SPORTS
WEB EXTRA: Grapplers face No. 1 Minnesota on road trip
The No. 20 MSU wrestling team will embark on its toughest and most crucial road trip of the season when it travels to face No.
BASKETBALL
'A complete meltdown'
West Lafayette, Ind. — For one half, it was even. And then, in an instant, the game — and maybe the season — got away from the MSU men's basketball team. Looking helpless as Purdue opened the second half on a 33-6 run, the Spartans suffered a crushing 62-38 defeat Wednesday at Mackey Arena, dropping them to 4-6 in the Big Ten and opening the floor for serious discussion about their postseason hopes. It was MSU's lowest scoring output since a 50-36 loss to Michigan on Jan.
SPORTS
Spartans not taking Wildcats lightly
The MSU women's basketball team always boasts about how it takes no opponent lightly and how the next game is the most important one on the schedule. That philosophy will be put to the test at 8 p.m.
FOOTBALL
Dantonio announces 2007 recruiting class
First year MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio announced the 2007 football recruiting class, which Rivals.com ranked No.
BASKETBALL
An 'uphill battle' to finish with winning record
West Lafayette, Ind. — Murphy's law states, "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." That sentiment couldn't have been any more true for MSU when the team faced Purdue on Wednesday. The Spartans, struggling to get their head above water in the Big Ten, would have been wise to take advantage of a mid-tier conference foe in a half-empty stadium with the score tied at halftime, 26-26. But MSU fell apart in nearly every facet in the final 20 minutes, blowing the opportunity to secure its first true quality road win of the season.
FOOTBALL
Football welcomes fans to Breslin Center for NCAA signing day
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio will reveal the incoming class of football recruits tonight at Breslin Center as part of NCAA Signing Day. Fans have been invited to attend the event, which will consist of an autograph session and video tribute to the incoming class.
BASKETBALL
MSU faces tough road test at Purdue
Before losing to Ohio State at home last week, Purdue was 12-0 at Mackey Arena this season. Before beating Penn State in State College, Pa., three days later, the Boilermakers hadn't won a road game in three years. So as the Spartans (17-7 overall, 4-5 Big Ten) travel to West Lafayette, Ind., tonight for an 8 p.m.
ICE HOCKEY
Icers look for strong finish as season closes
The Spartans have looked at their schedule and seen the remaining games. But they're not getting ahead of themselves. With two games apiece against CCHA bottom-feeders Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Ferris State, MSU seemingly could declare a first-round CCHA playoff bye right now.
FOOTBALL
4 MSU seniors to compete in football combine this month
Quarterback Drew Stanton, defensive tackle Clifton Ryan, wide receiver Matt Trannon and punter Brandon Fields all have accepted invitations to partake in the National Football League's 2007 Scouting Combine. The event is scheduled to take place Feb.
ICE HOCKEY
Lerg scores CCHA honors
Junior forward Bryan Lerg was named CCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his four-point performance in last weekend's series against Nebraska-Omaha.
BASKETBALL
Izzo weighs in on Oden, Durant
Tom Izzo is in the unique position of having coached against the two college basketball prospects who have pro scouts salivating the most. In addition to playing against Ohio State center Greg Oden the last two Saturdays, the Spartans also faced Kevin Durant — Texas' 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward — on Nov.
SPORTS
Spartans prepare for final stretch in Big Ten season
At this point of the season, the MSU women's basketball team has to be asking itself one thing: Where have all the home games gone? Thursday's game at Northwestern marks the beginning of a stretch where MSU will play four of its final six regular-season games away from Breslin Center, including trips to No.
FOOTBALL
Fans invited to witness 2007 recruits
MSU football fans have been invited to join head coach Mark Dantonio when he unveils the 2007 recruiting class Wednesday at Breslin Center as part of the NCAA National Signing Day. Spartans football and Detroit Pistons announcer George Blaha is slated to serve as the host of the event.
SPORTS
Grapplers split road meets over weekend
After a stunning 19-14 upset loss to Ohio State on Friday, the No. 19 Spartans (3-6 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) bounced back Sunday at Purdue (10-6, 0-6) with a 21-14 victory. Perhaps even more surprising than Friday's defeat was 133-pound No.
BASKETBALL
Men's team lets game get away
You wouldn't think a rebound with 13 minutes left to play would ever be the deciding factor in a basketball game, but it's the one that probably rendered MSU head coach Tom Izzo an insomniac most of Saturday night. Here's what happened: MSU, despite playing the first half with the harmony of a drunk orchestra, had trimmed an eight-point Ohio State lead to one.
FOOTBALL
MSU scores verbal in 4-star recruit
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio scored a verbal commitment during the weekend from Cedric Everson, a 6-foot-1 athlete from Detroit Mumford High School. Everson is a four-star recruit, according to Rivals.com, and committed verbally to become a Spartan on Feb.
SPORTS
Gymnasts capture Michigan state title
The No. 21 MSU gymnastics team captured the State of Michigan Classic during the weekend after posting a season-high team score of 196.350.
ICE HOCKEY
Spartans unbeaten in last 7 contests
As soon as the Spartans took the ice Friday in Omaha, it was clear they left their travel legs on the airplane. MSU (17-8-2 overall, 13-6-2 CCHA) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Friday's game against Nebraska-Omaha and ended up winning, 5-1, in a penalty-free game.
BASKETBALL
No. 12: Raised to the rafters
Mateen Cleaves walked to the middle of the court in front of a packed house at Breslin Center on Saturday, wiping tears from his eyes.
SPORTS
Spartans show offensive potential in wins
The MSU's women's basketball team might just be finding an offensive rhythm. The evidence: MSU has recorded two of its highest point totals of the season the last two games, and in Sunday's 80-70 win over Illinois, four Spartans scored in double figures, led by a season-high 22 points from sophomore guard Mia Johnson. Add to that a season-high 19 points from sophomore forward Aisha Jefferson and 14 from freshman center Allyssa DeHaan, and MSU could have the makings of a lethal inside-out combination. DeHaan, for the most part, had her way with the Fighting Illini, shooting 7-of-8 from the field with seven rebounds in a nice bounce-back game. "If (DeHaan's) really focused, you can expect some special things," MSU head coach Joanne P.