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Sports | Men's Basketball

Marina Csomor ·
MEN'S BASKETBALL

Boilermakers stand in way of Big Ten hopes

Eleven months ago, the MSU men’s basketball team headed to West Lafayette, Ind., needing a victory to stay in the race for a second-consecutive Big Ten title. The Spartans walked out with a 53-44 win over the third-ranked Boilermakers and won a share of the Big Ten championship two weeks later. This year’s Spartans aren’t as far into the conference slate.

Chris Vannini ·
MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans to regroup against efficient, well-coached Badgers

Going into Saturday’s game at Penn State, it appeared the MSU men’s basketball team finally was back on the fast track to a third-straight conference championship after a difficult start to the season. The Spartans were 2-0 in conference play, and other than the final two minutes of their win against Northwestern last Monday, they were playing some of their best basketball of the season. Then, after what head coach Tom Izzo described as the best week of practice he could remember in the last 10 years, a completely different MSU team showed up Saturday at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa., and lost, 66-62, to Penn State. At his weekly press conference Monday, Izzo couldn’t explain why his team was unable to translate its good practice habits into a game. But Izzo said 7 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans lacking statement win, identity

During MSU’s run of six Final Fours in the last 12 years, anyone who knows anything about basketball has learned to never doubt a Tom Izzo-led basketball team in November or December. But after watching the No. 12 Spartans lose to No. 18 Texas, 67-55, Wednesday night at Breslin Center, it’s becoming harder and harder to believe in this MSU basketball team’s chances at a long run in March.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans survive scare against Oakland, 77-76

Auburn Hills, Mich. – The No. 7 MSU men’s basketball team may have been favored against in-state foe Oakland, but the Spartans found themselves in a 40-minute dogfight against the defending Summit League champion Golden Grizzlies, winning, 77-76, at the Palace of Auburn Hills.