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Spartans take down Illinois in hard-fought home win
Keith Appling knew the implication of what had happened.
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MSU takes down Illinois, 80-75
Keith Appling knew the implication of what had happened. Having been in foul trouble for much of the afternoon, the junior guard fouled out in the second half of Sunday’s game against Indiana, forcing the No.
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MSU looks to bounce back against Illini
As the Spartans prepare to welcome Illinois (15-6, 2-5) to Breslin Center Tonight (7 p.m., ESPN), sophomore guard Travis Trice said it’s imperative the team doesn’t let one loss snowball into anything more, as was the case a season ago.
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Izzo: Dawson is key to greatness
Not only is the No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team’s (17-4 overall, 6-2 Big Ten) rotation small, it’s also potentially frail, with each of the seven players burdened in one way or another.
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Izzo praises team in loss to Indiana
After taking one of the nation’s top teams down to the wire before falling short of the victory Sunday, there was little different about the way Tom Izzo spent his postgame press conference.
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Despite solid performances by Payne, Harris, men's basketball falls to Indiana, 75-70
The No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team (17-4 overall, 6-2 Big Ten) was unable to pull off the upset in Bloomington, Ind. Sunday afternoon, falling to No. 7 Indiana (18-2, 6-1), 75-70, before a capacity crowd at Assembly Hall.
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Men's basketball trails Indiana at half
The boos echoed throughout Assembly Hall every time he touched the ball. The chants rained down as he stood at the free throw line for the first time, less than two minutes into the game.
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Frontcourt battles key to Indiana-MSU men’s basketball game Sunday
With first place in the conference on the line, the Spartans’ trip to Assembly Hall could be the team’s biggest challenge of the young conference season.
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Spartans face-off against No. 7 Indiana in a pivotal Big Ten matchup Sunday
There are several times each season when a team can signal a distinct turning point of the year, often coming through a signature win against a marquee opponent. The No. 13 MSU basketball team is staring at a huge opportunity for one this weekend at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
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Spartans hang on late against UW
For several weeks, MSU head coach Tom Izzo has emphasized the importance of Keith Appling putting together a consistent game from start to finish.
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Live chat: MSU men's basketball team versus Wisconsin
The tough Big Ten gauntlet continues for the No. 13 MSU men’s basketball team (16-3 overall, 5-1 Big Ten), as the Spartans travel to Madison, Wisc., to take on the Badgers (13-5, 4-1). Join tonight’s live chat to get up-to-the-minute updates on the game and share comments and questions with The State News’ men’s basketball reporter, Josh Mansour.
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Freshmen guards hit 1st-year wall
It’s one of the most common and difficult barriers in all of collegiate athletics: the freshman wall. A talented freshman excels for the first several months of the season before experiencing a sudden and noticeable decline. Though difficult to predict when it might happen or the reason behind its occurrence, it’s a physical barrier facing many of college basketball’s diaper dandies.
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Payne shows skills against OSU
There are a few times each game where Adreian Payne shows off how good he can be. Although sometimes lost in moments of frustration or general fatigue, there are the moments when Payne throws down a dunk or dishes a nifty pass or, more recently, fires a shot from beyond the 3-point line that reminds head coach Tom Izzo of the player he once recruited.
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Appling leads Spartans to win over OSU, 59-56
The Spartans might not know who their leading scorer will be each night. They might not know where they’ll finish in the crowded Big Ten. They might even continue to be the “strangest” 16-3 team Tom Izzo has ever coached. But one thing they know for sure — when the game is on the line, Keith Appling delivers. The junior guard came through in winning time again Saturday night, scoring MSU’s final six points to carry the No.
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In close game, Spartans beat OSU, 59-56
Keith Appling stood at the free throw line, stared straight ahead and exhaled deeply. After being hounded all night by Ohio State’s Aaron Craft, MSU’s junior guard had the chance to get the last laugh. Appling delivered. Calmly sinking both free throws, Appling sealed a big victory for the No.
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Spartans on top of Ohio State at halftime
Sparks of MSU offense bookended the first half, as the Spartans used back-to-back fast break baskets to take a 30-26 lead over No.
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Live chat: MSU men's basketball game at Penn State
The MSU men’s basketball team is set to take on Penn State on the road Wednesday night. Follow along with our live chat here, and leave your questions, comments and analysis for State News men’s basketball reporter Josh Mansour.
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Flying in the Face of Fear
The scream echoed throughout a Breslin Center stunned into silence. As he writhed on the floor in pain Sunday night, one phrase kept repeating itself in Branden Dawson’s mind. “Please, please don’t let this happen to me again.” For a moment, the sophomore guard thought his worst fear had become a terrifying reality. Dawson defied the odds at the beginning of the season in returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in his left knee three months ahead of schedule and with nearly identical, jaw-dropping athleticism and leaping ability. But as he laid underneath Nebraska’s basket, clutching his knee after being fouled on a fast break layup, many wondered if the seven months spent in rehab went for naught. Tom Izzo was “crushed,” Adreian Payne was “nervous,” and Derrick Nix was “just praying that he was alright.”
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Scouting report: Penn State beat writer breaks down keys for Nittany Lions against MSU
We sat down with one of The Daily Collegian’s men’s basketball reporters, John McGonigal, to discuss the three keys for Penn State to pull off an upset.
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Spartans set to take on Penn State on the road
After Wednesday’s game against Penn State (8-8 overall, 0-4 Big Ten), eight of the Spartans’ (14-3, 3-1) next 14 games come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25. Of the final 15 games, eight come on the road, including historically tough venues at Wisconsin and Purdue.