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Sports | Football 1087

ICE HOCKEY

No. 6 MSU faces off at Ferris State

The No. 6 Spartans hope tonight's rematch with Ferris State doesn't seem like deja vu. After a frustrating 2-1 overtime victory over the struggling Bulldogs (9-19-3 overall, 6-15-2 CCHA) Friday, the Spartans (18-8-3, 14-6-3) will be looking for a more convincing win.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Two Gonzaga basketball players were arrested last week after marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms were found in their car. Defense attorneys are confident any related charges will be dropped once prosecutors see how little else there is to do around the Gonzaga campus. An estimated 93.1 million people watched last Sunday's Super Bowl, making it the second most watched football game ever. Media analysts caution that number might be high, since many people actually turned the game on during a Rex Grossman possession and thought they were watching a documentary on natural disasters. Upset by Dwyane Wade's criticism of Dirk Nowitzki's leadership skills last week, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban ripped Wade on his blog, saying among other things, "You obviously have an overinflated value of your own." Cuban then pushed up his glasses, adjusted his suspenders and yelled upstairs to tell his mom how funny the joke was that he just made. A Serbian village ravaged by floods is trying to change its fortune and attract tourists by constructing a statue of Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa film character in the middle of town. Residents hope the gimmick works better than the last recovery idea — a life-size mural of a nude Don Vito. New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is selling a children's book based on his experiences playing while growing up. The book costs $252 million over 10 years, but it won't open when you really need to read it most.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans extend unbeaten streak

Detroit — The No. 6 Spartans should credit their three points this weekend to sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg. Lerg stood tall, stopping 33 shots in Friday's 2-1 overtime victory over Ferris State and stopping a career-high 54 shots in Saturday's 3-3 tie against Michigan at Joe Louis Arena to extend MSU's unbeaten streak to a nation-leading nine games. "He was excellent," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

SPORTS

With win, MSU likely takes Purdue out of Big Ten contention

West Lafayette, Ind. — The looks on the faces of forward Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and guard Jodi Howell in the post-game press conference said it all. They had just seen a 17-point lead slip away along with, more than likely, a chance to win the Big Ten after falling two games back of Ohio State with four games left to play.

SPORTS

Grapplers drop pair of weekend road meets

It was a rough Friday night for the No. 20 MSU wrestling team when it was ousted, 35-4, by No. 1 Minnesota. Senior Nick Simmons recorded the lone victory for the Spartans (3-8 overall, 2-4 Big Ten), and freshman Franklin Gomez and senior Andy Simmons' Big Ten undefeated streaks came to an end. Freshman Rocky Cozart nearly recorded a victory for the Spartans, but was edged, 14-12, in a sudden-victory overtime against Minnesota's Tyler Safratowich. The Spartans returned to action to close out another weekend of road meets when they faced No.

SPORTS

No. 17 Spartans win Fox Run Invitational

The No. 17 MSU gymnastics team took first place Saturday in the Fox Run Invitational, defeating West Virginia, Brown and New Hampshire, the host team. With a team score of 194.000, the Spartans edged past New Hampshire's score of 193.975, giving the Spartans their second straight first-place finish. Freshman Rochelle Robinson achieved something that every gymnast strives for in a career — the perfect 10.0. Robinson's flawless score came from her performance on the vault.

SPORTS

WEB EXTRA: MSU gymnasts look to extend record of wins at invitational

The MSU gymnastics team will carry its No. 17 rank into New Hampshire this weekend for the Fox Run Invitational, where the Spartans will look to do something they've become quite accustomed to doing at this tournament — winning. Every other year, head coach Kathie Klages, now in her 17th season, takes her energetic gymnasts to this meet to bring home a victory. "We are very familiar with it," Klages said.

ICE HOCKEY

WEB EXTRA: Icers to take on Ferris State, Michigan

The No. 6-ranked Spartans are getting ready for their rivalry matchup against Michigan at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday, the fifth game between the two teams this season. Oh, and they also are preparing for tonight's home game against Ferris State. It's not difficult for MSU (17-8-2 overall, 13-6-2 CCHA) to treat the Bulldogs (9-18-3, 6-14-2) as an afterthought to a key matchup with the No.

SPORTS

Spartans not taking Wildcats lightly

The MSU women's basketball team always boasts about how it takes no opponent lightly and how the next game is the most important one on the schedule. That philosophy will be put to the test at 8 p.m.

BASKETBALL

MSU faces tough road test at Purdue

Before losing to Ohio State at home last week, Purdue was 12-0 at Mackey Arena this season. Before beating Penn State in State College, Pa., three days later, the Boilermakers hadn't won a road game in three years. So as the Spartans (17-7 overall, 4-5 Big Ten) travel to West Lafayette, Ind., tonight for an 8 p.m.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers look for strong finish as season closes

The Spartans have looked at their schedule and seen the remaining games. But they're not getting ahead of themselves. With two games apiece against CCHA bottom-feeders Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Ferris State, MSU seemingly could declare a first-round CCHA playoff bye right now.

ICE HOCKEY

Lerg scores CCHA honors

Junior forward Bryan Lerg was named CCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his four-point performance in last weekend's series against Nebraska-Omaha.