BASKETBALL

Appling beat in matchup against Wolverines' Burke

Pat Evans

January 18, 2012

At the MSU men’s basketball press conference on Monday prior to Tuesday’s game against No. 20 Michigan, Draymond Green indicated the player who came out on top in the Keith Appling Burke matchup would likely win the game. And the Burke-led Wolverines walked away with the 60-59 victory on the shoulders of the freshman’s 20-point performance. Appling scored 10 points and dished out five assists but struggled to contain Burke and finished with four fouls.

BASKETBALL

Spartans fall to Wolverine rivals 60-59 at showdown in Ann Arbor

Pat Evans

January 17, 2012

Ann Arbor – Stu Douglass denied Draymond Green’s wish of never seeing the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team lose to No. 20 Michigan again, as the guard laid the ball in with 35 seconds left in the game to secure the 60-59 Wolverine victory.

BASKETBALL

Despite loss, team looks to next U-M game

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 17, 2012

Ann Arbor– Draymond Green has the exact date ready in the front of his mind. Not long after he and the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team lost in heartbreaking fashion, 60-59, to No. 20 Michigan on Tuesday in Ann Arbor, Green had focused his eyes on the road ahead — and the impending rematch with U-M in less than a month.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU downed by U-M, 60-59

Pat Evans

January 17, 2012

The anticipated matchup of No. 20 Michigan and the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team saw the Spartans defeated in Ann Arbor, 60-59.

BASKETBALL

Called out

Jesse O'Brien

January 16, 2012

With the MSU football team having just finished its second straight double-digit win season and the men’s basketball team having just ripped off a 15-game winning streak, student spirit should be at an all-time high.

BASKETBALL

Izzo pushes for respect, no mercy for Michigan

Pat Evans

January 16, 2012

Draymond Green never wants MSU to lose to Michigan again, even after the senior forward graduates at the end of the semester.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Michigan 4-H program attends women's basketball game

Lauren Gibbons

January 16, 2012

Students, parents and volunteers from Michigan’s 4-H program cheered on the women’s basketball team Sunday as part of the MSU Extension 4-H Day with the Lady Spartans.

BASKETBALL

Spartans look for advantage in individual matchups

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 16, 2012

In almost any basketball game, one can find individual matchups that could be the difference in winning and losing. Tuesday’s rivalry battle between the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team and No. 20 Michigan likely will be no different.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Mills returns from injury, provides immediate impact

Josh Mansour

January 16, 2012

When freshman forward Becca Mills fell to the floor and began grabbing her knee against Indiana, MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant had one thought in mind. After speaking to the medical staff, Merchant was relieved not to hear the three letters she had been dreading.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's basketball handed first conference loss by Ohio State

Josh Mansour

January 15, 2012

As soon as the Spartans and Buckeyes tipped it off, it was clear the game was going to be a battle of physicality and will, and on the game’s most critical possession it was Ohio State that was able to exert theirs. On Sunday the Ohio State women’s basketball team (17-1 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) held on to beat MSU (12-6, 4-1) 64-56 to hand the Spartans their first Big Ten loss of the season.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans lose at Northwestern, winning streak snapped

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 14, 2012

Evanston, Ill. — MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo knew it would happen eventually, he just didn’t know when. Featuring “three and a half freshmen” in the regular rotation — with senior guard and first-year Spartan Brandon Wood being the half — Izzo said inexperience was bound to doom MSU at least once this season. That moment came Saturday, when the No. 6 Spartans (15-3 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) traveled to Evanston, Ill. and fell to Northwestern 81-74 — marking MSU’s first Big Ten loss of the season.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's basketball tops Indiana, remains undefeated in Big Ten

Josh Mansour

January 12, 2012

After a close first half that saw six lead changes and neither team lead by more than six points, the MSU women’s basketball team (12-5 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) used a strong second half to pull away from Indiana (5-13, 0-5) 67-47 and remain undefeated in conference play.

Isabella Shaya ·

BASKETBALL

MSU basketball team cautiously optimistic

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 12, 2012

Even with the No. 6 MSU men’s basketball team riding a 15-game winning streak and climbing in the polls, head coach Tom Izzo said his team isn’t as good as people outside the program are starting to think.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Merchant strives to keep players focused

Josh Mansour

January 11, 2012

“No rest for the weary — that’s for sure.” That’s how MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant led off her weekly press conference this week as the Spartans (11-5 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) try to stay undefeated in conference with back-to-back home games to finish out the week.

BASKETBALL

Spartans' youthful bench rewarded for practice effort

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 11, 2012

MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo has a problem many coaches wish they had. Instead of taking players out of his rotation because they aren’t performing, Izzo has spent this season looking for playing time for guys who have earned it in practice.

BASKETBALL

Column: Izzone responds, needs to maintain high level

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 11, 2012

MSU men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo meant no hard feelings by Izzone criticisms. He just knows how important the group is to his team.

BASKETBALL

Spartans beat Iowa in blow out 95-61

Pat Evans

January 10, 2012

With a week off between last Tuesday’s win at Wisconsin and Tuesday night’s game against Iowa, Tom Izzo didn’t know what to expect from his team.

Julia Nagy ·

BASKETBALL

The road less traveled

Jeremy Warnemuende

January 9, 2012

Brandon Wood left a lasting impression on the MSU men’s basketball team two years before he ever put on his No. 30 Spartan jersey. Then a sophomore at Valparaiso, the 6-foot-2 combo guard played against MSU on Nov. 22, 2009 at Breslin Center. Despite the Crusaders walking away on the wrong end of a 90-60 final score, Wood stood out with his 24 points and 9-for-ten free throw shooting.

BASKETBALL

NCAA scholarships might face cuts

Stephen Brooks

January 9, 2012

A reduction in the total number of scholarships available for NCAA Division I football bowl subdivision, or FBS, and women’s basketball programs could change if a proposal passes this week.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Spartans remain unbeaten in Big Ten with freshmen stars

Josh Mansour

January 9, 2012

Although the MSU women’s basketball team (11-5, 3-0) entered this season with a conference title to defend, many didn’t consider this year’s team to be a contender.