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Sports

BASKETBALL

Men's basketball alley-oop, slam dunk way to 83-45 exhibition game win

?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.”

BASKETBALL

MSU leads IUP at halftime, 47-26

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.

FOOTBALL

Run This State

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.

SPORTS

MSU women's cross country wins Big Ten Championship

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.

ICE HOCKEY

Ice hockey completes weekend sweep over AIC

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.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's basketball leads GVSU, 43-26

After one half of play at Breslin Center, the No. 18 women’s basketball team leads Grand Valley State, 43-26. GVSU kept the game within a couple of points for much of the half, but the Spartans started to take control of the game nearing halftime. MSU shot the ball well from behind the arc, going 5-for-10 on 3-pointers. MSU was led by senior forward Annalise Pickrel’s eight points, six rebounds and two assists.

FOOTBALL

A few seconds was difference in win

The difference between Connor Cook and Devin Gardner is a few seconds. Count slowly or it’ll pass you by. It’s the blink of an eye, a flash. Nothing more and nothing less than a brief moment in time.

FOOTBALL

Too Easy

It was dirty. It was sloppy. And unlike the last time MSU and Michigan clashed in East Lansing, that only described the playing surface at Spartan Stadium. Between the lines, the on-field action was brutal and hard-hitting, similar in that regard to MSU’s dominant defensive performance of 2011 that was marred by some dirty play on both sides. The Spartans (8-1 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) outmatched the Wolverines physically, bullying their way to a 29-6 win – MSU’s fifth victory in the rivalry’s last six meetings.

FOOTBALL

Spartans lead rival U-M 13-6 at halftime

Each team settled for field goals on their opening drives before failing to capitalize on multiple opportunities to take over the game, resulting in a 13-6 lead for MSU against rival Michigan at halftime. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook’s accuracy was shaky until the last drive, when he took the Spartans 75 yards in 10 plays, capped with an impressive 14-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Bennie Fowler in the back corner of the end zone.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans fend off AIC's late comeback

While most of East Lansing is dressed up and asking for free candy, the MSU hockey team is focused on winning, and that’s what they did Friday night against American International. The Spartans (2-3-0 overall) beat the Yellow Jackets (1-2-0 overall, 1-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) 5-4 in the first game of a two game set.