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Sports

BASKETBALL

No time for men's team to revel in win

Tom Keller
February 19, 2007

On Wednesday, the snow wouldn't stop falling in Illinois, and Iowa's game at Northwestern had to be moved back a day. On Saturday, MSU's shots wouldn't stop falling at Breslin Center, and the Hawkeyes had to be carried out on a stretcher after the Spartans rode an early 18-0 run to an 81-49 massacre. "We just couldn't stop the bleeding," Iowa head coach Steve Alford said. With less than 48 hours to prepare for MSU (19-8 overall, 6-6 Big Ten), the Hawkeyes (15-12, 7-6) were undeniably sluggish.

SPORTS

Simmons ties record in MSU loss

Julie Baker
February 19, 2007

No. 2-ranked senior Nick Simmons posted his 45th fall Sunday against Penn State's Bryan Heller to tie the all-time record in MSU wrestling history. Wrestling at 141 pounds for the second time in his career, Simmons moved up from his usual weight class of 133 Friday against Indiana to fill in for brother Andy Simmons, who was out with an injury.

SPORTS

Gymnasts to face Illinois in Saturday matchup

Eric Fish
February 16, 2007

The No. 18 MSU gymnastics team returns home Saturday, when it hosts Illinois at 7 p.m. at Jenison Field House. The Spartans are coming off back-to-back weekend victories and the first perfect 10 in MSU gymnastics history from freshman Rochelle Robinson on the vault in the Fox Run Invitational.

SPORTS

Bader earns Big Ten honors for weekend play

Eric Fish
February 16, 2007

MSU junior and women's tennis player Christine Bader scored Big Ten's Co-Player of the Week on Thursday. Bader was 2-0 in singles competition last weekend and went 1-1 in doubles play as the Spartans defeated Miami (Ohio) and Ball State. The team is off to a 7-0 start — its second in team history. The Spartans return to action at 10 a.m.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans face hot Broncos

Zack Colman
February 16, 2007

With their winning flame now doused, the No. 6 Spartans play two games against a hot Western Michigan team this weekend in a home-and-home series. MSU's 2-1 loss Tuesday to Ferris State — the team's first since Jan.

BASEBALL

Baseball team hosts First Pitch Dinner Sunday

Eric Fish
February 16, 2007

The MSU baseball team will host its second annual First Pitch Dinner at 1 p.m. Sunday in Spartan Stadium's LaSalle Bank Club. Tickets for the event are $25 for children and students, $30 for MSU baseball alumni and $50 for the general public.

SPORTS

Spartans anxious for rematch

Matt Bishop
February 15, 2007

Redemption is on the mind of the MSU women's basketball team. After a poor showing in a 55-48 win last Thursday, the Spartans look to put on a better performance at 7 p.m.

ICE HOCKEY

MSU must pick up offensive play

The question must be asked: How strong is sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg's back? Jeff Lerg was unquestionably shaky to start the season, but if there is any reason — and maybe it's the only one — the Spartans are competing for a first-round playoff bye, it's because of their goaltender's spectacular play since December.

BASKETBALL

Big Ten Network will stop at MSU Saturday for men's basketball game

Eric Fish
February 15, 2007

The Big Ten Network will make a stop in East Lansing this weekend as part of its college basketball tour that is set to visit all 11 Big Ten schools throughout the 2007 season. The tour has been organized to promote the Big Ten Network's 24-hour coverage of sports that is set to debut on television in August. Fans in attendance at the MSU men's basketball game on Saturday will have the opportunity to win a trip for two to the 2007 or 2008 Big Ten men's basketball tournament when given a ticket while entering the game.

BASKETBALL

Duo powers MSU past U-M

Ethan Conley
February 14, 2007

Only two MSU players were able to find their range Tuesday night, but that's all the Spartans needed to top intrastate rival Michigan. Junior guard Drew Neitzel must've felt the urgency of the conditions surrounding the matchup with U-M because he wasted no time in lighting up the scoreboard. Neitzel, known for his second-half scoring outbursts, poured in 14 points and three assists in the opening 20 minutes.

