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Sports

SPORTS

Men's track and field opens outdoor season

Laden with baby powder and energy bars, the MSU men's track and field team pledged a competitive effort in its first outdoor event of the year which yielded two 12th-place finishes over the weekend at the Stanford Invitational at Cobb Track and Angell Field.

SPORTS

Women's tennis nets first Big Ten victory

The MSU women's tennis team earned its first Big Ten win of the season with a 6-1 victory over Penn State on Sunday. The Nittany Lions fell to 6-9 overall, 0-3 Big Ten, while MSU improved to 6-8, 1-2. The Spartans swept all six singles matches on Sunday. On Saturday, MSU lost, 4-3, against No.

SPORTS

Men's tennis upset, winless in conference

The No. 44 MSU men's tennis team was victim to a 4-3 upset at No. 56 Penn State on Sunday. The Spartans doubles team of senior Chris Mitchell and junior Andrew Formanczyk to move to 18-9 for the season, but it was the only doubles win MSU would earn. Freshman Joseph McWilliams, junior Cameron Marshall and Mitchell each earned singles wins for the Spartans, who drop to 13-7 overall, 0-2 Big Ten. In the Big Ten opener at Ohio State on Saturday, MSU fell to No.

SPORTS

Krzyminski shatters school track record

Senior Jamie Krzyminski saw a record-breaking run Friday at the Stanford Invitational. Krzyminski, who was the lone representative of the MSU women's track team at the Invitational, placed second at the meet.

SPORTS

Gale, Spartans sweep, shut out competition

Despite an unscheduled double-header against Western Illinois, the MSU baseball team pulled out two victories - including one shutout - on Saturday at Kobs Field. The first game was a shutout with a score of 14-0, while the second game was neck-and-neck, with two runs in the bottom of the ninth leading to an 8-7 win.

BASKETBALL

Mr. Basketball makes mark

In front of a Breslin Center crowd that was buzzing with anticipation Saturday, Drew Neitzel, MSU's point guard of the future and recently-crowned Mr. Basketball of Michigan, scored 36 points and showed why he could be the missing ingredient for the Spartans next season. It was the biggest game of Neitzel's high school career, and it was on the biggest stage.

ICE HOCKEY

Slater places team success over his own

MSU junior captain Jim Slater says this season hasn't been a good year for him. It's not enough that he leads the MSU hockey team in points, with 48, and ranks as one of the top 10 in the nation. It's not enough the Lapeer native has registered 15 points in the past 11 games. And it just might not be enough that a 2004 All-CCHA First Team member was recently named one of 10 finalists for college hockey's most prestigious individual award - the Hobey Baker. Slater still isn't satisfied with what he's done. "I went through a drought from November to January," Slater said.

BASEBALL

Spartans beat Grand Valley 13-8 in home opener, improve record to 5-10

The MSU baseball team broke out its bats and showed the potential to be an exciting team in its home opener against Grand Valley State University at Kobs Field on Thursday. The Spartans (5-10) hit four home runs on their way to a 13-8 win over Grand Valley (12-7). "We've got a lot of big strong guys," head coach Ted Mahan said.

BASKETBALL

25th anniversary of championship today

A beaming smile graced Earvin "Magic" Johnson's face as the scissors in his hand snipped the final piece of the net in Salt Lake City. The Spartans were champions. It was 25 years ago today the Spartans were national champions for the first time, captivating the nation and changing college hoops in East Lansing. "The first thing in memory is that it did revolutionize college basketball," said Billy Packer, a current analyst for CBS and broadcaster for the '79 championship game.

SPORTS

Ex-Spartan shines in the pros

One of the biggest losses the MSU hockey team suffered following last season was the graduation of defenseman John-Michael Liles. A confident kid with a constant smile on his face, according to MSU head coach Rick Comley, the Zionsville, Ind., native plays for the Colorado Avalanche and is in contention for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's Rookie of the Year. Michel Goulet, Vice President of Player Personnel for Colorado, said Liles is day-to-day with a bruised knee injury he suffered Tuesday.

SOFTBALL

'U' to host Valpo in home opener

Returning home to Old College Field after more than a month of road games, the MSU softball team (15-10) begins its home schedule against Valparaiso (3-8) on Saturday. MSU looks to improve upon its 0-3 record when facing nationally ranked opponents this year with the start of their home schedule and Big Ten Conference games. Head coach Jacquie Joseph conceded the team has dropped a couple of games they could have pulled out, but added that they are in a good position for this time of the year. "We are exactly where I thought we would be," she said.