Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sports | Basketball

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Walton pushes MSU to Final Four in Detroit

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, senior guard Travis Walton collapsed into a ball in front of the MSU bench. As his teammates stormed the court to celebrate MSU’s 64-52 victory over Louisville, Walton just knelt there, head bowed between his legs, heart throbbing, tears jetting from his eyes.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

2 Big East teams highlight Motor City’s Final Four field

School: MSU (30-6) Location: East Lansing Region: Midwest Conference: Big Ten Key players: Senior center Goran Suton (10.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game), sophomore guard Kalin Lucas (14.7 points per game, Big Ten Player of the Year), senior guard Travis Walton (third-year captain and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year). How they got here: Defeated No.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Summers becomes 'a man' in upset win

Remember the date: March 29, 2009. The significance? It’s the day Durrell Summers became a man. Summers, MSU’s soft-spoken sophomore guard, scored 10 points during a crucial stretch in the second half, fueling the Spartans past Louisville, 64-52, and into the Final Four.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Season's finish isn't sweet

One minute away from the Elite Eight, the MSU women’s basketball team saw its dreams snatched from its grip, as Iowa State walked out of Haas Pavilion victorious 69-68 on Saturday in a Berkley Regional semifinal game.

BASKETBALL

Destined 4 Detroit

At the conclusion of a practice in late February, Tom Izzo instructed his MSU men’s basketball team to walk up the arena steps from the Breslin Center floor and meet him on the concourse. Once the Spartans were there, the MSU head coach told his team to look outside, where the February sun had not yet faded at the 5 o’clock hour.

BASKETBALL

Morgan's face symbolizes tough game

Indianapolis — MSU junior forward Raymar Morgan wasn’t the player of the game. But he certainly looked the part. Morgan’s face, marred by a swollen and crooked nose, symbolized a basketball game that felt more like a fight between two heavyweight boxers.

BASKETBALL

How sweet it is: MSU advances to Elite Eight with 67-62 win

Indianapolis — All season long, MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo has used the word “fragile” to describe his team. Kalin Lucas said its time to remove that label. After the sophomore guard’s gritty performance Friday against Kansas, Izzo might not have a choice. Lucas scored seven points during the last minute, none more important than his jumper with 48.1 seconds that broke a 60-60 tie and brought MSU within a game of the Final Four.

BASKETBALL

MSU stays together in victory

Indianapolis — Any win in the NCAA Tournament is a big one, but it’s how the MSU men’s basketball team won against Kansas on Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium that impressed head coach Tom Izzo the most.

BASKETBALL

Calm halftime spurs second half comeback

Indianapolis — Ten first half turnovers, a rebounding disadvantage and some wide-open missed shots. It sounds like a perfect recipe for a fiery halftime speech by MSU head coach Tom Izzo — or, even worse, senior guard Travis Walton.

BASKETBALL

Spartans rally past Kansas 67-62

Indianapolis — Kalin Lucas converted a three-point play with 48.1 seconds remaining to give MSU a 63-60 lead as the MSU men’s basketball team rallied from a 13-point first half deficit to beat Kansas 67-62 on Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium to advance to the Elite Eight.