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Sports | Football 1000

BASKETBALL

Threes plague Purdue

West Lafayette, Ind. - Purdue’s love for the three-point basket was clear Saturday night, but Valentine’s Day had long passed. “It killed us tonight,” Boilermaker forward Rodney Smith said.

SPORTS

No question, CBC is heaven

The Olympics provide athletes with a chance to shine on the global stage with a myriad of nations covering the Winter Games.

FOOTBALL

Spartans among top linebackers final prospects

The No. 1 community college linebacker in America may come to MSU, and his decision could come as early as today. Rivals.com has Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas, the top Juco linebacker in the nation. Sunday, Pope listed MSU, Arkansas and Florida as his finalists.

SPORTS

Gymnasts set history

Led by several record-setting events, the MSU gymnastics team outscored Rutgers University 195.735-to-191.350 Saturday. The Spartans’ score was the fourth highest in school history. MSU took first place in all four events.

ICE HOCKEY

Victory at Joe breaks season tie

Detroit - Fifth-ranked MSU finally broke its season-long, head-to-head stalemate against Michigan and claimed a 3-1 victory in front of 20,058 fans at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday. The Spartans (21-6-5 overall, 15-5-4 CCHA) raced to a 2-1 lead in a wild opening five minutes, and then clamped down on the No.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Wrestling The No. 18 wrestling team host Northwestern at 7:30 p.m. today at Jenison Field House. MSU (4-8 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) holds a 23-14-1 edge over the Wildcats (7-10, 0-5) all-time. The Spartans then travel to Penn State (5-9, 2-3) for a 1 p.m.

BASKETBALL

U looking to rebound

After a disappointing effort its last time out, the Spartan men’s basketball team travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue at 7 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Coach leaves for Panthers

After one year, MSU’s linebackers and special teams coach has decided to move on to the next level. Spartan head coach Bobby Williams announced Wednesday that Sal Sunseri has resigned.

SPORTS

Opportunities abound at U

For many MSU athletes, their homes and families are not that distant. But for some, they are a world away.As a member of the Spartans swimming and diving team (6-5 overall, 1-4 Big Ten), Ildiko Szekely is one of those athletes.The interdisciplinary studies and international relations senior has spent most of her MSU years away from her family in Budapest, Hungary.“They love that I have this opportunity here in the U.S.,” Szekely said.

BASKETBALL

Spartans tournament future on bubble

After losing 63-61 to No. 18 Illinois on Tuesday night, the MSU men’s basketball team was forced to add a new word to its dictionary - bubble.Unless the Spartans win the Big Ten Tournament, they will likely be on the fringe of the 65-team pool in March’s NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS

Lions next for Spartans

The MSU women’s basketball team’s goal is still to play in the NCAA Tournament. But another Big Ten loss would secure a losing conference record, therefore the Spartans (15-9 overall, 5-8 Big Ten) must run the table to keep realistic postseason hopes alive.

ICE HOCKEY

Goalie gives commitment

MSU’s commitment list swelled to five when Northville goaltender Justin Tobe pledged to the Spartans. The 5-foot-11, 157-pounder plays for the Compuware Ambassadors of the North American Hockey League.

FOOTBALL

Junior college linebacker visits E.L., takes in game

The MSU football program could receive another commitment for the 2002 recruiting class. But unlike the 19 players who have already given MSU football head coach Bobby Williams the nod, Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound sophomore linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas, would add some hits to the offensively heavy class.

ICE HOCKEY

List shrinks of possible Mason replacements

If the rumor mill is on track, MSU has apparently lost its top candidate to replace Spartan hockey head coach Ron Mason. Denver head coach George Gwozdecky held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce a long-term contract extension to stay with the Pioneers.