MSU's season was summarized in just a few words from head coach Tom Izzo following his team's 62-58 victory. "Well, we don't make it easy, I can promise you that," Izzo said. MSU's most disappointing losses have been defined by crunch time meltdowns.
The Spartans trailed by 16 in the first half. But a 15-0 second half run changed MSU's fortunes and bought them a ticket to the Big Ten championship round.
To say the series between MSU men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo and Ohio State men's basketball head coach Thad Matta has been close would be an understatement.
With Ohio State's 79-73 win over Minnesota last night, the Buckeyes secured a date with MSU tonight at 9 p.m.
Valentine fouled Indiana junior guard Yogi Ferrell with two seconds left as Ferrell raced up the court.
It wasn't the prettiest half of basketball, but a late burst helped keep the deficit close entering halftime.
Senior forward Branden Dawson and senior guard Travis Trice will play their final home game against Purdue. The whole team looks forward to the Big Ten tourney.
The men's basketball team lost by seven points, but the game was nowhere near as close as the final score indicated.
Senior forward Branden Dawson came into MSU with all the hype in the world and, as a result, has had blessings and curses during his career in East Lansing.
Minnesota's size was too much for MSU in the first half, so the Spartans made them pay on the perimeter.
Following its fourth straight win, MSU (19-8 overall, 10-4 Big Ten) is starting to work its way off of the NCAA tournament bubble. In Joe Lunardi's latest bracket for ESPN, the Spartans have moved up to a seven seed in the East region.
The Spartans nearly let another sure win slip away, but an uncharacteristically strong night at the line helped MSU steal a road win from one of the best home teams in the Big Ten. MSU (19-8 overall, 10-4 Big Ten) drained 17 of 20 free throw attempts to defeat Illinois, 60-53.
Ann Arbor, Mich. It took MSU five 3-point tries before their first make. But when senior guard Travis Trice sank a triple with 13:46 seconds left in the first half, the proverbial lid came off for MSU. The Spartans made 5-of-13 3-pointers and shot 59.3 percent in first half against rival U-M Tuesday night and lead 38-23 at halftime.
With Saturday's win over No. 23 Ohio State, MSU (17-8 overall, 8-4 Big Ten) is third in the Big Ten standings.
After missing a game-winning point against Illinois, junior guard Denzel Valentine found redemption in a 3-pointer against Ohio State — appropriately enough on Valentine's Day.
It's a Valentine's Day MSU fans won't soon forget. Junior guard Denzel Valentine drained a 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds on the clock to give MSU (17-8 overall, 8-4 Big Ten) the upset win over No.
To beat No. 23 Ohio State on Saturday, MSU will first have to find a way to beat freshman guard D’Angelo Russell.
As of Monday, the Spartans are shooting 62.1 percent on free throws — the worst free throw shooting percentage in the Big Ten since the 2004-2005 season.
Barry Greer has gone to every men's basketball home game for more than 20 years. His task? Keeping the Spartan Brass on beat.
After trading leads against U-M for most of the game, the Spartans rallied in an explosive overtime with seniors and junior forward Matt Costello stepping up to seal victory.