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Sports | Football 1000

ICE HOCKEY

Increased crowds at Munn have No. 9 MSU energized, excited

Zack Colman
January 24, 2007

First MSU hockey game attendance this season against Western Michigan — 4,497. Saturday's attendance against Lake Superior — 6,653. The cheering, the chants and the overall crowds have galvanized the Spartans at Munn Ice Arena in their last four home games, creating more of a buzz around the arena than there has been in recent years. Winning nine of the past 10 games most likely helps attendance, but even some of the players aren't quite accustomed to the fan activity yet. "The crowds are into it from the start," freshman defenseman Mike Ratchuk said.

BASKETBALL

Spartans face Gophers tonight at Breslin

Ethan Conley
January 24, 2007

The MSU men's basketball team is about to enter the toughest part of its conference season. The Spartans face a brutal stretch that includes games against national title contenders in hostile environments. They'll face a Wooden Award front-runner (Wisconsin forward Alando Tucker), the likely No.

BASKETBALL

Izzo unhappy with Big Ten schedule

Tom Keller
January 23, 2007

The Big Ten scheduling computer has not received a Christmas card from MSU men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo lately. The league plays a 16-game conference schedule, meaning each of its 11 schools plays six opposing teams twice and four teams once.

BASKETBALL

High-tempo Spartans explode for transition points; Izzo vows team will continue to play faster game

Tom Keller
January 22, 2007

State College, Pa. — The green light is on again. With their perimeter depth at least somewhat restored for Saturday's game against Penn State, the Spartans revived their struggling fast break — just as head coach Tom Izzo had been aching to do all season. The Spartans had three transition baskets in the first seven minutes of their 91-64 romp, and they finished the game with a 16-9 edge in fast-break points. "We're going to keep running," Izzo vowed afterward. Part of the equation was intense ball pressure up top from junior guard Drew Neitzel and sophomore guard Travis Walton, which forced several turnovers that led to transition baskets. "You pressure the ball, get a couple turnovers, (and) it gets you going on defense, it gets you going on offense," Walton said. But even on missed Penn State shots, the Spartans were getting back up the court with the urgency of someone trying to catch a bus, and Neitzel and Walton did a superb job of getting the ball ahead to streaking finishers.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
January 22, 2007

The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced they will open an all-you-can-eat pavilion in right field next season.

ICE HOCKEY

Comley receives gag gift to celebrate 60th birthday Saturday

Zack Colman
January 22, 2007

It was a night of milestones on Saturday, but not of the statistical variety. MSU head coach Rick Comley turned 60 years old, and junior forward Bryan Lerg turned 21. Before the game started, Comley received a gift from an old friend. "Two of our jesters got me a birthday cake, an ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins," Comley said.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers find ways to win

Zack Colman
January 22, 2007

No matter how they do it, the Spartans are winning. Now victors of nine out of 10 games and back into contention for the CCHA regular-season title, the way the No.

BASKETBALL

Hoops recruits show great potential

Colleen Maxwell  and  Cash Kruth
January 22, 2007

Chris Allen, a 6-foot-3, 185-pounder from Lawrenceville Meadowcreek High School in Georgia, scored a career-high 45 points Tuesday night as he led his team to a 75-72 win over Central Gwinnett, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With 29 points, Kalin Lucas led Orchard Lake St.

SPORTS

Lucas-Perry hits career milestone

Matt Bishop
January 22, 2007

Despite not having the best game of her career, senior guard Victoria Lucas-Perry achieved a career-defining milestone in MSU's 67-57 win over Iowa on Sunday. Shooting a layup with 4:05 left in the game, Lucas-Perry scored her 1,000th career point, becoming the 18th player in program history to do so. "It's nice that happens," she said.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers look to gain CCHA ground in key series against Lake Superior

Zack Colman
January 19, 2007

The No. 11 Spartans achieved sole possession of third place in the CCHA standings with last weekend's home sweep over Alaska. Now, Lake Superior comes to Munn Ice Arena, where the Spartans boast a stellar 8-1-1 home record, for a weekend series beginning tonight. The Lakers (13-8-3 overall, 7-6-3 CCHA) come into East Lansing with a chance to tie the Spartans (14-8-1, 10-6-1) in conference standings if they get a weekend sweep, prompting a competitive weekend of play. "(The Lakers) had a pretty good start to the year," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

SPORTS

Freshman gymnast scores weekly honors

Zack Colman
January 18, 2007

Freshman gymnast Nicole Curler was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week on Wednesday. The award is the first of her career, and she is the first Spartan to receive the honor since 2005. "I am thrilled that Nicole won the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award," MSU head coach Kathie Klages said in a statement.

SPORTS

Better communication results in success for No. 23 Spartans

Matt Bishop
January 17, 2007

One of the more troubling aspects of the MSU women's basketball team's 70-60 loss to Purdue last Thursday was the lack of communication between the players on defense. The communication breakdown allowed Purdue guard Jodi Howell to score a career-high 25 points, many coming on open 3-point looks. It was another story Sunday at Iowa. MSU looked like a completely different team, buckling down on the inside and not allowing much breathing room on the perimeter. The result also was completely different, as MSU overwhelmed Iowa, 83-63. "It was nice to see our team play together a little bit," MSU head coach Joanne P.