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Sports | Hockey

BASKETBALL

MSU leads McNeese State, 52-25, at halftime

The No. 2 MSU men’s basketball team came out of the gates pushing the tempo and shooting a plethora of threes, and lead McNeese State, 52-25, in the first half of the college basketball season. Immediately after the tip, senior guard Keith Appling found sophomore guard Gary Harris for an open 3-pointer – his first of three in the half. The Spartans kept shooting from downtown and finished 8-16 from beyond the 3-point line. MSU also kept the pressure on the Cowboys offensively.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU hockey makes rare trip to Michigan Tech

The MSU men’s hockey team is going to uncharted territory this weekend — at least for the last 29 years. The Spartans (3-3 overall) head to Houghton, Mich., for the first time since 1984 to take on Michigan Tech (1-6-1 overall, 1-1 WCHA) in a two-game series Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Jairus Jones out for season

Jairus Jones’ knee injury will keep him sidelined for the remaining of the season, head coach Mark Dantonio said before practice Thursday, implying the senior linebacker’s playing career at MSU likely has ended. When Jones went down in the Spartans’ game at Notre Dame on Sept. 21 with what was described as a medial collateral ligament, or MCL injury, he was originally given a six-week timetable to recover.

MEN'S SOCCER

MSU men's soccer takes on Michigan on senior day

It all comes down to this. The last game of the regular season for the No. 18 MSU men’s soccer team (9-4-3 overall, 2-2-1 Big Ten) against Michigan (8-5-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten), and senior day presents the Spartans with one emotional afternoon at DeMartin Stadium, in the Battle for The Big Bear Trophy.

BASKETBALL

Champions Classic renewed through 2016

Earlier today, it was announced the annual State Farm Champions Classic will be renewed for three more years. The Champions Classic is an annual basketball doubleheader headlined by powerhouses Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and MSU.

SPORTS

MSU field hockey gears up for Big Ten Tournament

The field hockey team proved themselves as a top contender in the Big Ten conference during regular season. Today, they will put that progress to the test. No. 3-seed MSU (9-9 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) will begin Big Ten Tournament play at 2:30 p.m. today as they take on No. 6-seed Indiana at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

SPORTS

MSU alumnus wins World Series of Poker Main Event

In a field that started with more than 6,000 entrants, it was MSU alumnus Ryan Riess that walked away the king of poker on Tuesday night. Donned in a Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson jersey, Riess’ ace-high topped amateur player and Las Vegas club promoter Jay Farber queen/five to win more than $8.3 million and the coveted World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet. Farber walked away with a cool $5.1 million after more than three hours of heads-up poker. After starting the day down nearly $30 million in chips, it took roughly an hour of play for Riess to take his first lead of the night when Farber folded at Riess’ bet to give him a $34-million chip lead.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio's greatest hits

Through seven years at MSU, Mark Dantonio has been the catalyst of some of the most memorable moments in program history. One of the most successful Spartan coaches since Duffy Daugherty, Dantonio already has made footprints in the sand, winning two bowl games, a Big Ten championship, an appearance in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game and five games against in-state rival Michigan.

FOOTBALL

Takeaways from MSU over weekend

The man tasked with playing the role of Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner in practice was freshman Damion Terry during MSU’s preparation for the Wolverines. “Not too excited to wear number ‘98’ this week lol oh well” Terry tweeted at the start of the week.

SPORTS

Field hockey season ends on high note

It wasn’t always smooth, and it certainly wasn’t scenic at times. But the regular season ultimately was a successful road for the field hockey team. After a shaky start, the team eventually found consistency in its defense and improved play on offense.

BASKETBALL

Men's basketball alley-oop, slam dunk way to 83-45 exhibition game win

?The preseason finale for men’s basketball started the same way how many fans expect the regular season to play out: with a slam dunk. Five seconds after the tip, senior guard Keith Appling lobbed an alley-oop to high-flying junior forward Branden Dawson to send the crowd into an early frenzy. “We execute that everyday in practice,” Dawson said. “It just felt good to get that, and it’s been a while since I’ve been out there with Keith Appling throwing me an alley-oop.”