The MSU men’s tennis team continued its early success in the 2009 season, winning a doubleheader Saturday at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. The Spartans earned the sweep by defeating Cleveland State 5-2 in the morning and Youngstown State in the nightcap 7-0.
Ann Arbor — For the fifth straight time this season, No. 8 Michigan got the better of the MSU hockey team – beating the Spartans 5-3 at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday.
Detroit — For the third time this season, No. 8 Michigan handed the MSU hockey team a loss by four or more goals. In Friday’s 6-2 loss at Joe Louis Arena, the Wolverines extended their four game winning streak this season against MSU.
About 45 minutes after another grueling practice, sophomore Kalin Lucas stands with one of his assistant coaches near the far end of the court. Almost all of his teammates have vanished into the locker room, but Lucas stays on the balls of his feet. He wipes a few beads of sweat off his silky forehead as he listens to instructions from his coach.
The last time the MSU hockey team played No. 8 Michigan at Joe Louis Arena, the Wolverines dominated the Spartans 5-1. And the last time the two teams battled at Yost Ice Arena, U-M stole a similar result, defeating the Spartans 6-1.
It’s once again that time to guess the outcome of this weekend’s games with the State News prognosticators.
On Wednesday night, the No. 7 MSU men’s basketball team committed 18 turnovers, shot 40 percent from the floor and let an opposing player to score more than 30 points for the first time since the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
Fortunately for the MSU wrestling team, as coach Tom Minkel puts it, “usually the best guy wins.”
MSU head coach Rick Comley said a shoulder injury might keep senior forward Tim Crowder out the rest of the season.
It’s only been 18 days since the No. 7 MSU men’s basketball team defeated Northwestern 77-66 on Jan. 3 in Evanston, Ill. — but what a difference those 18 days have made for the Wildcats.
In a season mired with miscues and inconsistency on the offensive end of the court, the MSU women’s basketball team had one of its best performances of the season Sunday in its 70-59 victory over Penn State. The win completed a season sweep of the Lady Lions for the Spartans, the first time MSU has swept Penn State in school history, and continued the team’s three-game win streak.
The more you think about it, the more amazing it becomes. During the past 30 years, the MSU men’s basketball team has won six Big Ten titles, racked up 15 20-win seasons, gone to five Final Fours and celebrated two National Championships.
The MSU women’s basketball team completed the season sweep of Penn State on Sunday, knocking off the Lady Lions 70-59.
Oxford, Ohio — Entering Saturday’s game against No. 9 Miami (Ohio), the MSU hockey team was averaging 24.1 shots a game. But in the team’s 6-1 loss to the RedHawks, the Spartans only recorded 13 shots on net while Miami fired 60 shots at MSU senior goaltender Jeff Lerg.
If the MSU men’s basketball team’s 63-57 win over Illinois on Saturday was a hockey game, head coach Tom Izzo said Marquise Gray wouldn’t only get one of the stars given out — he’d get all three. Gray, a senior forward from Flint, came up big on a memorable night, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds on the same night former MSU great and fellow Flint native Morris Peterson had his No. 42 jersey retired.
Born and raised in Flint, MSU forward Marquise Gray said he used to idolize former Spartans great Morris Peterson. On Saturday, he paid his great friend and fellow Flintstone the ultimate token of respect.
Oxford, Ohio — For the first time this season, the MSU hockey team chased an opposing goaltender from the game. In Friday’s 4-1 victory over No. 9 Miami (Ohio) at Steve Cady Arena, the Spartans chased Miami goaltender Cody Reichard out of the net at start of the second period after he allowed three goals on 12 shots.
To call the 41-37 game between the MSU women’s basketball team and in-state rival, Michigan, a defensive battle would be an understatement.
Whenever Tom Herzog gets ready to attend practice or run out of the tunnel with the MSU men’s basketball team, something happens to him that never used to. He becomes nervous.