INDIANAPOLIS — Mark Dantonio told his team they would be “the ones” at his team banquet last offseason, where the book officially closed on a frustrating 7-6 season.
Several weeks into fall camp, head coach Mark Dantonio had a question for his team. “How many of you were alive in 1988?”
South Bend, Ind. — The run is over. The 11th seeded MSU men’s soccer team’s season came to an end Saturday night after a 2-1 loss to three-seed Notre Dame in the Elite Eight.
No. 10 MSU came out swinging behind the arm of sophomore quarterback Connor Cook before No. 2 Ohio State found its footing and bounced back to make it a 17-10 game heading after one half of play in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Spartans took advantage of two pass interference flags on the game’s opening drive, which resulted in a 40-yard field goal from freshman kicker Michael Geiger. MSU also claimed the first big play of the night, a 72-yard bomb from Cook to junior wide receiver Keith Mumphery, sending the portion of the crowd clad in green into a frenzy. Cook threw another jaw-dropping pass to junior Tony Lippett for a 33-yard score, giving the Spartans an early 17-0 lead and MSU appeared to be in command. The Buckeyes’ explosive offense was stifled by MSU on their first three drives, generating just 36 yards.
MSU (5-8-1, 0-1-0-1 B1G) fell on Saturday to No. 1 Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-2-2, 3-0-1-0 B1G) 3-2 at Munn Ice Arena, with the Spartans playing catch-up all game.
The MSU volleyball team took care of business, beating Ohio in straight sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-19) to advance to the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.
The MSU women’s basketball team continued its recent struggles with a third-straight loss Saturday afternoon losing, 72-66, at Virginia Tech. Despite hitting two 3-pointers in the final minute of the game, the Spartans (5-4 overall) couldn’t get the comeback victory. MSU started three freshmen in the lineup because of junior guard Kiana Johnson missing her second straight game with an infection.
?MSU (6-7, 1-0 B1G) played its best outing of the season, knocking off the No. 1 Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-2-2) in a shootout on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena.
Because of poor weather in central Kentucky, the 5 p.m. NCAA Volleyball Tournament first-round match between No.
Coming all the way from Sweden, freshman forward Villiam Haag wasn’t completely familiar with all of the in’s and out’s of college hockey but one team he was aware of the Spartans’ next opponent — perennial powerhouse No.
Ever since 11:52 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2011, Isaiah Lewis has patiently awaited a moment that was never guaranteed to arrive. At that minute, time ran out on MSU’s Big Ten title hopes. Wisconsin finished a second-half comeback against the Kirk Cousins-led Spartans, avenging a regular season loss at Spartan Stadium and claiming the league’s coveted Rose Bowl bid in the process.
As fans were ushered down the steps and out the exit of Lucas Oil Stadium into a chilly Indianapolis night, Denicos Allen witnessed something he’d never seen before. Max Bullough was there, too — he remembers it well. The then-sophomore linebackers were forced to watch several members of the 2011 Spartans, a band of brothers toward the end of a special season, break down in tears.
It’s finally here. At 5 p.m., the No. 20 MSU volleyball team (21-11 overall, 10-10 Big Ten) will take on Mid-American Conference champion Ohio in Lexington, KY.
While many fans are focused on the football game in Indianapolis, Kevin Cope is keen on winning a game nearly 140 miles north of it.
Matt Costello wasn’t supposed to play Wednesday night — but he contributed in a big way. Despite a 79-65 loss to North Carolina, the sophomore forward was the only member of the No. 1 MSU men’s basketball team to play with the spirit of the best team in the nation.
The No. 1 men’s basketball team walked onto the court in kryptonite-colored socks for their highly-anticipated Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup against North Carolina. However, the Superman of college hoops walked off the court with their first loss of the season to UNC, 75-69. The Spartans never led during a game that showcased some of MSU’s most troubling tendencies on the season thus far. The game started just as poorly as it possibly could have for MSU and had the packed Breslin Center in a restless frenzy almost immediately. Junior forward Alex Gauna, who got the start in place of ill sophomore forward Matt Costello, started the game by committing two fouls and a turnover within the first 90 seconds. MSU went on to turn the ball over eight times, four of which came in the first five minutes, and allowing UNC to grab 10 offensive rebounds on the half.
A Chris Webber-esque technical ultimately sealed a second straight loss for the women’s basketball team.
It was a tale of two halves…of a half. The No. 1 MSU men’s basketball team is tied with North Carolina 32-32 at the half, after an up-and-down start to the game by the Spartans The Tar Heels led by as much as 14 midway through the period, but MSU scored eight of the last 10 field goals to even the score. It took four minutes for MSU to get their first field goal.
Staring down a dream, it’s important to note Urban Meyer has been here before. Several times, in fact.
The volleyball team will travel to Lexington, Ky., to take on Mid-American Conference champion Ohio on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Playing a smaller conference team certainly presents a challenge, as the Spartans are less familiar with an MAC opponent than a team such as Oregon, who hails from a highly-visible Pac-12 conference.