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Sports | Basketball

BASKETBALL

Izzo expects players to improve on free throws

Patrick Walters
January 9, 2003

Heading in to their 53rd season of Big Ten men's basketball, No. 25 MSU is looking for a little charity - from the stripe, that is.After shooting 77.7 percent from the foul line in the first seven games of the season, MSU (8-4) has only shot 67.5 percent in the last five, which is below head coach Tom Izzo's standards.Izzo said missed free throws have "really cost us the last two games, as much as anything."Despite MSU's shooting woes, the Spartans are currently tied for fourth (72.8 percent) among Big Ten teams.

BASKETBALL

Spartans look to net Big Ten title again

Chris Mackinder
January 8, 2003

After loaning out the Big Ten Championship trophy for a season, the Spartans will face tough tests in their quest to bring the prize back to MSU for a fifth time in six seasons. From the top to bottom of the conference, there isn't a clear cut championship favorite.

BASKETBALL

Men's basketball team upsets Wildcats, 71-67

Patrick Walters
December 14, 2002

The MSU men's basketball team scored a road victory Saturday afternoon, edging No. 12 Kentucky, 71-67, in a game noted by strong contributions from both teams' benches.Off the Spartan bench, MSU freshman forward Paul Davis scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds and freshman guard Maurice Ager added five points in his first regular season appearance since being hampered by injury for the No.

BASKETBALL

Tough opponents await Spartans

Patrick Walters
December 6, 2002

Riding the momentum of Wednesday night's 82-75 defeat of No. 22 Virginia, the MSU men's basketball team is looking forward to a challenging road schedule over the holiday break.The Spartans (3-2) will host Cleveland State on Sunday at Breslin Center before being tested on the road by two perennial basketball powerhouses.The team rolls into Lexington, Ky., on Dec.

BASKETBALL

Izzone rocks the Breslin

After returning from the Great Alaska Shootout with a fifth-place finish, men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo wasn't happy. So he called on the Izzone to give the Spartans an extra boost against Virginia in a mass e-mail. "I am asking each and every member of the Izzone to take a personal interest in the outcome of this game by rocking Breslin Center like it has never been rocked before," the e-mail read. MSU's student section didn't disappoint.

BASKETBALL

Spartans beat No. 22 Virginia

Chris Mackinder
December 5, 2002

The MSU men's basketball team thrived off an energized crowd and an ESPN audience Wednesday to pick up an impressive 82-75 win over Virginia on Wednesday night. With the victory in the ACC/Big Ten challenge, the No.

BASKETBALL

Record crowd, kids cheer Spartans to home win

Dawn Klemish
December 4, 2002

The off-court show featured mobs of children cheering on the MSU women's basketball team. On the court, the Spartans put on a show of their own downing Kent State 85-72 Tuesday at Breslin Center.The record-breaking crowd of 12,058 for the afternoon game shattered the previous mark for women's basketball attendance of 7,733 set against rival Michigan in 2000."It was a wonderful energy out there today," MSU head coach Joanne P.

BASKETBALL

Spartans ready for rematch with No. 22 Cavaliers

Patrick Walters
December 4, 2002

The last time the MSU men's basketball team met Virginia, it was a washout. The game was canceled early in the second half when water on the court in Charlottesville, Va., halted play.The game was played at a minor league hockey facility and the floor was on top of a layer of ice, which caused the condensation.Tonight, the No.

BASKETBALL

WEB ONLY: Women's basketball losses lead, game to Memphis

Dawn Klemish
December 2, 2002

The MSU's women's basketball team's offense stalled toward the end of Saturday's match, resulting in a 59-56 loss to tournament-host Memphis in the championship game of the Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic. The Spartans broke the game open four minutes into the contest by going on a 19-3 run to take a 25-11 lead.

BASKETBALL

Team comes home empty

Patrick Walters
December 2, 2002

Maybe Alaska was the wrong place to heat up the MSU men's basketball season. The No. 9 Spartans (2-2) sparked the Great Alaska Shootout tournament with a 80-60 Thanksgiving Day defeat of Montana, but fell in subsequent games to unranked opponents Villanova, 81-73, and Oklahoma State, 64-61. Following Saturday's early exit from Anchorage, Ala., at the hands of the Cowboys, basketball head coach Tom Izzo labeled the weekend as an exercise in poor play from MSU guards and lagging defense. "We don't have very good guard play right now," Izzo said, "and we're not very good defensively.