Spartans fall short of expectations against U-M
With two minutes left in the game and a five-point lead, Austin Thornton was 100 percent sure the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team had put away No. 20 Michigan in Ann Arbor.
With two minutes left in the game and a five-point lead, Austin Thornton was 100 percent sure the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team had put away No. 20 Michigan in Ann Arbor.
At the MSU men’s basketball press conference on Monday prior to Tuesday’s game against No. 20 Michigan, Draymond Green indicated the player who came out on top in the Keith Appling Burke matchup would likely win the game. And the Burke-led Wolverines walked away with the 60-59 victory on the shoulders of the freshman’s 20-point performance. Appling scored 10 points and dished out five assists but struggled to contain Burke and finished with four fouls.
Looking back to October, there have been a lot of changes for Tom Anastos and the No. 16 MSU hockey team (12-9-3 overall, 7-7-2 CCHA).
As often as he is prompted, Tom Anastos says he doesn’t pay too much attention to the CCHA standings.
MSU tennis junior Denis Bogatov was named co-Big Ten Athlete of the Week along with Northwestern’s Josh Graves, the conference announced Tuesday afternoon. The Gurnee, Ill., native won the honor after going 2-0 in both singles and doubles matches against Bradley, Morehead State and Wright State at home this past weekend. Bogatov’s performance helped the Spartans notch victories over all three schools and improve to 3-0 on the season. The award marks Bogatov’s first Big Ten Athlete of the Week nod of his career, and the Spartans’ first since Aaron Pfister was named Athlete of the Week on Nov.
After suffering a 23-12 loss to West Virginia on Friday night, the MSU wrestling team desperately needed a win.
When reflecting on the series with Northern Michigan, it wasn’t exactly a bad weekend for Tom Anastos and No.16 MSU hockey team.
In almost any basketball game, one can find individual matchups that could be the difference in winning and losing. Tuesday’s rivalry battle between the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team and No. 20 Michigan likely will be no different.
When freshman forward Becca Mills fell to the floor and began grabbing her knee against Indiana, MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant had one thought in mind. After speaking to the medical staff, Merchant was relieved not to hear the three letters she had been dreading.
The MSU men’s tennis team spent the night before the first triple-header in Spartan history eating and watching “300” in the Clara Bell Smith Center’s auditorium to get ready for the challenging day ahead.
For the second consecutive week, the MSU gymnastics team went toe-to-toe with a top 25 team and fell short of their mark.
As soon as the Spartans and Buckeyes tipped it off, it was clear the game was going to be a battle of physicality and will, and on the game’s most critical possession it was Ohio State that was able to exert theirs. On Sunday the Ohio State women’s basketball team (17-1 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) held on to beat MSU (12-6, 4-1) 64-56 to hand the Spartans their first Big Ten loss of the season.
The MSU wrestling team notched its first Big Ten dual victory, 21-20, over Indiana with the help of an unlikely hero. With the Spartans clinging to a 17-16 lead and two matches left to go, MSU freshman 133-pounder Terry Turner took the mat against Indiana’s Joe Duca for his first ever dual start.
It was a tale of two different series for the No. 18 MSU hockey team. After fans were treated to an offensive showcase in a 5-5 tie Friday’s game with No.
With his deadly backhand shot and a hint of confidence behind his soft spoken demeanor, Matt Berry is developing a strong knack for shootout success.
The MSU wrestling team was unable to overcome an early deficit against West Virginia, eventually falling to the Mountaineers 23-12 in its first dual at Jenison Field House this season. The Spartans (2-4 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) began the match with sophomore 125-pounder Brenan Lyon dropping an 11-3 major decision to No.
After a close first half that saw six lead changes and neither team lead by more than six points, the MSU women’s basketball team (12-5 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) used a strong second half to pull away from Indiana (5-13, 0-5) 67-47 and remain undefeated in conference play.
Even with the No. 6 MSU men’s basketball team riding a 15-game winning streak and climbing in the polls, head coach Tom Izzo said his team isn’t as good as people outside the program are starting to think.
There are few traits more redeeming to Tom Anastos and his staff than levelheadedness. When the No. 18 MSU hockey team (11-9-2 overall, 6-7-1 CCHA) were off to a hot start early in the season, Anastos reminded his team to stay focused and learn how to handle it. Through that, the team grew and picked up key wins against Western Michigan and Minnesota to build confidence early on.
In its second meet of the season, the MSU gymnastics team will travel to Iowa City, Iowa on Friday for an 8 p.m.