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Carter out for season, Izzo looks to shake up "stagnant" offense against Minnesota

Casey Harrison

January 10, 2017

After MSU’s “ humiliating” loss to Penn State on Saturday at the Palestra, head coach Tom Izzo took the podium Monday for his weekly press conference to address the current state of affairs with the team, along with previewing MSU’s next opponent, No. 24 Minnesota. Firstly, Izzo opened the presser by discussing the current landscape of the Big Ten and how he’s never seen such a close group of teams in the opening week of conference play.

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New players shine and Spartans sit at 3-1 early in Big Ten play

Connor Clark

January 8, 2017

As students felt relief, remorse and regret filling in scantron bubbles and submitting final essays, MSU men’s basketball (11-6 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) turned over the midterm leaf in their regular season.

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Gaines gains confidence after receiving Big Ten conference honors

Denise Spann

January 8, 2017

With the season in full motion, the starting lineup is slowly but surely looking permanent with two freshman currently on the starting five. One of those freshman being the redshirt forward, Victoria ‘Coco’ Gaines who has been showing that she’s more than an asset when on the court.

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FINAL: Spartans back in win column as Merchant returns to bench

Colton Wood

January 7, 2017

After collapsing in the MSU women’s basketball matchup against Illinois, MSU head coach Suzy Merchant was on the bench for the first time Saturday night as the Spartans defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 84-71.

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FINAL: Spartans upset by Penn State at Palestra for first Big Ten loss

Casey Harrison

January 7, 2017

After trailing Penn State (10-7 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) by nine points at halftime, the Spartans (11-6 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) were unable to overcome the Nittany Lions and fell at the Palestra by a final score of 72-63.

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Halftime: Bridges starts for MSU, Spartans trailing Penn State at the Palestra

Casey Harrison

January 7, 2017

After appearing in a game for the first time since Nov. 29 in the blowout win over Rutgers on Wednesday, freshman forward Miles Bridges was brought back into the starting lineup along with the rest of the freshmen class against Penn State at the Palestra in Philadelphia, PA. At the end of the first half, the Spartans (11-5, overall, 3-0 Big Ten) are leading/trailing the Penn State Nittany Lions (9-7 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) by a score of 41-32.

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Live Blog: MSU men's basketball (11-5 overall, 3-0) vs. Penn State (9-7 overall, 1-2)

Connor Clark

January 7, 2017

Follow along with The State News and basketball writers Casey Harrison and Connor Clark, as MSU men's basketball (11-5 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) plays Penn State (9-7 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) in Philadelphia at the Palestra. Send them your comments, thoughts and questions below.

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Ward continuing freshman development, looks to adjust to new role

Casey Harrison

January 6, 2017

Nick Ward finished the  93-65 blowout win over Rutgers with 15 points and six rebounds over 24 minutes on the floor Wednesday, but head coach Tom Izzo still wasn’t satisfied with the freshman forward’s performance against the Scarlet Knights, still winless in conference play. “They took away Nick pretty good, and I think Nick took away Nick a little bit,” Izzo said during his postgame press conference.

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PREVIEW: MSU looks to go 4-0 in the Big Ten against Penn State

Connor Clark

January 6, 2017

On Saturday Jan. 7, MSU men’s basketball (11-5 overall) looks to increase their Big Ten record to a perfect 4-0.

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Bridges returns from injury, serves as catalyst in blowout win over Rutgers

Casey Harrison

January 5, 2017

A missed jump shot from Rutgers forward Issa Thiam with 8:25 left in regulation was followed by a block and defensive rebound from freshman forward Miles Bridges, back in a game for the first time since Nov. 29 when sustaining a foot injury against then-No. 5 Duke.

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Evaluating Miles Bridges' return

Connor Clark

January 5, 2017

After rolling his ankle during the MSU men's basketball team's loss to then-No. 5 Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 29, freshman forward Miles Bridges — head down — walked around in a boot while his teammates continued through their regular season.

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Final: Bridges returns as Spartans bury Rutgers

Connor Clark

January 4, 2017

Freshman forward Miles Bridges made his first appearance for MSU men's basketball (11-5 overall, 3-0) against Rutgers (11-5 overall, 0-3) since competing against then-No. 5 Duke on Nov. 29. The Spartans would defeat the Scarlet Knights 93-65.

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Halftime: Spartans up 42-32 in Bridges' return

Connor Clark

January 4, 2017

MSU men's basketball (10-5 overall, 2-0) used a tag team of free-throws and team defense to earn a 42-32 lead over Rutgers (11-4 overall, 0-2). 

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Live Blog: MSU (10-5 overall) vs. Rutgers (11-4 overall)

Casey Harrison

January 4, 2017

Follow along with The State News and basketball writers Casey Harrison and Connor Clark, as MSU men's basketball (10-5 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) hosts Rutgers University (11-4 overall, 10-2 Big Ten). Send them your comments, thoughts and questions below.

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Merchant faints as Spartans defeat Illinois

Denise Spann

January 1, 2017

During the MSU Women's Basketball game against the University of Illinois, Head Coach Suzy Merchant fainted on the sideline early in the 4th quarter.

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FINAL: Ellis III leads MSU in scoring as Spartans top Wildcats

Casey Harrison

December 30, 2016

The Spartans would use all of a first-half 19-point lead on the Northwestern Wildcats to secure their second win of conference play, improving to 10-5 overall on the season by besting Northwestern (12-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) by a final score of 61-52.

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HALFTIME: Bridges still out, Spartans leading Wildcats at end of first half

Casey Harrison

December 30, 2016

The anticipated return of freshman forward Miles Bridges did not come against Northwestern, but the 6-foot-7 Bridges was in uniform and shooting during warmups for the first time since going down with an injury to his foot on Nov. 29. 

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Live Blog: MSU (9-5 overall) vs. Northwestern (12-2 overall)

Stephen Olschanski

December 30, 2016

Follow along with The State News and basketball writer, Casey Harrison and newsroom personality Stephen Olschanski, as MSU men's basketball (9-5 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) hosts Northwestern University (12-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten). Send them your comments, thoughts and questions below.

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FINAL: Comeback complete, MSU down 13 at half beats Minnesota in OT 75-74

Connor Clark

December 27, 2016

MSU improves to 9-5 overall against Minnesota (12-2 overall) after a thriller in the land of 10,000 lakes, beating the Golden Gophers in overtime, 75-74. The Spartans trailed by 13 at the half after shooting just 10-29 from the field, for 34.5 percent. The Golden Gophers however, had two players, freshman guard Amir Coffey and sophomore guard Dupree McBrayer, in double digit scoring at the half.

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HALFTIME: Poor shooting leads to double digit deficit

Connor Clark

December 27, 2016

In MSU men's basketball Big Ten home opener against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Spartans trail by 13 points at the end of the first half, 39-26. The Spartans featured a new faced lineup against the Golden Gophers.