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Sports

SPORTS

Spartan athletics continue to grind across the board

The State News Sports Desk
February 5, 2026

Michigan State endured a turbulent week across multiple sports, highlighted by back-to-back men’s basketball losses, statement rivalry wins in hockey and gymnastics, and continued consistency from several programs. While the Spartans struggled to close games on the hardwood, MSU hockey swept Penn State, women’s gymnastics secured a historic top-15 rivalry victory, and wrestling snapped its Big Ten skid at home. With top-10 matchups, rivalry clashes and multiple seasons just getting underway, Michigan State now looks ahead to a pivotal stretch across the athletic department.

ICE HOCKEY

No. 2 MSU hockey set for rivalry matchup at No. 1 Michigan

Audrey Dayton
February 5, 2026

No. 2 Michigan State hockey will face off against No. 1 Michigan this weekend, opening the two-game series at Yost Ice Arena before concluding it at Little Caesar’s Arena for their annual Duel in the D contest. The series will impact who wins the Big Ten regular-season title. Getting to the inside offensively will be key to the Spartans' success.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU prepares for top-25 clash against struggling Maryland squad

Tyler Gaylord
February 4, 2026

Michigan State women’s basketball faces another critical test in February as the Spartans welcome No. 22 Maryland to the Breslin Center. With four ranked matchups this month, MSU continues a stretch that could define its standing in the Big Ten race. Maryland enters on a four-game losing streak but remains dangerous behind breakout guard Oluchi Okananwa and sharpshooter Yarden Garzon. The matchup also carries personal significance for senior guard Jalyn Brown, a Baltimore native, as the Spartans look to bounce back from a narrow overtime loss to Michigan.

SPORTS

Sage Kellerman earns Big Ten Specialist of the Week

Tanya Arora
February 3, 2026

Sage Kellerman, a senior at Michigan State, received the Big Ten Specialist of the Week honor after leading Michigan State in both Vault and Bars, achieving her highest scores of the season on both events and winning both titles against Michigan, leading to Michigan State's victory by a score of 197.525-197.425.

SPORTS

One-point wonder: MSU tops Michigan in rivalry duel

Tanya Arora
February 1, 2026

Michigan State narrowly defeated Michigan 197.525-197.425 this afternoon at Crisler Center in a Big Ten gymnastics competition themed by the close finish of the meet in the last rotation. Excellent individual performances led to one of the most closely contested results in the last several years of this rivalry.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU women's basketball drops overtime heartbreaker to Michigan

Tyler Gaylord
February 1, 2026

In the first top-15 matchup of the Michigan State–Michigan rivalry, the Spartans pushed the Wolverines to the brink in an overtime thriller at Breslin Center. A frantic final sequence and a missed half-court heave sent the game to overtime tied at 81, where Michigan finally created separation to escape with a 94-91 win. Despite the loss, MSU matched Michigan’s physicality possession for possession in a game that showcased the intensity, depth and growing national stature of the Big Ten.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Michigan State women set to clash with Michigan in top-15 showdown

Tyler Gaylord
January 31, 2026

No. 13 Michigan State women’s basketball welcomes No. 9 Michigan to the Breslin Center on Sunday for the first top-15 matchup between the in-state rivals. Both teams enter the contest near the top of the Big Ten standings with nearly identical resumes, combining efficient offenses with disruptive defenses that thrive on forcing turnovers. With conference title implications on the line, the rivalry meeting sets up as a tightly contested battle that could play a pivotal role in the Big Ten race.