ICE HOCKEY
Lots of hockey left, but MSU should be 'in'
It was a good weekend for the No. 13 MSU hockey team. And the Spartans didn’t even have any games on the schedule.
BASKETBALL
Spartans snap losing streak, beat Penn State 65-54
Junior guard Kalin Lucas scores 24 in MSU’s 65-54 win at Penn State. The win ends the Spartans’ three-game skid and gives them their 10th Big Ten win of the season.
BASKETBALL
DeHaan ties NCAA all-time blocks record
Senior center Allyssa DeHaan tied the NCAA Division I career blocks record Thursday night when she swatted Michigan center Krista Phillips 13 seconds into the second half at Crisler Arena, tying the previous record of 480 held by Texas Christian’s Sandora Irvin (2001-05). Later Thursday night, St. Mary’s junior forward Louella Tomlinson, who came into her game with Gonzaga needing three blocks to break the record, tied and later broke the record with five rejections.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans defend well in 50-45 win over U-M
The MSU women’s basketball team got back to basics in Thursday’s night victory against Michigan: defense and rebounding.
BASKETBALL
DeHaan ties NCAA blocks record against U-M
Ann Arbor — Senior center Allyssa DeHaan tied the NCAA career blocks record when she swatted U-M center Krista Phillips 13 seconds into the second half Thursday night at Crisler Arena. DeHaan tied the record of 480 blocks held by Texas Christian’s Sandora Irvin (2001-05).
BASKETBALL
Defensive rebound
MSU junior guard Chris Allen is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals — but Allen and his coaches agree those improvements stem from his growth on defense. His increased focus and intense film study means he’s now playing the best defense of his life, head coach Tom Izzo said.
BASKETBALL
Battle presents challenge for Spartans
For more than a week, the focus of the MSU men’s basketball program has been on junior guard Kalin Lucas. Saturday, the team’s attention will turn to Penn State’s junior guard and leading scorer Talor Battle, the Nittany Lions’ most dangerous player.
BASKETBALL
MSU holds edge over winless Nittany Lions
A trip to State College, Pa., might be just what the doctor ordered for the MSU men’s basketball team. No coach would play a road game in the Big Ten if he didn’t have to, but if there is a team you want to face on their home floor, it’s the Nittany Lions.
BASKETBALL
Despite injuries, fiery Jefferson remains focused, determined
Injuries throughout her basketball career might have taken away some of Aisha Jefferson’s physical gifts, but they haven’t affected her heart.
SPORTS
Prognosticators
It’s that time again! The prognosticators are here to make their weekly picks.
BASKETBALL
Spartans prepare for another 3-point shooting team in U-M
There’s nothing like a rivalry game to get a team going after a tough loss. Following Sunday’s disappointing loss at Iowa, the MSU women’s basketball team will be anxious to get back at it tonight when they head to Crisler Arena to play Michigan at 7 p.m. Four days after the team struggled defensively against the Hawkeyes, MSU goes into Ann Arbor against a team that will play a very similar style — drive to the basket and either put up a shot or kick out for a 3-point attempt.
SPORTS
Klages hopes gymnasts 'take it to next level' Sunday vs. Illinois
Despite coming off its two highest-scoring performances of the season, the No. 22 MSU gymnastics team only is thinking about scoring higher as it prepares for this weekend’s meet at Illinois. The Spartans scored a 194.550 in a second-place finish at Western Michigan last weekend after pulling together a season-best 194.875 the previous weekend against Ohio State.
SPORTS
Teike impressive in rookie campaign
After competing strongly in a national tournament as a 12-year-old, Shanthi Teike knew gymnastics was the right path for her. What she might not have expected was finding a lot of success this early in her collegiate career. Teike, a freshman MSU gymnast, has been one of the Spartans’ most consistent performers this season, regularly finishing in the top five and proving to be a nice complement to the team’s juniors and seniors.
BASKETBALL
Lucas shows grit, heart in loss
Funny, the effect ankle injuries have on star MSU point guards. Kalin Lucas’ performance on a bum ankle Tuesday night against Purdue brought back memories of Mateen Cleaves’ 2000 championship game effort.
BASKETBALL
Ball screens, communication give Spartans fits
The MSU men’s basketball team struggled defensively off ball screens and it cost them another game Tuesday, as the No. 10 Spartans lost to No. 6 Purdue, 76-64, at Breslin Center.
BASKETBALL
Whiteout woes
MSU dropped its third straight game Tuesday night, losing to No. 6 Purdue 76-64. The loss continues the Spartans’ conference slide, leaving them at 9-3 in the Big Ten.
SPORTS
Hinton having successful season against ranked foes
In a tough Big Ten wrestling schedule, nobody’s been more embattled than 174-pound sophomore Ian Hinton. Hinton has faced six straight ranked opponents in a stacked conference, holding up well despite the strength of the competition.
SPORTS
MSU looks to even Big Ten record vs. Penn State
The MSU wrestling team returned to business Sunday, posting an impressive 20-13 victory against Purdue to improve to 2-3 in the Big Ten. The team’s reward? Road dates with No. 11 Penn State and No. 3 Ohio State this weekend.
BASKETBALL
Record or not, DeHaan true all-time best
Chances are senior center Allyssa DeHaan only will hold the NCAA blocks record for about three hours. And that’s a shame.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Spartans look to rally tonight against Purdue
A game circled back in November on the MSU and Purdue men’s basketball teams’ schedules has been reinforced with another layer of ink.