Ann Arbor - A shorthanded Michigan basketball team felt the best way to beat No. 13 MSU was to slow down the pace, hold the ball and hope that the Spartans were thrown off their game. After all, the strategy worked against No.
Ann Arbor - It was Alan Anderson's day. The senior swingman had 16 points, including his 1,000th career point, to lead the No.
To put it lightly: he's back. Senior guard Chris Hill broke out of a nearly two-month long shooting slump with 26 points to lead the No.
For the first time in more than two years, Ohio State will come to Breslin Center when the Buckeyes face the No.
Iowa City, Iowa - MSU had been in this situation before, letting a lead slip away in the second half on the road. But this time, senior guard Tim Bograkos stepped to the free-throw line with a three-point lead over Iowa with more than a minute left. With 15,500 Iowa fans screaming and Iowa on a 13-4 scoring run to control the momentum, Bograkos didn't worry about the pressure.
Iowa City, Iowa - "And starting at guard, a 6-foot freshman from Grand Rapids, Michigan, No.
MSU senior swingman Alan Anderson summed up the Fighting Illini's shooting performance in one word: "Incredible." As was the case in losses to Duke and Wisconsin, three-point field goal defense was an issue for No.
An unruly Izzone student section and several late runs by MSU weren't enough to stop No. 1 Illinois and its talented trio of guards. Fighting Illini guards Luther Head, Deron Williams and Dee Brown combined for 54 points, each finding ways to dash any hopes of an MSU comeback.
MSU found the perfect practice squad on Saturday to get ready for No. 1 Illinois. The Spartans (14-3) brought Oakland (5-13) to Breslin Center for a rare, nonconference outing as the No.
In a warm-up match before Tuesday's tilt with No. 1 Illinois, the No. 15 MSU men's basketball team cruised to a 92-75 win over Oakland on Saturday night at Breslin Center. It was the calm before the storm. "On a one-day prep, we tried to pick a couple things we wanted to accomplish," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.
Down 7-0 within the first few minutes of the game, the No. 15 MSU men's basketball team quickly fought back and never let Michigan regain the lead in a sloppy 64-53 win Thursday night at a packed and boisterous Breslin Center. The Spartans committed 17 turnovers in the game, a figure that had head coach Tom Izzo scratching his head. "We're getting down to crunch time here," Izzo said.
Senior guard Chris Hill held his hands high in the air a little past midcourt - the same spot he threw a lob pass that sailed over several Michigan defenders and into junior guard Maurice Ager's hands for a high flying dunk with more than six minutes left. It was another moment on the highlight reel for MSU's senior class, winning 64-53 against the Wolverines.
If senior guard Kelvin Torbert has to pick one game to win all year, it'd be against Michigan. Sure, he wants to beat No.
Redshirt freshman center Idong Ibok will get his chance to contribute this week. MSU head coach Tom Izzo is calling on the 6-foot-10 Lagos, Nigeria native to use his 7-foot-5 wingspan and 9-foot-3 reach to challenge every shot in practice. "We're giving him a chance to swat everything he can swat this week," Izzo said of Ibok, who hurt his hand before the season and has redshirted, but still practices with the team.
Minneapolis - It's all about the defense. Three days after torching Ohio State for 22 points and 12 rebounds, Minnesota guard Vincent Grier was shut down by MSU's defense as the No.
Minneapolis - As the final buzzer sounded Saturday, Alan Anderson found Chris Hill near mid-court and wrapped his arms around him before the teammates bumped chests. It was a brief moment of emotion and satisfaction for MSU's seniors, who were criticized as a group last week for their lack of toughness.
For the first 19:56 of the game, MSU junior guard Maurice Ager looked to be repeating his performance from Sunday's game in which he finished 1-of-8.
The dust has settled after week two of Big Ten play, and two teams remain undefeated - Michigan and Illinois. But both squads are hitting the heart of Big Ten scheduling.
It will be the end of an era tonight at Breslin Center. The No. 19 MSU men's basketball team will say farewell to Gene Keady, when the legendary Purdue head coach makes his final appearance in East Lansing as his 25-year career as coach winds down. Keady owns a 25-21 all-time record against the Spartans. "I'm looking forward to playing Purdue," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.
Madison, Wis. - A day after the No. 15 Spartans watched an eight-point lead slip away in the final three minutes of a 62-59 loss to Wisconsin, head coach Tom Izzo defended his players. His senior group - guards Chris Hill and Kelvin Torbert and forward Alan Anderson - has often been criticized for its inability to win close games.