The field hockey team proved themselves as a top contender in the Big Ten conference during regular season. Today, they will put that progress to the test. No. 3-seed MSU (9-9 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) will begin Big Ten Tournament play at 2:30 p.m. today as they take on No. 6-seed Indiana at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
The regular season has yet to start, but recent rule changes by the NCAA for basketball already have been affecting both men’s and women’s teams at MSU and across the country.
In a field that started with more than 6,000 entrants, it was MSU alumnus Ryan Riess that walked away the king of poker on Tuesday night. Donned in a Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson jersey, Riess’ ace-high topped amateur player and Las Vegas club promoter Jay Farber queen/five to win more than $8.3 million and the coveted World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet. Farber walked away with a cool $5.1 million after more than three hours of heads-up poker. After starting the day down nearly $30 million in chips, it took roughly an hour of play for Riess to take his first lead of the night when Farber folded at Riess’ bet to give him a $34-million chip lead.
Through seven years at MSU, Mark Dantonio has been the catalyst of some of the most memorable moments in program history. One of the most successful Spartan coaches since Duffy Daugherty, Dantonio already has made footprints in the sand, winning two bowl games, a Big Ten championship, an appearance in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game and five games against in-state rival Michigan.
The man tasked with playing the role of Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner in practice was freshman Damion Terry during MSU’s preparation for the Wolverines. “Not too excited to wear number ‘98’ this week lol oh well” Terry tweeted at the start of the week.
It wasn’t always smooth, and it certainly wasn’t scenic at times. But the regular season ultimately was a successful road for the field hockey team. After a shaky start, the team eventually found consistency in its defense and improved play on offense.
Two goals separated by less than a minute sunk the No. 18 MSU men’s soccer team as they fell 2-0 to No. 1 Notre Dame Tuesday afternoon. Notre Dame’s Harrison Shipp scored in the 60th minute, and Vince Cicciarelli tallied 37 seconds later to put the game out of reach.
Relying on three-point shot is one of the most inconsistent plays in basketball, but in the MSU men’s basketball team’s 83-45 win against Indiana University of Pennsylvania last night, that’s exactly what they did.
?The preseason finale for men’s basketball started the same way how many fans expect the regular season to play out: with a slam dunk. Five seconds after the tip, senior guard Keith Appling lobbed an alley-oop to high-flying junior forward Branden Dawson to send the crowd into an early frenzy. “We execute that everyday in practice,” Dawson said. “It just felt good to get that, and it’s been a while since I’ve been out there with Keith Appling throwing me an alley-oop.”
The preseason finale for men’s basketball started the same way how many fans expect the regular season to play out: with a slam dunk.
Excitement surrounded the MSU men’s soccer team on Friday as they defeated defending national champion Indiana 3-2 in double overtime.
It was a season plagued with injury, offensive inefficiency and inexperience for the MSU women’s soccer team that ended by failing to reach the Big Ten Tournament for the second straight year.
With legendary MSU running back Lorenzo White in the house, the Spartan men’s basketball team ran all over the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and lead 47-26 at the half. MSU lived from behind the three-point line as 19 of their 31 attempted field goals were three-pointers. An alley-oop from senior guard Keith Appling to junior forward Brandon Dawson just five seconds into the game got the IZZONE on their feet early. Two three-pointers from sophomore guard Gary Harris and one that senior center Adreian Payne rattled home pushed the Spartan lead to five points with 15 minutes left. Eight of the Spartans first ten shots were from behind the arch. MSU didn’t start to pull away until there was ten minutes left in the half when two more three-balls from Harris and a huge dunk by Dawson gave MSU a 12-point lead. Not to be outdone, Dawson lobbed a pass high into the Breslin Center sky the next time down the floor, that a flying Pyane hammered home with authority to put MSU up 14. Freshman forward Gavin Schilling skied for a put back slam after a missed three by junior guard Travis Trice. IUP had some success getting the ball low, and were led on the score sheet by Uruguay native Marcel Souberbielle with 10 points. Harris led all scorers with 14 points, and went 4-6 from the floor, all three-pointers, while Payne led the way on the boards by snatching 4 rebounds.
The honors are rolling in for the MSU defense following a historic 29-6 pounding of Michigan in which the Wolverines were held to a record-low -48 rushing yards and their lowest point total against the Spartans since 1967.
On Sunday night, junior forward Becca Mills enjoyed the fruits of her labor. A summer spent on developing a post game was shown in Sunday’s 91-47 win over Grand Valley State, where Mills posted 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks in just 24 minutes.
During Saturday’s game against Michigan, MSU paid tribute to Percy Snow. One of the most talented linebackers in program history, and the leader of MSU’s 1987 Gang Green defense, Snow became notorious for his nose for the backfield, earning him the Butkus and Lombardi awards, a Rose Bowl victory and eventually, a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame. Few were more feared; few were more integral to their team’s success. Yet, a greater honor to one of college football’s hardest-hitting linebackers came in the game with the Wolverines, as the No. 18 Spartans physically punished Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner all afternoon, totaling seven sacks and holding U-M to -48 yardsCL rushing in a 29-6 win at Spartan Stadium.
In the minutes separating the end of Saturday’s game and the start of the press conference, it was interesting to speculate what MSU coaches and players would say when they took the podium.
The MSU women’s cross country team placed first overall in the Big Ten Championship on Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind. The women finished the race with 43 points and five Spartans placing in the top 15. Leah O’Connor took second place overall, crossing the finish line at 20:56. MSU’s Katie Landwehr, Lindsey Clark, Rachele Schulist, and Megan Rodgers finished shortly after O’Connor taking fifth, ninth, 12th, and 15th place, respectively.
Grand Valley State was no match for the No. 18 MSU women’s basketball team on Sunday afternoon at Breslin Center, with MSU picking up its second preseason win, 91-47. It was the final tune-up match before MSU faces No.
Mackenzie MacEachern tallied two goals as the MSU hockey team finished the weekend sweep of American International with a 4-0 win Sunday afternoon at Munn Ice Arena. Freshman forward Joe Cox netted his second career goal, and senior forward Greg Wolfe scored his team leading fifth in the Spartans (3-3-0 overall) third win in a row. “A more complete game tonight certainly makes us feel a little better,” head coach Tom Anastos said.