BASKETBALL
MSU leads Purdue 36-30 at half
After an aggressive first half of play, the No. 18 MSU basketball team leads Purdue 36-30. Coming off a loss to No.
FOOTBALL
Defensive end William Gholston becomes third MSU junior to declare for NFL Draft
The final shoe appears to have fallen Friday night for the MSU football team, when William Gholston told head coach Mark Dantonio of his decision to forego his senior season for the NFL Draft. In the report from 247Sports, the defensive end said he met with Dantonio to inform him of his decision in the afternoon and signed his NFL Draft declaration later that day. “After thinking everything over and talking to coach Dantonio, I knew it in my heart leaving for the NFL was the best decision for me,” Gholston told 247Sports.
SPORTS
MSU wrestling team drops first match after break to Purdue 26-10
Fresh off a break from school and competition, the MSU wrestling team (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) got back on the mat and lost to No. 21 Purdue, 26-10, Friday night.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dawson, MSU look to bounce back against Purdue at home
After watching Purdue (7-6 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) upset No. 11 Illinois on Wednesday, sophomore guard Branden Dawson said he needs a strong showing for the No. 18 Spartans (11-3, 0-1), who dropped their Big Ten opener against No. 9 Minnesota on New Year’s Eve.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Bench lifts women's basketball in win over Minnesota, 66-51
After being deadlocked at halftime, the MSU women’s basketball team outscored Minnesota by 15 points in the second half to win the its Big Ten opener for the third consecutive season.The bench carried the Spartans in a 66-51 victory in what started as a typical grind- it-out Big Ten-style contest.
FOOTBALL
Sims, Bell address MSU departures, NFL Draft prospects
After reports of juniors Dion Sims and Le’Veon Bell foregoing their senior seasons to enter the NFL Draft made headlines the past two days, the duo released statements along with head coach Mark Dantonio Thursday evening.
SPORTS
Bell, Gholston and Sims look to NFL as deadline approaches
Following the team’s Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl victory over TCU on Saturday, it was expected that juniors running back Le’Veon Bell, defensive end William Gholston and tight end Dion Sims might take a look at joining the professional ranks. And according to reports, the NFL wheels are in motion. Multiple outlets including MLive are reporting the trio have submitted paperwork to the NFL College Advisory Board, requesting an evaluation of their draft stock.
BASKETBALL
Spartans lose Big Ten opener at Minnesota 76-63
After finishing up the non-conference schedule against Texas nine days ago, Tom Izzo has been preparing the No.
ICE HOCKEY
GLI ends for Spartans with loss to U-M
When asked what he’s taking away from the 2012 Great Lakes Invitational, Tom Anastos paused and answered with one word: heartburn. After a shootout loss to Western Michigan on Saturday and a 5-2 loss to rival Michigan on Sunday, the hearts of all MSU hockey (5-11-3 overall, 4-8-1-0 CCHA) players are likely burning along with their head coach.
ICE HOCKEY
MSU loses to U-M in GLI consolation game 5-2
The consolation game of the Great Lakes Invitational, or GLI, featured rivals MSU and U-M in a heated battle in which U-M prevailed, 5-2. The match up at Joe Louis Arena got off to a quick start, with three goals in the first period — courtesy of U-M’s Lee Moffie and MSU sophomore forwards Tanner Sorenson and Matt Berry. The game slowed down in the second period, with both teams unable to find the back of the net. The third period proved to be a productive one for U-M, netting three goals. An odd-man rush by the Wolverines early in the third tied the game up, and U-M pulled ahead minutes later with a power play goal. With about ten minutes remaining, U-M’s Di Guiseppe netted a goal following a backhanded pass from Moffatt on one knee. After a game misconduct and a five-minute major by Wolverines’ Treais, U-M’s Hyman received a goal after being tripped when rushing an empty net. Western Michigan and Michigan Tech will face off for the GLI Championship at 7 p.m.
ICE HOCKEY
Spartans fall to Western Michigan in first ever GLI shoot out
With the National Hockey League locked out from play, the Joe Louis Arena found it’s life again Saturday night with a history-making game at the The Great Lakes Invitational. The Great Lakes Invitational kicked off with the MSU and Western Michigan hockey programs, the Broncos besting the Spartans in a shootout.
BASKETBALL
Athletic director pledges dedication to MSU in wake of Kearney departure
Chandler, Ariz. — More than 250 Spartan fans packed into a pep rally waiting to be pumped up for the MSU football team’s Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl matchup with TCU on Saturday night only to fall silent when they got a speech about the departure of an MSU basketball player.
FOOTBALL
Spartan fans rally night before Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
When communication junior Dustin Thaler went home for winter break, he never thought he would get to see his beloved Spartans live before next season at Spartan Stadium.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans beat Texas 67-56 behind career-high scoring effort from Nix
From his opening bucket where he drained a hook shot and pumped his fists as he ran back on defense, Derrick Nix was on his game.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Women's basketball claims South Point Holiday Hoops Classic beating Texas Tech in overtime
The MSU women’s basketball team won’t be returning from Sin City empty-handed. The Spartans claimed the 2012 South Point Holiday Hoops Classic championship in Las Vegas Thursday evening after beating Texas Tech 50-48 in overtime. On Wednesday, the first day of the two-game tournament, MSU (11-1 overall) knocked off Oregon State, 49-35, with a dominating defensive effort. With six minutes left in the game, the Spartans held a 38-31 lead, before Texas Tech (8-2) came storming back and cut the MSU lead to one with less than two minutes to play. Sophomore guard Kiana Johnson, who made her first appearance for MSU this season on Sunday following a nine-game suspension to start the season, came up clutch for the Spartans in the tournament final.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Column: MSU basketball program will survive without Parker
Parker’s announcement means MSU’s 2013 recruiting class still is without any committed players, and it’s possible the Spartans might not bring in any new recruits next season for the first time in head coach Tom Izzo’s tenure. This shouldn’t be a cause for panic among MSU basketball fans.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
MSU loses recruiting battle for top recruit: Parker chooses Duke
Standing in front of his friends, family and a large television audience at Chicago Simeon High, the 6-foot-8 small forward Jabari Parker announced his intentions to attend Duke following a long recruiting process.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Women's basketball beats Oregon State in opening round of South Point Holiday Hoops Classic
The MSU women’s basketball team didn’t need help from lady luck Wednesday night in Las Vegas in its first game of the 2012 South Point Holiday Hoops Classic, cruising to a 49-35 win over Oregon State. In Suzy Merchant’s 500th career game as a head coach, the Spartans (10-1 overall) never trailed Oregon State (6-5) at any point in the contest.
BASKETBALL
MSU knocks off Bowling Green in hard-fought road contest
After taking the then-No. 5 MSU men’s basketball team into Bowling Green and losing more than 20 years ago, head coach Jud Heathcote vowed he would not return to Anderson Arena, now called the Stroh Center.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
MSU basketball team uses break to increase practice time, prepare for tougher schedule
“It’s a big week,” Nix said. “We ain’t got no more cupcakes. Let the party start.”