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Sports | Basketball

BASKETBALL

Teammates to turn opponents in MSU, Iowa game

Dillon Davis
January 9, 2013

It’s been nearly 10 months since Denzel Valentine and Anthony Clemmons set foot on a basketball court as teammates. A lifetime of preparation, early-morning workouts and practices that sometimes roared into the darkness of a winter evening led to the Lansing Sexton High seniors capturing their second consecutive MHSAA Class B state championship. In moments of elation about what the future held, it became difficult not to think back to all they’ve been through together.

BASKETBALL

Heart of Big Ten schedule on the horizon for Spartans

Dillon Davis
January 9, 2013

As the Big Ten season moves along, the importance of each game on the schedule is not to be understated by teams in the conference. After watching No. 5 Indiana survive a New Year’s Eve scare against Iowa and Purdue upset then-No. 11 Illinois on Jan. 2, the notion of any team competing on any given day is less cliché and more reality this season for MSU head coach Tom Izzo.

BASKETBALL

Tom Izzo moves to 3rd in all-time wins as coach in Big 10

Josh Mansour
January 8, 2013

When Tom Izzo tried to recall the Big Ten’s winningest coaches, his memory stopped after two — Gene Keady and Bob Knight. The legendary former Purdue and Indiana basketball head coaches, respectively, have led the Big Ten in wins for the better part of a decade, but it wasn’t until moments before the MSU men’s basketball team took on Purdue on Saturday that Izzo learned about the next man in line.

BASKETBALL

Harris still recovering from shoulder injury

Dillon Davis
January 7, 2013

It’s been established Gary Harris sprained his left shoulder in a November game against Boise State. However, head coach Tom Izzo revealed at his press conference Monday the freshman guard has been dealing with an additional shoulder injury.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's basketball loses to Penn State in 76-55 blow out

Stephen Brooks
January 6, 2013

The closest MSU managed to get to visiting No. 9 Penn State in the second half was seven points, and that was less than 30 seconds into the half. From there, the Nittany Lions (12-2 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) grew the lead to as much as 26 en route to a commanding 76-55 win over MSU (13-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten). The Spartans kept it close early, trading blows with PSU in the opening minutes, but an 11-0 run halfway through the first half put the Nittany Lions in the driver’s seat the rest the game.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gary Harris puts up career-high scoring effort in win over Purdue

Josh Mansour
January 5, 2013

When Gary Harris took the floor for his first Big Ten game at Breslin Center, he prepared to square off against one of his home state school and mother’s alma mater for the first time. It’s been a tough month for the freshman guard and Fishers, Ind., native as he spent extra time working to regain his shooting touch after spraining his shoulder earlier in the season.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Sophomore guard Kearney to leave MSU basketball team

Dillon Davis
December 28, 2012

Brandan Kearney reportedly is leaving the MSU basketball program. Head coach Tom Izzo told reporters after practice on Friday the sophomore guard has decided to leave after being unhappy in his role. On numerous occasions, Izzo said Kearney was among the best on the team at understanding his role and how he fits into the scheme of the program.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Nix's development shines in victory over Texas

Dillon Davis
December 22, 2012

It’s no secret that Derrick Nix’s journey hasn’t been an easy one. Since his freshman season in 2009, Nix has been embroiled in battles over his weight, his footwork, his conditioning, his maturity within the locker room and, more notably, his highly-publicized personal demons.