sports/basketball - The State News

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU advances to Big Ten Tournament championship game, blows out Ohio State 82-63

Casey Harrison

March 5, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS—The matchup on Saturday between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 MSU was going to be a thrilling one from start to finish, and that’s exactly what it was, if you’re a Spartan fan. Saturday was the third meeting this season between the Spartans and the Buckeyes, with each prior matchup being decided by five points or less. In the end, it was the Spartans who claimed victory against the Buckeyes in blowout fashion, 82-63.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 2 MSU cruises past Ohio State on senior day

Ryan Squanda

March 5, 2016

The No. 2 MSU men's basketball team (26-5, 13-5 Big Ten) defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday from Breslin Center, 91-76. The victory clinches the Spartans the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

HALFTIME: MSU leads Ohio State, 47-37

Ryan Squanda

March 5, 2016

The No. 2 MSU men's basketball team (25-5, 12-5 Big Ten) leads the Ohio State Buckeyes (19-11, 11-6) at the half from Breslin Center, 47-37.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 19 MSU and No. 9 Ohio State set to rematch in Big Ten Tournament semifinals

Casey Harrison

March 5, 2016

Exactly one week after their thrilling triple overtime victory against Ohio State, the Spartans are gearing up to rematch the Buckeyes, this time with a Big Tournament trophy on the line.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Live Blog: No. 2 MSU vs. Ohio State

Josh Thall

March 5, 2016

Welcome to the live coverage blog for No. 2 Michigan State (25-5, 12-5) vs. Ohio State (19-11, 11-6). Follow along and participate below.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Suzy Merchant's 'interesting' halftime speech prompts the Spartans into Big Ten Tournament semifinals

Ryan Kryska

March 5, 2016

It wasn’t until late in the second quarter that the Spartans gave Bankers Life Fieldhouse its first floor smack.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU uses second-half energy to power past Purdue in Big Ten Tournament, 65-64

Casey Harrison

March 4, 2016

It’s much easier to win three games in a row than five—and the MSU women’s basketball team is now on their way to do so. On Friday evening the No. 3-seeded Spartans (1-0) defeated the No. 6-seeded Purdue Boilermakers (1-1) in their debut game in the 2016 Big Ten Tournament by a final score of 65-64.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

By the numbers: Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes vs. Aerial Powers and Tori Jankoska

Ryan Kryska

March 4, 2016

The two dynamic duos of MSU basketball: Denzel Valentine-Bryn Forbes and Aerial Powers-Tori Jankoska.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans still battling for position in Big Ten Tournament

Josh Thall

March 4, 2016

MSU gets 2-seed if - Win MSU gets 3-seed if - MSU loses + Wisconsin beats Purdue + Iowa loses to Michigan + Maryland loses to Indiana MSU gets 4-seed if : MSU loses +

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU men's basketball seniors to leave legacy of constant improvement

Ryan Squanda

March 4, 2016

When the No. 2 MSU men's basketball team (25-5, 12-5 Big Ten) takes the Breslin Center floor Saturday at noon against Ohio State, for four MSU seniors, it will be the last time. Forwards Matt Costello and Colby Wollenman and guards Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes have all had successful careers in the green and as it stands Friday morning, is a senior class with 108 career victories, just seven short of the school's all-time winningest class in 2001.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU women's basketball slated to make a run in Big Ten tournament

Casey Harrison

March 3, 2016

The No. 19-ranked Spartans will turn their focus to get ready for the Big Ten tournament

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Josh Jackson, nation's No. 1 basketball recruit, set to visit MSU

Ryan Squanda

March 3, 2016

Josh Jackson, the nation's No. 1 overall basketball recruit for the class of 2016, will be taking an official visit to MSU this weekend.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Bryn Forbes breaks 3-point record as MSU cruises to win over Rutgers

Josh Thall

March 2, 2016

No. 2 MSU (25-5, 12-5) beat Rutgers (6-24, 0-17) 97-66 as MSU continues to make a push for a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Denzel Valentine comes from a lineage of Spartan Basketball

Josh Thall

March 2, 2016

MSU senior guard Denzel Valentine has been around the MSU men's basketball program since birth.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU men's basketball to face a hungry Rutgers team on the road Wednesday

Ryan Squanda

March 2, 2016

The No. 2 MSU men's basketball team (24-5, 11-5 Big Ten) will ride its four-game winning streak into a Wednesday night matchup on the road with the lowly Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-23, 0-16). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 2 Spartans keep eyes on the prize throughout late-season success

Ryan Squanda

March 2, 2016

For the better part of the last month, the MSU men's basketball team has been playing as good as anyone in the country. After all, they're 24-5, ranked No. 2 in the country and are winners of eight of its last nine games. On top this, the Spartans currently lead the nation in several statistical categories, including assists (20.6 per game), rebounding margin (+11.5) and 3-point field goal percentage (43.3 percent). Despite this,

MEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 2 MSU men's basketball ranks first in the nation in six categories

Josh Thall

March 1, 2016

MSU head coach Tom Izzo has been wary of MSU's lofty stats this season, but with the season winding down, the long-time MSU coach is starting to believe his team might be that good.