Saturday, January 3, 2026

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Sports

BASKETBALL

Desperate and hungry, OSU wanted it more

The Spartans went to Columbus riding a wave. It may have been closer to a ripple than a tidal wave, but a throttling of Indiana and a strong road win at Illinois qualified as steps forward for the Spartans.

BASKETBALL

Out of step

After defeating Illinois twice in the regular season, the MSU women’s basketball team failed to do it when it mattered the most. Illinois defeated MSU 55-41 on Saturday in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Spartans now have to wait to hear their post-season fate, hoping for an NCAA Tournament bid.

BASKETBALL

Thomas stifles Gophers star in win

Indianapolis — Going into Friday’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game against Minnesota, the MSU women’s basketball team knew, above all else, it would have to contain Golden Gophers guard Emily Fox.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU edges Illinois, 59-51

With a victory in sight late in the game on the road, the Spartans refused to crumble — not something MSU men’s basketball fans are used to seeing away from Breslin Center. The Green and White held on to squeak by Illinois 59-51 Thursday night at Assembly Hall in Champagne, Ill., led by senior guard Drew Neitzel and his 17 points.

BASKETBALL

Suton honored by Big Ten

Junior center Goran Suton nailed his first collegiate 3-pointer Sunday afternoon against Indiana, snapping an 0-for-15 attempt record. Could it have been karma?

BASKETBALL

Spartans torch Indiana, 103-74

You know what they say about paybacks. After losing by 19 points to Indiana on Feb. 16, the MSU men’s basketball team responded by crushing the Hoosiers, 103-74, on Sunday afternoon at Breslin Center.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers top Falcons on Senior Night, 6-3

After scoring 18 seconds apart to put the Spartans up 4-1 against Michigan last Friday, the duo of Justin Abdelkader and Tim Kennedy did it again Friday night against Bowling Green. With the pesky Falcons pushing to upset the Spartans on Senior Night yet again, Abdelkader and Kennedy scored 22 seconds apart late in the third period to break a 3-3 deadlock, leading MSU to a 6-3 victory at Munn Ice Arena.

BASKETBALL

Senior smackdown

After four years on the MSU women’s basketball team, senior guard Courtney Davidson ended her regular-season career in record-setting style. Davidson scored a career-high 20 points, leading the team to a 54-46 victory over Illinois on Thursday night at Breslin Center.

BASKETBALL

Breakdown

Spartans fans — what is your profession? It could be to grab the foam finger, body paint, rowdy rags, hair dye and Sparty helmet — there’s no other game at Breslin Center quite like this one.

ICE HOCKEY

One final salute

Bring plenty of tissues for tonight’s 7:05 p.m. game against Bowling Green. It will mark the last night the seniors on the MSU hockey team will skate at Munn Ice Arena during the regular season, and it’s bound to get emotional.

BASKETBALL

Naymick, Neitzel excel on, off court

When Drew Neitzel and Drew Naymick walk the length of their home floor on Sunday for senior day celebrations, they’ll be leaving a trail. The trail — of records, statistics, charity work and tenacity — will go down as a culmination of their character, more commonly referred to as a legacy.