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Sports | Men's Basketball

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Izzo hopes distractions done for MSU

During his team’s three-game losing streak, Tom Izzo was looking for some resiliency and a rallying cry from his players. The MSU men’s basketball head coach thinks he found it during Saturday’s 65-54 win against Penn State, and a key reason was junior guard Mike Kebler’s defensive performance on Penn State guard Talor Battle.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Work in progress

Darlis Nix remembers her son’s trek to and from Detroit Pershing High School by the tears flowing from his eyes. An immensely talented basketball player and future high school state champion and Mr. Basketball winner, Derrick Nix also was the heftiest kid in his class growing up.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans to face Wolverines in rivalry game

Tom Izzo disagrees with former football coach and current trustee George Perles’ famous quote, “They all count one.” The mantra is something the MSU men’s basketball head coach won’t be thinking tonight when the No. 5 Spartans (17-3, 7-0) travel to Ann Arbor to face Michigan (10-9, 3-4).

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans get narrow win over Iowa

Their work here is done. The MSU men’s basketball team put a final — though potentially discouraging — stamp on a crucial homestand Wednesday night by beating Iowa 70-63 to improve its record to 6-0 in the Big Ten and hold its lead in the conference standings.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Morgan impressive on both ends of floor

Tom Izzo won’t call Raymar Morgan the next Travis Walton, but the MSU men’s basketball head coach says it should be noted that the senior forward’s defense this season has improved. Given the opportunity for consistent marking in a game, Morgan has the ability to shut down an opponent.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans clobber Illini, sit alone atop Big Ten

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. The MSU men’s basketball team made a strong case as the Big Ten’s top dog Saturday, knocking off the last team standing in its way of perching atop of the Big Ten standings outright, hammering Illinois 73-63 on Saturday afternoon in front of an inspired capacity crowd at Breslin Center.