As much as he would like to avoid it, turnovers are becoming a consistent problem for head coach Tom Izzo. And on Sunday, they almost became a much bigger problem.
Seven Spartans scored at least five points, and MSU had the largest rotation of the year as the MSU women’s basketball team (5-0) rolled over Robert Morris (0-5), 68-35, on Sunday afternoon.
The MSU women’s basketball team (5-0) cruised past Robert Morris 68-35 in their final home game in November.
The MSU men’s basketball team (5-1) survived a scare from Louisiana Lafayette (2-4) on Sunday afternoon, knocking off the Ragin’ Cajuns 63-60 at Breslin Center. The Spartans were led by junior guard Keith Appling, who finished with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, with sophomore guard Branden Dawson adding 12 points and eight rebounds.
When Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe stepped to the podium for their postgame press conferences, both coaches did so in the exact same manner. With a grimace, a heavy sigh, and nearly identical opening statements: that they had just finished the worst basketball game between MSU and Oakland that either coach had ever seen.
It was one of the scariest moments of Keith Appling’s life, if only for a moment.
For Denzel Valentine, it was a matchup more than 18 years in the making. And the freshman guard certainly didn’t disappoint.
It took a few minutes for the Spartans to hit their stride, but midway through the first half the MSU men’s basketball team (3-1) took control, heading into the locker room leading Oakland (2-3) 34-21 at the end of the first half.
The MSU women’s basketball team (4-0) can fully enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner after defeating Albany (2-2) 67-35 Wednesday night.
The MSU women’s basketball team (4-0) took care of business once again as they downed Albany 67-35 on Wednesday night. Four Spartans were in double figures, but junior guard Klarissa Bell led the way for them by scoring 19 points and dishing out five assists.
The biggest scare the MSU men’s basketball team (3-1) received Tuesday wasn’t from a closer-than-expected game against Boise State (3-1), but from “a shoulder injury to star freshman guard Gary Harris in the game’s opening minute.
Harris’ shoulder was popped out when he was hit hard on a moving screen that MSU head coach Tom Izzo said was illegal and will result in an MRI Wednesday morning. “Harris is not good,” Izzo said. Don’t know what it is yet. He’ll have an MRI (today), but he’ll be out for a while.
With 24 seconds left in Tuesday night’s game against Boise State and clinging to a two-point lead, MSU basketball head coach Tom Izzo called timeout. During the break, Izzo turned to Keith Appling, who had spent the previous 39 minutes and 26 seconds running up and down the Breslin Center floor.
The No. 15 MSU men’s basketball team (3-1 overall) barely escaped with a win over Boise State (3-1), 74-70 at Breslin Center Tuesday night.
Suzy Merchant might want to think about a second career in the medical field. On Saturday morning, before the MSU football team took on Northwestern at Spartan Stadium, the MSU women’s basketball head coach got a call that junior forward Annalise Pickrel stepped on a nail in her apartment and needed a tetanus shot — the latest in a series of injuries to strike her roster this season.
It was supposed to be a surprise. But when he was confronted with the question, Denzel Valentine found he couldn’t lie to his father.
Dribbling the ball on the fast break, Gary Harris had one man in front of him and hadn’t decided what he was going to do. He could use his speed to blow by the defender to the rim. He could pull up and drain a 15-foot jump shot. But instead he just decided to soar.
A player has to be able to guard the person in front of her. That is what women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant said after the MSU women’s basketball team defeated Virginia Tech 57-29 on Sunday, allowing the fewest amount of points in a regular-season game since it gave up only 27 against Michigan in 2009.
There was plenty of drama for Derrick Nix in Sunday’s victory over Texas Southern. Unfortunately, most of the drama played out with Nix on the bench, as opposed to anything done on the floor or measured in a stat sheet.
It was the first time Gary Harris walked on the floor before a regular-season crowd at Breslin Center. And even in less playing time than he’s becoming accustomed to, the freshman guard made an impact that won’t soon be forgotten.