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Sports

ICE HOCKEY

Estrada shoots first, asks questions later

James Jahnke
February 12, 2003

In the fall, Kevin Estrada could hardly bring himself to discuss his role with the MSU hockey team. The highly skilled sophomore's confidence had been free-falling since the beginning of his unconvincing rookie campaign and it finally bottomed out. New head coach Rick Comley's more open offensive style was supposed to be the boost Estrada needed to be a goal-scoring force in the CCHA this year, but the first two months of the season netted him no goals, one assist and four healthy scratches. Estrada, a left wing, was already miffed about not being able to score in college.

BASKETBALL

Badgers beat Spartans

Chris Mackinder
February 12, 2003

Madison, Wis. - A feisty Wisconsin team proved to be too much for the Spartans on Tuesday night. MSU fell to the Badgers 64-53, ending the Spartans' three-game winning streak at the Kohl Center in front of 17,142 fans - many arriving late because of a snowstorm. "We played good enough to bounce back but in critical times, we kind of ran out of gas," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

SPORTS

Somerville, Krzyminski run qualifying times for NCAA Championships

Track and FieldThe MSU men's and women's track teams went to South Bend, Ind., over the weekend to compete against Notre Dame and six other teams in the Meyo Invitational.Friday, redshirt freshman Julien Williams took second place in the long jump, while junior Steve Manz placed by taking sixth in the weight throw.

BASKETBALL

Spartans focused on hard-nosed Badgers

Patrick Walters
February 11, 2003

If it doesn't concern tonight's game at Wisconsin, the MSU men's basketball team is lending only a deaf ear and a blind eye.The Spartans (13-8 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) have won three straight games, putting them two games out of the conference lead and in a fifth-place tie with Minnesota.But MSU head coach Tom Izzo said forecasting later games is useless in light of the Spartans' lackluster Big Ten start."If we get this one, I guess we'd be somewhat back in the race," Izzo said.

BASKETBALL

Hill, teammates are not worried about rankings

Chris Mackinder
February 11, 2003

The MSU men's basketball team had only one game since last week's polls came out, but the Spartans didn't get any respect after a 67-62 overtime victory against Indiana on Saturday. Voters in The Associated Press Top 25 poll obviously weren't impressed with the Spartans' (13-8 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) road win, nor their three-game winning streak as MSU actually lost 20 votes in the poll. The Spartans received only 11 votes, just one week after picking up 31.

SPORTS

Simmons records 5 pins in meet

Three members of the MSU wrestling team had impressive showings over the weekend at the Edinboro Open.Freshman Andy Simmons garnered the most success, recording five pins to take first place in the 141-pound division.

BASKETBALL

Spartans down Indiana, 67-62

Patrick Walters
February 10, 2003

Bloomington, Ind. - If MSU's narrow victory over No. 16 Illinois last week moved the team off the respirator of Big Ten contention, Saturday's 67-62 dramatic overtime defeat of Indiana might have upgraded the team to stable condition. Saturday's win was the Spartans' (13-8 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) third consecutive conference victory and their first road win since beating Kentucky in mid-December.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans get key victory

James Jahnke
February 10, 2003

Bowling Green, Ohio - MSU head coach Rick Comley had a feeling Bowling Green's power-play scheme would crumble under constant stress. So on Saturday, Comley threw everything in his penalty-killing arsenal at the Falcons. The Spartans forechecked aggressively, pressed the Falcons through the neutral zone and harassed the Bowling Green power-play unit around the offensive zone en route to a 6-3 win at BGSU Ice Arena. "We felt they were vulnerable to pressure," Comley said.

SPORTS

Grapplers defeat 2 top-10 teams

Benita Mehta
February 10, 2003

The MSU wrestling team continued its successful homestand with stunning upsets against Iowa and archrival Michigan.The 14th-ranked Spartans (7-5, 4-1 Big Ten) defeated the No.

ICE HOCKEY

Early lead helps Spartans top Bowling Green

James Jahnke
February 9, 2003

Bowling Green, Ohio - The MSU hockey team used two offensive bursts - one early in the first period and one late in the second - to distance itself from 11th-place Bowling Green on Saturday night at BGSU Ice Arena.Five different Spartans had at least two points in the 6-3 win.The contest was the Spartans' only action of the weekend, but the two points they earned were enough to stay in fourth place in the CCHA.

ICE HOCKEY

Early lead helps Spartans top Bowling Green

James Jahnke
February 9, 2003

Bowling Green, Ohio - The MSU hockey team used two offensive bursts - one early in the first period and one late in the second - to distance itself from 11th-place Bowling Green on Saturday night at BGSU Ice Arena.Five different Spartans had at least two points in the 6-3 win.The contest was the Spartans' only action of the weekend, but the two points they earned were enough to stay in fourth place in the CCHA.

SPORTS

Sports Briefs

Grapplers go to battle with No. 2 Hawkeyes The MSU wrestling team's six-match homestand culminates with more top-25 action. The 14th-ranked Spartans (5-5, 2-1 Big Ten) host No.

BASKETBALL

Hill is go-to man from 3-point land

Patrick Walters
February 7, 2003

The game is going down to the wire, the clock is ticking down like a sluggish metronome and only a 3-pointer can tie the game. Who gets the ball? If the MSU men's basketball team is the squad in need of a trey, then the ball is likely to end up in the hands of sophomore guard Chris Hill, MSU's deadliest and most consistent 3-point threat. Hill has made his career as a Spartan by banking on his long range shot.

SPORTS

Recruits may surprise some in a few years

The Spartans pulled a rabbit out of their hat. Sure, one of the nation's top linebackers fled to Whoretown (Ann Arbor). And sure, MSU's 2003 football recruiting class doesn't have many big names.