Saturday, March 7, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports

BASKETBALL

With guard depth gone, Ager and Brown must run a lot

Ethan Conley
November 3, 2005

Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager are murderous on the wings. MSU's tandem of athletic guards has shown an ability to finish dunks and alley-oops on the fast break that is nearly unparalleled in the realm of college basketball. But with the departure of Kelvin Torbert, Chris Hill, Alan Anderson and Tim Bograkos, there is a question as to whether or not the duo will be able to get up and down the court at the same break-neck pace as in previous seasons. Depth is now a major concern in the MSU backcourt, with the only feasible substitutes for Ager, Brown and sophomore point guard Drew Neitzel being two unproven freshmen: Maurice Joseph and Travis Walton.

FOOTBALL

Defense finally breaks out

Eric Fish
November 1, 2005

A struggling and inconsistent Spartan defensive unit may have gotten the turnaround it was looking for in Saturday's 46-15 win over Indiana. Using a more aggressive strategy, the defense intercepted three passes for the first time since 2003, recovered a fumble, recorded two sacks, and made six tackles for losses, all while holding the Hoosier offense to 369 total yards.

ICE HOCKEY

Icers still fighting injuries

Chris Barsotti
November 1, 2005

It has been a season of ups-and-downs for the MSU hockey team and it has only played five games. The ups have been aplenty, with the team starting the season 3-1-1 and getting wins against top teams North Dakota and Cornell. "Our confidence is very good because we are getting such great efforts from all players," MSU assistant coach Tom Newton said.

BASKETBALL

Growing expectations

Ethan Conley
October 31, 2005

There's no shortage of big bodies eager to mix it up in the paint on the MSU men's basketball team. Though the inexperienced White squad fell to the Green squad, 84-44, its frontcourt demonstrated the talent and resolve necessary to give MSU a solid bench throughout the upcoming season. Redshirt freshmen Idong Ibok and Goran Suton showed no hesitation in attacking the basket from the low block during Saturday's Green-White scrimmage, despite being matched up against more experienced players.

SPORTS

Cross country teams come in 5th and 7th

Esther Gim
October 31, 2005

The MSU women's cross country team finished fifth in the Big Ten Championship this past weekend in Minneapolis and the men came in seventh. Junior Katie Kelley had the best showing for the Spartans with a time of 21 minutes, 53 seconds.

SPORTS

Volleyball team drops weekend matches

Yvette Lanier
October 31, 2005

It was a weekend where the MSU women's volleyball team hoped to turn its season around. Instead, the Spartans found themselves back in familiar territory. On the road, the Spartans fell to Illinois and were swept by No.

FOOTBALL

Special teams runs away with game

Matt Bishop
October 31, 2005

For the first time all season, MSU's special teams units were just that — special. After being called out Friday night by special teams coach Jim McElwain, the Spartans special teams responded with their best performance of the season.

SPORTS

Men's golf finishes seventh in tourney

Esther Gim
October 31, 2005

The MSU men's golf team carded a 290 in the final round of The Landfall Tradition to finish seventh on Sunday in Wilmington, N.C., to close the fall season. The Spartans, who shot 891 overall, were just two shots away from a third-place tie. Texas A&M (870) captured the tournament —?10 shots over Coastal Carolina (880). Tulsa, Illinois, Minnesota and Virginia Commonwealth all tied for third place (889). Freshman Randy Hutchison came in fourth with a 1-over-par, shooting a 69 in the final round and 217 for the tournament.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
October 31, 2005

• French golfer Jean Van de Velde will attempt to enter next year's Women's British Open because he is upset women might qualify for the 2006 British Open. In a related story, the Pistons will attempt to get Darko Milicic a spot on the Detroit Shock this season because they're upset he averages infinity fouls per 48 minutes. • A judge sided with high school civics teacher and Tampa Bay Buccaneers season-ticket holder Gordon Johnston that security pat-downs at the team's stadium violated individual liberties. "I'd say it's humiliating," Johnston said.

SPORTS

Women picked second, Ohio State first in poll

Tom Keller
October 31, 2005

Chicago — MSU and Ohio State ended last season tied atop the Big Ten standings, but it's the Buckeyes who got the nod as the preseason favorite at the league's media day on Sunday. Ohio State, coming off a 30-win season and a trip to the NCAA regional semifinals, was picked to finish first in both the media and coaches' polls.

FOOTBALL

Spartans still in running for bowl

Eric Fish
October 31, 2005

After throwing his second touchdown pass Saturday against Indiana, Drew Stanton exited the game to the ovation that he was accustomed to hearing when the Spartans started the season so sharply. "It's really nice to get back in the win column," Stanton said.