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Sports

BASKETBALL

Ups & downs

Indianapolis - The Spartans can't help their coach beat Bo Ryan. MSU had another opportunity to defeat Wisconsin on Saturday evening in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, but the Spartans' chance clanked off the back of the rim. Down by two points with 4.8 seconds on the clock, Spartans sophomore guard Maurice Ager grabbed a rebound and sprinted up the floor, but a last-ditch 18-foot jumper hit off the back of the rim, leaving the Badgers with a 68-66 triumph. "I don't think I could have gotten a better look," Ager said after the game.

SPORTS

Frosh spur comeback, 5-3 win

Esther Gim
March 15, 2004

Simon Mangos sat dejectedly on the bench in front of the visitor's dressing room, his helmet on the ground. He used one hand to wipe the sweat off his face, the other to cover his eyes to hide the falling tears.

SPORTS

WEB ONLY: Big Ten Tourney awaits No. 7 Simmons, Spartan grapplers

Dawn Klemish
March 5, 2004

After posting just a 2-12 record on the season, the MSU wrestling team will look for better results at the Big Ten Championships this weekend, enjoying three pre-seeded contenders. Redshirt freshman Andy Simmons, sophomore Darren McKnight and senior Nate Mesyn each were selected as preliminary seeds in their respective weight classes. "I think Andy's seed is the best seed on our team," head coach Tom Minkel said.

SPORTS

2 seniors play last home game before going different ways

Esther Gim
March 5, 2004

One wants to continue playing hockey while the other wants to become a surgeon. The two graduating seniors for the Spartans hockey team couldn't be going on a more different path after finishing their careers at MSU. Defenseman Joe Markusen and forward Steve Swistak will be honored in tonight's Senior Day festivities before facing off against Michigan at 8:05. Markusen, a general management major, doesn't have definite plans of what he'll do, but hopes the plans include playing hockey somewhere - wherever that might be. "Hopefully, I can get picked up somewhere, do that for a while and see where it goes - other than that, I guess I'm really not sure," the Park River, N.D., native said. Markusen said it's a little "nerve-racking, but at the same time exciting" to not know what he might be doing. "It'll be fun to see what happens, where I'll end up.

SPORTS

Title hopes remain alive for Spartans

Esther Gim
March 4, 2004

The MSU hockey and men's basketball teams shared one common goal when the week began - capture the regular-season title for their respective conferences. While the basketball team's loss Tuesday will make it tougher to claim a share of the title, the No.

BASKETBALL

Badgered

Chris Mackinder
March 3, 2004

MSU's chance at a Big Ten championship will have to wait - whether for a couple of days or another season is the question. The Spartans had a chance to recapture the conference crown and raise another banner at Breslin Center after a two-year hiatus, but MSU lost a 68-64 thrilling overtime game to No.

SPORTS

Breslin Center might host 2006 tourney

Megan Homanick
March 3, 2004

MSU now is one of 30 finalists in the running to host the first and second rounds for the 2006 NCAA women's basketball tournament. Breslin Center, which seats 14,759 people, already hosts the Michigan High School Athletic Association Boys' Basketball finals each year and is home to MSU men's and women's basketball.

SPORTS

Underclassmen receive Big Ten accolades

Megan Homanick
March 3, 2004

Four players on the No. 25 MSU women's basketball team received honors Tuesday for their accomplishments throughout the season. Sophomore guard Lindsay Bowen, sophomore forward Liz Shimek, junior guard Kristin Haynie and freshman guard Rene Haynes all were recognized by the Big Ten.

SPORTS

Fans flock to support teams, win prizes

Jaclyn Roeschke
March 3, 2004

Spartan spirit was alive and well Monday night in the Wonders Hall Kiva as about 150 to 200 fans came to the "Spartan Spirit 2004 Pep Rally" hosted by members of the Wonders Hall Student Government and Wonders resident mentors. MSU basketball fans showed their support for the men's and women's basketball teams on their way to tournament seasons.

BASKETBALL

Flight deck may double as court

Evan Rondeau
March 3, 2004

The MSU men's basketball team might get a chance next year to take its game to a whole new level - aboard an aircraft carrier. University officials are engaged in talks about the plan, which would pit MSU against the Navy while the Air Force would take on North Carolina in a season-opening doubleheader.

SPORTS

Men's track team 9th in indoor competition

Jaclyn Roeschke
March 3, 2004

The MSU men's track and field team finished the Big Ten Indoor Championship competition in ninth place overall at Michigan on Saturday. MSU finished the competition, which was held Saturday and Sunday, with a total of 27 points - more than double its 11 total points from last season's Big Ten Championship.

SPORTS

Women's track team 6th at tournament

Jaclyn Roeschke
March 3, 2004

The MSU women's track and field team finished the Big Ten Indoor Championship on Sunday in sixth place overall. The Spartans finished with 65 total points for the competition, held at Iowa. Senior Jamie Krzyminski won the indoor event title in the 5,000-meter run for the third year in a row, while freshman sprinter Cynetheia Rooks qualified for the NCAA Tournament in both the 400-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, placing second and third, respectively.

FOOTBALL

Colleges consider another BCS bowl game

Steve Eder
March 2, 2004

College football spectators can anticipate watching a fifth top-level bowl game starting in 2006 after an agreement Sunday would add one more bowl game in addition to the existing four. The announcement came from Miami by presidents of colleges representing teams that are part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and those from teams outside it. Oregon president David Frohnmayer called the change "positive" and "significant." "We have substantially increased the opportunities for Division I-A colleges to participate in BCS bowl games," he said.