ICE HOCKEY

WEB EXTRA: Icers' 9-game unbeaten streak ends with 2-1 loss to Ferris State

Zack Colman
February 14, 2007

Big Rapids — The No. 6 Spartans nine-game unbeaten streak ended Tuesday night after a 2-1 loss to Ferris State. The game resembled Friday's matchup with the Bulldogs (10-19-3 overall, 7-15-2 CCHA) in many ways — superb goaltending, defensive struggles, tied score at one apiece late into the game. The only difference was who scored the final goal. "This loss hurts a lot," MSU head hockey coach Rick Comley said.

SPORTS

MSU women's soccer team adds 4 recruits

Sean Ely
February 14, 2007

MSU women's soccer head coach Tom Saxton announced Monday four new recruits who will join 10 returning starters from last year's squad that went 8-9-1 and missed the Big Ten playoffs. The team picked up two defenders, a defender-midfielder and a forward. "Our 2007 Michigan State recruiting class may be small in number, but it in no way will it be small in impact," Saxton said in a written statement.

SPORTS

Freshman gymnast earns 1st perfect score in MSU history

Sean Ely
February 14, 2007

When certain athletes make the transition from adolescence to college success, it can sometimes go straight to their heads. Not for freshman gymnast Rochelle Robinson. After a flawless 10.0 performance on the vault during Saturday's Fox Run Invitational in New Hampshire, Robinson got right back to her normal routine while practicing with the rest of her Spartans teammates. "I just basically take each week one at a time," Robinson.

ICE HOCKEY

No. 6 MSU faces off at Ferris State

Zack Colman
February 13, 2007

The No. 6 Spartans hope tonight's rematch with Ferris State doesn't seem like deja vu. After a frustrating 2-1 overtime victory over the struggling Bulldogs (9-19-3 overall, 6-15-2 CCHA) Friday, the Spartans (18-8-3, 14-6-3) will be looking for a more convincing win.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
February 12, 2007

Two Gonzaga basketball players were arrested last week after marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms were found in their car. Defense attorneys are confident any related charges will be dropped once prosecutors see how little else there is to do around the Gonzaga campus. An estimated 93.1 million people watched last Sunday's Super Bowl, making it the second most watched football game ever. Media analysts caution that number might be high, since many people actually turned the game on during a Rex Grossman possession and thought they were watching a documentary on natural disasters. Upset by Dwyane Wade's criticism of Dirk Nowitzki's leadership skills last week, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban ripped Wade on his blog, saying among other things, "You obviously have an overinflated value of your own." Cuban then pushed up his glasses, adjusted his suspenders and yelled upstairs to tell his mom how funny the joke was that he just made. A Serbian village ravaged by floods is trying to change its fortune and attract tourists by constructing a statue of Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa film character in the middle of town. Residents hope the gimmick works better than the last recovery idea — a life-size mural of a nude Don Vito. New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is selling a children's book based on his experiences playing while growing up. The book costs $252 million over 10 years, but it won't open when you really need to read it most.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans extend unbeaten streak

Zack Colman
February 12, 2007

Detroit — The No. 6 Spartans should credit their three points this weekend to sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg. Lerg stood tall, stopping 33 shots in Friday's 2-1 overtime victory over Ferris State and stopping a career-high 54 shots in Saturday's 3-3 tie against Michigan at Joe Louis Arena to extend MSU's unbeaten streak to a nation-leading nine games. "He was excellent," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

SPORTS

With win, MSU likely takes Purdue out of Big Ten contention

Matt Bishop
February 12, 2007

West Lafayette, Ind. — The looks on the faces of forward Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and guard Jodi Howell in the post-game press conference said it all. They had just seen a 17-point lead slip away along with, more than likely, a chance to win the Big Ten after falling two games back of Ohio State with four games left to play.