Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sports | Men's Basketball

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Valentine is questionable to return Sunday against Penn State, Izzo says

It's been an interesting few weeks for MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo as his No. 5 MSU basketball team has navigated the beginning part of its Big Ten season without the services of star senior guard Denzel Valentine. On Thursday, the Spartans defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini, 79-54, in their fourth consecutive game without Valentine, who's currently sitting two-to-three weeks to recover from a minor knee surgery he had a few days before Christmas.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU men's basketball survives scare, defeats Minnesota, 69-61

The No. 1 MSU men's basketball team (14-1) bounced back from its first loss of the season to defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers on the road, 69-61. In MSU's third consecutive game without senior MSU guard Denzel Valentine, fellow senior guard Bryn Forbes led the Spartans with 20 points while senior MSU forward Matt Costello finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Minnesota was led by 16 points from sophomore guard Nate Mason and 14 points and nine rebounds from freshman forward Jordan Murphy. Forbes scored seven of MSU's first nine points of the game to help the Spartans build an early 9-5 lead. However, by way of Murphy, the Gophers would take a 15-13 lead at the 11:48 mark of the first half.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU basketball bands together, overcomes double-digit deficit to beat Oakland

For much of the No. 1 MSU basketball teams's 99-93 overtime victory against Oakland Tuesday night, the Golden Grizzlies had the Spartans right where they wanted him. But much like they've done so many times in this season, this time without their star senior guard, the Spartans came together, as they overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat Oakland in overtime and improve to 13-0 on the season, the best start in school history. The Grizzlies jumped out to a 27-13 lead within the first ten minutes of the game.  And junior Oakland guard Kay Felder was as good as unguardable.