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Sports

SPORTS

U offers online classes to NBA minor-leaguers

James Jahnke
April 10, 2002

At the same time the quality of Tom Izzo’s men’s basketball program is suffering from players leaving school early for the NBA, the university is pioneering a way for athletes to continue their education while playing professionally.MSU and the National Basketball Development League jointly announced a “landmark” program Tuesday that will allow the league’s players to take adapted online classes through MSU’s Global Online Connection during the basketball season.The NBDL, which is wrapping up its inaugural season this week, is the only minor-league organization governed by the NBA.

BASKETBALL

Top recruit agrees to go green

Andrew Fifer
April 9, 2002

The MSU basketball team received its first verbal commitment in a top 25 recruit for its 2003 recruiting class.Detroit DePorres junior point guard Brandon Cotton, widely considered a top prospect, told Spartan head coach Tom Izzo Monday that the two-year starter plans to don the green and white.Cotton said Izzo was the deciding factor in choosing MSU.“Coach Izzo wins a lot and produces good players,” Cotton said Monday night.

SPORTS

Women earn 2 wins

James Jahnke
April 9, 2002

The women’s tennis team. (11-8, 3-4) claimed two singles wins, but lost 5-2 to Ohio State on Sunday at the Indoor Tennis Facility. The Buckeyes (16-3, 4-2) swept the three doubles matches and also won at No.

SPORTS

Men fall to Penn State

James Jahnke
April 9, 2002

The men’s tennis team (13-9 overall, 1-6 Big Ten) split six singles matches against underdog Penn State, but the Nittany Lions claimed the team doubles point and a 4-3 victory over MSU on Sunday in State College, Pa. Freshman Andrew Formanczyktm (No.

SPORTS

Lugnuts host doubleheader at Oldsmobile

Dan Woike
April 9, 2002

The Lansing Lugnuts are hoping that even a solid rainfall and 24 hours won’t extinguish their red-hot bats when they continue their series versus West Michigan tonight. After rain forced the two teams to cancel Monday’s game, the Whitecaps (2-2) and Lugnuts (3-1) will play a doubleheader with game one beginning at 6:05 p.m. A 10-run first inning propelled Lansing to a 12-3 win over the Whitecaps on Sunday.

SPORTS

Fans go nuts for home opener

Justin A. Rice
April 8, 2002

Lansing - It only took fans two innings to soak in the sights, sounds and smells of baseball at Oldsmobile Park for the Lansing Lugnuts’ home opener. After a 42-minute, 13-run first inning, rain and sleet set in as fans bolted toward the exits and out of the 46-degree weather.

SPORTS

Lugnuts pound Whitecaps 12-3 at Oldsmobile

Dan Woike
April 8, 2002

Lansing - The Lansing Lugnuts got off to the right kind of start in their home opener Sunday, using a lot of offense early on to bury the West Michigan Whitecaps 12-3 in front of 7,013 at Oldsmobile Park.It’s just the second win for the Lugnuts in home openers in their seven-year history.

SOFTBALL

Team pitches Spartans 1st perfect game

Andrew Fifer
April 8, 2002

A perfect game at any level is historic. A perfect game at MSU was unheard of - until Saturday. Senior pitcher Becky Gray and sophomore pitcher Jessica Beech combined to throw the first perfect game in MSU history, a 2-0 no-hitter - with no walks - over Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne in the first of two games at IPFW Softball Field.

SPORTS

U takes 19 top-five finishes in Spring Opener

Andrew Fifer
April 8, 2002

The men’s track and field team came away with 15 top-five finishes at Notre Dame’s Spring Opener on Saturday. In the field events, sophomore Steve Manz led MSU with first-place finishes in shot put (56 feet, 3 1/4 inches) and discuss throw (157 feet, 6 inches). He also placed third in hammer throw (162 feet, 8 inches). Senior Paul Terek finished with a second-place finish in javelin throw (187 feet, 9 inches). Terek also placed fifth in shot put and long jump. Sophomore Kevin Yokom won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14 minutes, 38.04 seconds. The women’s track and field team also produced top-five finishes at Notre Dame.

SOFTBALL

U pitches shutout against Eastern

Andrew Fifer
April 5, 2002

Riding the arm of sophomore Jessica Beech, the MSU softball team defeated Eastern Michigan 2-0 on Thursday.The game, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was the Spartans’ (14-21 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) fifth shutout of the season.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller headlines three Spartans as All-Americans

James Jahnke
April 5, 2002

Junior goaltender Ryan Miller earned his second-straight West All-America first-team honor Thursday, while two Spartan defensemen made the second team. The second-team accolades taken by junior defenseman John-Michael Liles and senior defenseman Andrew Hutchinson make MSU the only school with three All-Americans this year.

BASEBALL

Sluggers ready for Northwestern

Chris Mackinder
April 5, 2002

As the MSU baseball team returns to Big Ten action, it expects better results.After splitting its first conferences series with Minnesota 2-2, the Spartans (17-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) are looking for a better performance at Northwestern.The Wildcats (7-13, 1-3) host the first of a four-game series 3 p.m.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Andrew Fifer
April 5, 2002

Tennis teams ready for Big Ten action The men’s tennis team takes to the road in Big Ten action this weekend, while the women play at the Indoor Tennis Facility. The men’s team (13-7 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) will play Saturday at Ohio State (15-2, 4-0) and Sunday at Penn State (7-9, 0-4). The Spartans are coming off a 5-2 loss Wednesday to Michigan (11-5, 2-3). The women’s team (10-7, 2-3) will also play Penn State (6-7, 1-3) and Ohio State (16-1, 4-1) this weekend. The Spartans host Penn State Saturday and Ohio State on Sunday. Spartans ready to run The men’s and women’s track and field teams will be in action this weekend. The men’s team will compete at 9 a.m.