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Sports | Basketball

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Freshman Jasmine Lumpkin leaves women's basketball team for personal reasons

Women’s basketball player Jasmine Lumpkin decided to leave the team due to personal reasons. The freshman’s decision is effective immediately, although she does not cite specific reasons of her termination. “We appreciate Jasmine’s contributions, and we wish her well in her future endeavors,” head coach Suzy Merchant told msuspartans.com. The guard and forward played 15 games this season, starting 14 of those times, she 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. MSU will return to the Breslin Center, without Lumpkin, when they host Illinois on Thursday at 7 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Finding an identity

By Tom Izzo's own admission, this is a transition team battling injuries. Key players have stepped into new leadership roles, and while the team has been competitive, losses have piled up. Going forward in the Big Ten season, the Spartans are still seeking a signature win.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Men's basketball defeats Indiana 70-50

MSU rebounded from a conference-opening loss with an imposing victory over Indiana, winning 70-50 at home. Freshman guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn started in place of senior guard Travis Trice and this decision seemed to give MSU(10-5 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) some energy early in the contest.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's basketball downed by in-state rival Michigan

No. 24 Women's basketball (8-6 overall, 0-3 Big Ten) fell to in-state rival Michigan (10-4 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) 74-65 Sunday afternoon at Breslin Center. Sophomore forward Ariel Powers led all players in scoring with 26 points, and senior forward Becca Mills reached the 1,000 point milestone in the loss. MSU out-rebounded U-M 35-31, but the turning point in the game was when MSU went scoreless for over five minutes to start the second half and fell down 51-31, MSU went on a run to make the game close but were unable to ultimately close the gap. U-M was led in scoring by freshmen guard Katelynn Flaherty who added 21 points for the Wolverines. MSU out-shot U-M from behind the three point line by shooting 50 percent, and had a higher percentage from the field.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Lack of effort a key in one of the worst losses under Tom Izzo

With senior forward Branden Dawson sitting out because of a fractured wrist, it was obvious that Michigan State was missing something in a 71-64 loss to Texas Southern. Beyond the absence of a veteran starter and a consistent rebounding threat in Dawson, MSU couldn’t find the energy to take care of business against a Southwestern Athletic Conference team that entered the game at 1-8 overall.