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Sports | Basketball

MEN'S BASKETBALL

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

Ryan Squanda
January 8, 2016

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.

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

Ryan Squanda
January 2, 2016

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.

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

Ryan Squanda
December 23, 2015

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.

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FINAL: MSU outlasts Oakland, sets best start in school history

Ryan Squanda
December 22, 2015

In its first game without star senior guard Denzel Valentine, who will miss the next few weeks due to a knee injury, the No. 1 MSU basketball team  Oakland came out competitive from the start and held a 27-13 lead near the midway point of the first half of Tuesday night's contest from The Palace of Auburn Hills. From there, MSU did manage to cut the Oakland lead to 27-19 but the Grizzlies would score seven straight to go back up 34-19 at the 7:16 mark of the first half. After that, MSU went on a quick 9-0 run to close Oakland's lead to six, 34-28. But Oakland continued to pile it on and took a 50-37 lead into the half.

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Denzel Valentine out 2-3 weeks after undergoing surgery Monday morning

Josh Thall
December 21, 2015

As a battle against Okland University looms on Tuesday for No. 1 ranked MSU, the team got dealt some devastating news Sunday night and Monday morning with the loss of senior forward and captain Denzel Valentine for 2-3 weeks after undergoing surgery Monday morning.  MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo said Valentine was injured in practice Sunday night night