To start the game, No. 5 MSU looked as slow and sluggish as the traffic outside the arena. One of those slow drivers for MSU was senior guard Keith Appling, who finished the first half with more turnovers (four) than points (three).
It wasn’t pretty, but the No. 5 MSU men’s basketball team got the job done.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — It wasn’t pretty, but the No. 5 MSU men’s basketball team got the job done. MSU committed 17 turnovers and shot just 42 percent, but they came out on top against Oakland 67-63 Saturday afternoon at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Senior center Adreian Payne and junior forward Branden Dawson each had double-doubles on the night, while senior guard Keith Appling led the Spartans in scoring with 21 points, 17 of them coming in the second half. Payne had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Dawson added 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Auburn Hills, Mich. — In their first game in ten days, the No. 5 men’s basketball team looked as rusty as they could, committing 11 turnovers in the first half to Oakland’s five.
After a 10-day layoff, the No. 5 men’s basketball team will be back in action against Oakland this afternoon. (4 p.m., ESPN2)
After his senior season as an Oakland Grizzly came to a close, Drew Valentine had a tough decision to make — go overseas in hopes of starting a basketball career, or join MSU’s basketball team as a graduate assistant. Already suffering an ACL tear, a torn meniscus and a removed tumor in his pinky during his career, he decided he had too many bumps and bruises to continue playing basketball.
The MSU women’s basketball team continued its recent struggles with a third-straight loss Saturday afternoon losing, 72-66, at Virginia Tech. Despite hitting two 3-pointers in the final minute of the game, the Spartans (5-4 overall) couldn’t get the comeback victory. MSU started three freshmen in the lineup because of junior guard Kiana Johnson missing her second straight game with an infection.
Matt Costello wasn’t supposed to play Wednesday night — but he contributed in a big way. Despite a 79-65 loss to North Carolina, the sophomore forward was the only member of the No. 1 MSU men’s basketball team to play with the spirit of the best team in the nation.
The No. 1 men’s basketball team walked onto the court in kryptonite-colored socks for their highly-anticipated Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup against North Carolina. However, the Superman of college hoops walked off the court with their first loss of the season to UNC, 75-69. The Spartans never led during a game that showcased some of MSU’s most troubling tendencies on the season thus far. The game started just as poorly as it possibly could have for MSU and had the packed Breslin Center in a restless frenzy almost immediately. Junior forward Alex Gauna, who got the start in place of ill sophomore forward Matt Costello, started the game by committing two fouls and a turnover within the first 90 seconds. MSU went on to turn the ball over eight times, four of which came in the first five minutes, and allowing UNC to grab 10 offensive rebounds on the half.
A Chris Webber-esque technical ultimately sealed a second straight loss for the women’s basketball team.
It was a tale of two halves…of a half. The No. 1 MSU men’s basketball team is tied with North Carolina 32-32 at the half, after an up-and-down start to the game by the Spartans The Tar Heels led by as much as 14 midway through the period, but MSU scored eight of the last 10 field goals to even the score. It took four minutes for MSU to get their first field goal.
After a stunning 81-76 loss to IPFW on Sunday, the MSU women’s basketball team will be back in action 7 p.m. Wednesday at Florida State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Yesterday, The State News got to chat with ESPN’s Rece Davis about the top-ranked men’s basketball team in the country, the Champions Classic and Sparty’s semifinal appearance in the Capital One Mascot Challenge. Here is what the “College GameDay” co-host had to say:
North Carolina. Primetime on ESPN. Nearly fifteen thousand fans, all packed inside Breslin Center. There’s no doubt about it — tonight’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge showdown between the No.
Tom Izzo is living the dream this week — he just hopes it doesn’t turn into a nightmare. His No.
Entering the game with a five-game winning streak, the No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team was stunned on its home court Sunday evening losing to IPFW, 81-76.
It’s tough to win when the opposing team shoots north of 50 percent, both overall and from beyond the arc.
A spirited comeback effort spearheaded by freshman guard Tori Jankoska couldn’t help the Spartans overcome IPFW’s hot outside shooting. The Mastadons knocked down 13 of 23 3-point attempts and shot 53.7 percent overall to help defeat the No. 21 women’s basketball team, 81-76, at Breslin Center.
After one half of play, the No. 21 MSU women’s basketball team is trailing IPFW, 40-35, Sunday afternoon at Breslin Center.
While making his lineups, head coach Tom Izzo had to do something he didn’t want to — play the role of a disciplinarian.