game winning streak snapped Saturday night losing 4-1 to U-M (16-8, 8-2 Big Ten) in the Hockey City Classic.
SPORTS
Free throws an issue as MSU drops game to Illinois 59-54
Free throw shooting has perhaps been MSU's greatest weakness this season. On Saturday, that weakness was compounded to absurd heights. The Spartans missed eight free throws in the first half against Illinois Saturday at Breslin Center, and three in the final four minutes of the game.
SPORTS
Halftime: men's basketball trails 28-27
At halftime, Illinois leads MSU, 28-27. Both teams entered the game missing key pieces, with Illinois down redshirt senior guard Rayvonte Rice and MSU down freshman forward Javon Bess. Junior guard Bryn Forbes was called for a reach-in foul at the 18:19 mark, and after a good week of practice, sophomore guard Alvin Ellis checked in for him.
FOOTBALL
Women's basketball drops game to in-state rival Michigan 72-59
An instate rivalry that has been historically commanded by MSU saw a different chance in scenery on Thursday night when a prolonged streak was shattered. Michigan, who haven't swept the Spartans in the regular-season since the 1999-00 season, squandered the historic run thanks in part to four of their starters finishing in the double-digit mark in scoring, silencing MSU on the road, 72-59. Despite being loaded with two of the top five leading scorers in the Big Ten in Aerial Powers (No. 2) and Tori Jankoska (No. 5), the duo was held to a combined 31-points, 25 of those recorded by Powers. Jankoska, who is the reigning Big Ten player of the week after scoring a career-high 28-points last week against Indiana, shot a mere 2-of-8 from the floor, failing to sink her first field-goal until the 10-minute mark in the second half. Coming into their 11th conference game of the season, Michigan's last win outside of Ann Arbor was back in January, 17 against Northwestern. On Thursday, a 20-2 run in the first half was enough to hold MSU's comeback late in the second, led by Powers. The Detroit native, who played the entirely of the game due to a lack of numbers on the bench for head coach Suzy Merchant, was able to keep the motor running, cutting the deficit to as low as nine with more than four minutes remaining. Anna Morrissey, the 5-foot-10 senior guard, followed suit by pulling up for a wide opened three-pointer to decrease the Wolverines' lead to six two minutes later, her only bucket of the evening. Powers also led the Spartans in rebounds (15) and finishing second behind Jankoska in assists (four). Katelynn Flaherty and Cyesha Goree were the leading scorers for the Wolverines, finishing with 19 and 17-points each. Goree also led the maize-and-blue with 10-rebounds. MSU's Becca Mills contributed 10-points, seven of which came in the first half. The frustrating loss at the Breslin Center for the Spartans ends their two-game home win streak, which began with a victory over Wisconsin on the 25th of January. They'll have a couple days off before hitting the road to face Minnesota, who have lost just twice this season in front of the home crowd.
SPORTS
Men's basketball looks to avenge last season's loss to Illinois Saturday
At 6-3 in Big Ten play, the men's basketball team is in the midst of a crucial stretch with the Big Ten Tournament just a month away.
FOOTBALL
MSU football breaks mold and recruits in Texas, Arizona
National Signing Day has passed and the Spartans may have secured one of their most talented classes rankings wise in recent memory. The fact the Jimmy Clausen was a five-star recruit and largely considered the No.
BASKETBALL
Michigan leads women's basketball 37-21
Michigan hasn't swept the Spartans in regular-season play since the 1999-00 season. But after the first half of play, the Wolverines will have an easy road to squander the 14-year streak. Both Katelynn Flaherty and Siera Thompson lead the maize and blue with 12-point to give the team a 35-18 lead heading into the locker room. Michigan has managed to have a field day on the offensive side of the glass, converting 60-percent of their shots from beyond the arc while shooting 50-percent from the floor.
SPORTS
Motor no longer an issue for Branden Dawson
Tom Izzo has had a lot to be concerned about this season. But senior forward Branden Dawson's motor, a concern in previous seasons, has perhaps been the least of MSU's problems. Dawson has been stellar in Big Ten play, averaging 12 points and a league-leading 10.1 rebounds per game.
SPORTS
Even in the cold of winter, MSU baseball prepares for upcoming season
One week shy of their first game in Surprise, Arizona, MSU baseball is forced to prepare in unconditional ways. Burdened with the inability to practice at the McLane Baseball Stadium, the team attempts to replicate a number of game-like situations indoors at the Duffy Daugherty football center.
FOOTBALL
National signing day brings 22 new commitments for MSU football
On a day that brings a plethora of strain and tension, Mark Dantonio woke up this morning feeling stress free. With an overcast hanging above his head and plenty of slush accumulating on his feet, the MSU head coach took the time to go for a run. "I wasn't worried about anything," Dantonio said Wednesday afternoon at the signing day press conference at Spartan Stadium.
ICE HOCKEY
Hockey prepares for outdoor matchup with U-M
For the second weekend in a row, MSU hockey (10-11-2, 4-3-2-2 Big Ten) will face its rival No.
FOOTBALL
Defensive end Mufi Hunt makes it 20 commits for Mark Dantonio's 2015 class
The 2015 recruiting class is now completed on Wednesday as Taylorsville (UT) defensive end Mufi Hunt has committed to MSU on National Signing Day. The decision was made at his high school in front of a packed audience with his entire family.
FOOTBALL
Arizona outside linebacker Cassius Peat dumps UCLA, picks MSU instead
Corona De Sol (AZ) outside linebacker Cassius Peat, who committed to UCLA back in October, has flipped his decision and has signed his letter of intent with MSU on National Signing Day. First reported by Jason Jewell of Scout.com on Wednesday, Peat remained opened to other programs despite committing to UCLA. The Spartans were one of three schools that Peat was considering, along with Arizona State and the Bruins. Ranked as the No.
SPORTS
Swimming and diving looks forward to meet against rival
The Michigan State Women’s swimming and diving team will be looking to get back in the win column this Friday, as they take on women of Michigan The meet will take place in East Lansing, and will be a great opportunity for the Spartans to bounce back after a tough 190-110 this past Saturday against Illinois. The team hasn't had the best season so far, currently holding a 5-8 record.