FOOTBALL

Football runs in the family for MSU wide receiver Monty Madaris

Ryan Kryska

December 1, 2015

Monty Madaris, redshirt-junior wide receiver and defensive back at MSU, played for the skinny bricks alongside his cousin Rodriguez. Lined up across the backyard on the roughnecks were the boys’ other cousins, Greg and Michael Means Jr. While also in the Eastside of Cincinnati, their cousin Isiah Gentry was growing up a few years behind the six-year-olds’ makeshift league. Madaris, Means Jr. and Gentry, all products of Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati and all wide receivers, now play NCAA Division I football across the Midwest, with Means Jr. being a redshirt-junior at Akron and Gentry a redshirt-freshman at Minnesota.

BASKETBALL

MSU basketball takes Wooden Legacy crown with 77-64 victory over Providence

Nathaniel Bott

November 30, 2015

The No. 3 MSU basketball team (7-0) used a 20-7 run in the last five minutes Sunday night to defeat the Providence Friars (6-1), 77-64 to take the Wooden Legacy crown in Anaheim, Calif.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hockey swept by North Dakota, falls 4-1 in series finale

Stephen Olschanski

November 29, 2015

What started out as a chance for MSU hockey (4-7-2) to turn their luck around quickly became another disappointing result as North Dakota (12-2-2) defeated the Spartans handedly, 4-1. “I thought we played really hard,” head coach Tom Anastos said.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Getting to know women's basketball center and Czech Republic native Hana Vesela

Casey Harrison

November 29, 2015

Being a college freshman can be overwhelming as it is.  But for basketball player, and international student Hana Vesela, she's ready to take the world on and help the women's basketball team as much as possible.

SOCCER

MSU women's club soccer team reflects on national championship

Emma Hausbeck

November 29, 2015

The MSU Women’s Club Soccer Team headed down to nationals in Phoenix, AZ on Nov. 17 and won the national title for the first time since 2012, but like their entire season, it wasn't as easy as it looked.

FOOTBALL

Five takeaways from No. 5 MSU's victory against Penn State

Ryan Kryska

November 28, 2015

The No. 5 MSU football team (11-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) defeated Penn State (7-5 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) 55-16 Saturday evening at Spartan Stadium, solidifying a share of the Big Ten East Division Championship.

FOOTBALL

ESPN's College GameDay to visit Big Ten Championship game between MSU and Iowa

Stephen Olschanski

November 28, 2015

ESPN’s College GameDay will be making another stop at game featuring MSU as it announced via twitter that it would be traveling to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game between Iowa and MSU on Dec.

FOOTBALL

FINAL: No. 5 MSU defeats Penn State, 55-16

Matthew Argillander

November 28, 2015

No. 5 MSU (11-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) defeated Penn State (7-5 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) 55-16 Saturday night at Spartan Stadium to clinch a share of the Big Ten East Division title and a showdown against No. 4 Iowa (12-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten). 

FOOTBALL

HALFTIME: No. 5 MSU leads Penn State, 20-10

Matthew Argillander

November 28, 2015

No. 5-ranked MSU (10-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) leads Penn State (7-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) 20-10 at halftime.

FOOTBALL

LIVE BLOG: No. 5 Michigan State vs. Penn State

Ryan Kryska

November 28, 2015

Tag-a-long with The State News as we cover the No.5-ranked Spartans (10-1) home game and senior day against Penn State (7-4).

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hockey dominated by North Dakota, falls 3-1

Stephen Olschanski

November 28, 2015

North Dakota (11-2-2) was better in just about every facet of the game than MSU hockey (4-6-2) and though a late push by the Spartans made it seem close, it was too little too late.

COMMENTARY

COLUMN: MSU and Penn State is a forced rivalry, not genuine

Stephen Olschanski

November 28, 2015

When Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862 into law, he unknowingly created all that is great about college football.

BASKETBALL

Denzel Valentine shines again in MSU basketball's 77-67 victory over Boise State

Ryan Squanda

November 27, 2015

A night after notching his second triple-double of the season in a victory against Boston College, MSU senior guard Denzel Valentine had another big game, finishing with 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists to help the Spartans to a 77-67 victory over the Boise State Broncos.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hockey to face tough test in No. 5 North Dakota

Stephen Olschanski

November 27, 2015

For the first time since 1980 North Dakota hockey (10-2-2) will skate at Munn Ice Arena. Part of Friday and Sunday series MSU hockey (4-5-2) will face the newly nicknamed Fighting Hawks.

BASKETBALL

Valentine triple-double helps Izzo to 500th victory in MSU rout of Boston College

Ryan Squanda

November 26, 2015

MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo earned his 500th career victory at MSU on Thanksgiving night as his No. 3 MSU basketball team (5-0) defeated the Boston College (3-1), 99-68, in the first round of the Wooden Legacy tournament in Fullerton, Calif. Senior guard Denzel Valentine led the Spartans with his second triple-double of the year, finishing Thursday’s contest with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

BASKETBALL

Izzo on cusp of 500th victory as MSU basketball prepares for Wooden Legacy Tournament

Ryan Squanda

November 25, 2015

Much of the talk for MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo in the early going of the 2015-16 basketball season has centered around one thing — winning championships.

FOOTBALL

MSU advances toward goal of College Football Playoffs

Ryan Kryska

November 25, 2015

MSU has jumped to No. 5 in the CFP Rankings after beating the reigning national champion and then-No. 3 Buckeyes 17-14.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio downplays senior day, Cook still in question and more notes on MSU football

Matthew Argillander

November 25, 2015

Before No. 6-ranked MSU (10-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) takes on Penn State (7-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) this Saturday head coach Mark Dantonio held his weekly press conference, here are a few takeaways from Dantonio's statements to the media: Some things come before sports Before Dantonio began speaking about football he took time for some special acknowledgements. "First and foremost, just want to acknowledge and let everyone know at the University of Michigan and Chad Carr's family that we're deeply sorrowed by his passing on Monday.

FOOTBALL

Documentary showing MSU's role in desegregation in need of support for expected release date

Casey Harrison

November 24, 2015

Maya Washington, daughter of former MSU wide receiver Gene Washington, is in the process of making her first major film, titled Through the Banks of the Red Cedar, which shows how Michigan State pioneered racial desegregation in college football.  

BASKETBALL

Spartans jump to AP No. 3, blowout EMU, but Izzo still narrowing down lineups

Ryan Kryska

November 24, 2015

The Spartans followed their AP Top 25 Poll jump from No. 13 to No. 3 on Monday with an 89-65 victory over Eastern Michigan, in which 13 different players scored. Head coach Tom Izzo said he is “still playing too many people,” though, and he hopes to solidify a consistent rotation soon. “I think I played 12 guys who played seven minutes or more and that’s going to be a little chaotic but I am continuously trying to figure out who are going to be my eight, nine and 10 and who are going to be my 11, 12, 13 and 14,” Izzo said. “And it is starting to separate itself.”