FOOTBALL
Taking the next step
Football reporter breaks down early departures of Le’Veon Bell, William Gholston, Dion Sims.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Indiana natives put up solid performances in win against Purdue
After a sluggish first half was pointed out to him on film during halftime of Saturday’s game against Purdue, sophomore guard/forward Branden Dawson became a catalyst in a sizable second half run to lead the No. 18 Spartans (12-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) over Purdue (7-7, 1-1), 84-61.
ICE HOCKEY
Frustrations aplenty in first 20 games of 2012-13 season
Twenty games into the season, the MSU 2012-13 hockey season has been encapsulated by the word “frustrating.” With a 5-12-3 overall record, 4-9-1-0 in the CCHA, the Spartans have experienced a speedy, downward slip following their 7-2 win against Michigan on Nov. 10.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans fall to Penn State 76-55
The Spartans hung tight for a while, eventually whittling the Penn State lead to seven early in the second half, but the Nittany Lions never lost control of the contest, eventually growing the lead to 26 points going to win 76-55.
SPORTS
Wrestling defeats Bucknell, Lindsey Wilson in dual meet
The MSU wrestling team (4-3, 0-2 Big Ten) came away with a pair of wins as they beat Bucknell 28-11 and Lindsey Wilson 28-12 on Sunday afternoon. After a disappointing loss to Purdue on Friday night , the Spartans lost the first three matches to Bucknell to fall down 11-0 , but won the last seven to come away with a 28-11 win.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Women's basketball loses to Penn State in 76-55 blow out
The closest MSU managed to get to visiting No. 9 Penn State in the second half was seven points, and that was less than 30 seconds into the half. From there, the Nittany Lions (12-2 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) grew the lead to as much as 26 en route to a commanding 76-55 win over MSU (13-2 overall, 1-1 Big Ten). The Spartans kept it close early, trading blows with PSU in the opening minutes, but an 11-0 run halfway through the first half put the Nittany Lions in the driver’s seat the rest the game.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Women's basketball trails Penn State 34-25 at half
After sprinting out to a frantic pace in the opening minutes thanks to Penn State’s fullcourt pressure, the Spartans headed into the locker room down 34-25.
ICE HOCKEY
Ferris State's Garrett Thompson records hat trick as Bulldogs shut out MSU 3-0
The last time MSU hockey took the ice against Ferris State, a 3-1 victory made it appear as though better days were ahead for the Spartans. Saturday night, when the two teams faced off for the second time this season, the Spartans (5-12-3 overall, 4-9-1-0 CCHA) headed back to East Lansing with frustrations abound and a 3-0 shutout by the Bulldogs.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Gary Harris puts up career-high scoring effort in win over Purdue
When Gary Harris took the floor for his first Big Ten game at Breslin Center, he prepared to square off against one of his home state school and mother’s alma mater for the first time. It’s been a tough month for the freshman guard and Fishers, Ind., native as he spent extra time working to regain his shooting touch after spraining his shoulder earlier in the season.
ICE HOCKEY
MSU gets shut out at Ferris State 3-0
In the second half of a split MSU-Ferris State series, the Bulldogs came out victorious by a score of 3-0. The first period was scoreless and both teams were evenly matched with shots equal at seven. Ferris State pulled ahead in the second period when Bulldogs’ Garrett Thompson hit the puck off MSU freshman goaltender Jake Hildebrand’s back to score a power play goal. Less than five minutes later, Thompson struck again with a breakaway goal. Thompson finished off his hat trick with an empty-net goal with 33 seconds left in the game. The Spartans now fall to 5-12-3 overall, 4-9-1-0 in the CCHA. MSU’s next game will be Jan.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
MSU defeats Purdue 84-61 in Big Ten home opener
The rugged, neck-and-neck Big Ten play expected in one of the nation’s toughest basketball conferences lasted only a half in the Spartans’ conference home opener.
BASKETBALL
MSU leads Purdue 36-30 at half
After an aggressive first half of play, the No. 18 MSU basketball team leads Purdue 36-30. Coming off a loss to No.
FOOTBALL
Defensive end William Gholston becomes third MSU junior to declare for NFL Draft
The final shoe appears to have fallen Friday night for the MSU football team, when William Gholston told head coach Mark Dantonio of his decision to forego his senior season for the NFL Draft. In the report from 247Sports, the defensive end said he met with Dantonio to inform him of his decision in the afternoon and signed his NFL Draft declaration later that day. “After thinking everything over and talking to coach Dantonio, I knew it in my heart leaving for the NFL was the best decision for me,” Gholston told 247Sports.
SPORTS
MSU wrestling team drops first match after break to Purdue 26-10
Fresh off a break from school and competition, the MSU wrestling team (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) got back on the mat and lost to No. 21 Purdue, 26-10, Friday night.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dawson, MSU look to bounce back against Purdue at home
After watching Purdue (7-6 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) upset No. 11 Illinois on Wednesday, sophomore guard Branden Dawson said he needs a strong showing for the No. 18 Spartans (11-3, 0-1), who dropped their Big Ten opener against No. 9 Minnesota on New Year’s Eve.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Bench lifts women's basketball in win over Minnesota, 66-51
After being deadlocked at halftime, the MSU women’s basketball team outscored Minnesota by 15 points in the second half to win the its Big Ten opener for the third consecutive season.The bench carried the Spartans in a 66-51 victory in what started as a typical grind- it-out Big Ten-style contest.
FOOTBALL
Sims, Bell address MSU departures, NFL Draft prospects
After reports of juniors Dion Sims and Le’Veon Bell foregoing their senior seasons to enter the NFL Draft made headlines the past two days, the duo released statements along with head coach Mark Dantonio Thursday evening.
SPORTS
Bell, Gholston and Sims look to NFL as deadline approaches
Following the team’s Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl victory over TCU on Saturday, it was expected that juniors running back Le’Veon Bell, defensive end William Gholston and tight end Dion Sims might take a look at joining the professional ranks. And according to reports, the NFL wheels are in motion. Multiple outlets including MLive are reporting the trio have submitted paperwork to the NFL College Advisory Board, requesting an evaluation of their draft stock.
BASKETBALL
Spartans lose Big Ten opener at Minnesota 76-63
After finishing up the non-conference schedule against Texas nine days ago, Tom Izzo has been preparing the No.
ICE HOCKEY
GLI ends for Spartans with loss to U-M
When asked what he’s taking away from the 2012 Great Lakes Invitational, Tom Anastos paused and answered with one word: heartburn. After a shootout loss to Western Michigan on Saturday and a 5-2 loss to rival Michigan on Sunday, the hearts of all MSU hockey (5-11-3 overall, 4-8-1-0 CCHA) players are likely burning along with their head coach.