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ATLANTA, GA- Michigan State lost to Kansas 77-69 in the State Farm Arena, as with only two total lead changes the Spartans couldn’t stop Kansas down the stretch in the fourth.
MSU and Kansas started slow, with defense being a key factor for both sides to start the game.
Kansas grad student forward Hunter Dickinson scored first with a quick two, and he continued to dominate the scoring margin with 15 points in the first.
The Spartans struggled early, with Dickinson halting MSU’s chances of success in the middle.
MSU head coach Tom Izzo decided to play junior center Carson Cooper early and it paid dividends. He cleaned up the glass for a put-back shot, which made the score 8-4.
The Spartans clawed their way back with 13 minutes to go in the first, with free throws and defensive opportunities for MSU, led by Cooper, freshman guard Jase Richardson and senior forward Frankie Fidler, who converted from the line, and finished the night 7-7 from the stripe.
Both teams had scoring droughts, with MSU holding Kansas to no field goals for four minutes and the Spartans capitalized with eight unanswered points.
With 8:34 on the clock, junior forward Jaxon Kohler forced a block and the Spartans ran on the other end, and he was rewarded with a put-back score giving MSU the lead 12-10.
Cooper continued to keep the game close, with an alley-oop slam and finished the night with six.
MSU and Kansas went back and forth but shots did not fall for either team until Dickinson scored five points accompanied with a ferocious dunk by freshman forward Flory Bidunga, which sparked a Kansas lead 23-18 with 3:20 left in the first.
“Flory is a quick guy,” said Dickinson. “So athletic, so energetic, and his time protections are really easy. He’s a great defender. ”
Both teams struggled with shooting during the game, with MSU shooting 12.5% from three and Kansas shooting 29% respectively.
MSU needed a player to step up, and the talented freshman Richardson did just that. Richardson took the role and scored a quick two from a rush into the lane.
MSU freshman guard Jase Richardson drives into the paint in MSUs loss versus No. 1 Kansas (Atlanta, GA. Nov. 12, 2024). (Cole Pannell)“I thought Jase played very well,” said Izzo in his post-game press conference.
Kansas started to figure it out offensively late in the first, led by junior guard Rylan Griffen and senior guard David Coit with a pull-up three, which extended the Kansas lead 28-20.
The Spartans looked for an offensive spark, and Richardson provided another with one three-pointer that put MSU back within two possessions 30-24 to close the first half.
The Spartans only had one three-pointer so far, but Richardson had different plans. Richardson took the leading scorer role from Cooper, with eight points in the first.
MSU came out of the locker room hot, and bridged the deficit back to only two, with Kansas holding on to their lead 32-30.
MSU and Kansas sparked offensive play quickly, with back-to-back dunks from transfer senior center Szymon Zapala and Dickinson.
Defense continued to be a focal point down the stretch, with a two-minute scoring drought on both ends. The drought ended with a transition three from Griffen, the second three of the half.
Spartans’ Kohler and junior guard Tre Holloman kept the deficit close for MSU in the second. Holloman scored his first points of the night, and Kohler tied the game 39-39 with a hook shot that electrified the MSU crowd.
Both teams continued to go back and forth with 12 minutes to go, with Richardson and Dickinson taking the helm for both of their teams in the second. Dickinson scored with two layups, but the Spartans’ responded with a jam by sophomore forward Coen Carr.
Carr showed out when the Spartans needed it most, and scored his sixth point of the day.
Redshirt freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. was quiet on the night with foul trouble early but found his offense as he took it coast to coast and closed the Kansas lead to three, 50-47.
Kansas extended the lead to five with nearly 10 minutes to go in the second half, but the Spartans tied it up quickly with five unanswered points with a trailing three from Kohler, which made it 52-52 with 8:37 left.
The Spartans kept the score close for a moment, but Kansas rallied right back with two free throws and a huge three-pointer from junior guard AJ Storr. Kansas shot 29% from the three-point line, and Storr opened the gates for the rest of the team.
“That really hurt us,” Izzo said, “but you pick your poison and give credit, he made some of those shots, made that big three, but still we had our chance to win the game.”
Izzo decided to attack Kansas aggressively, and Fidler did just that with a euro-step, and two free throws that cut the Kansas lead to three.
Dickinson and his crew went on a run late, scoring nine points with MSU not able to shoot consistently, with Kansas up 68-59 with four minutes left.
The Spartans kept hanging around with Kansas, going back and forth with buckets by second-chance points on both ends.
Fears Jr. intercepted a pass and scored a quick two which put MSU down eight with 45 seconds to go. MSU made it close with a go-ahead three from Fidler, which put the team within six.
The Spartans tried to cause an upset in State Farm Arena but Kansas closed it out in Atlanta 77-69 with Dickinson who led the charge with 28 points and 12 rebounds.
The Spartans will be back at the Breslin Center on Saturday against Bowling Green. Matt Merrifield and Allie Cohen will be on the call.
EAST LANSING- The Michigan State Spartans beat the Eastern Michigan Eagles 95-49 on Veterans Day to advance to 3-0 on the season.
This was a gritty battle for the Spartans with the absence of junior forward, Grace VanSlooten, who was out due to sickness.
Despite VanSlooten’s absence, MSU was able to contribute from all sides and have different players step up to fill her role.
Junior guard Theryn Hallock gave an incredible performance putting up 18 points and four assists.
Hallock utilizes her speed to move the ball quickly on the breakaway and finds open looks while getting to the paint.
“Theryn always just seems to find her way to the rim, she’s got electric speed, really good change of pace, really good especially on the defensive rebound just bursting at the seams you know, it’s fun,” Fralick said.
“I thought tonight there was a play, there was a long rebound that she tipped out and literally outran three people, and that to me is Theryn,” Fralick said.
Freshman center Inés Sotelo had a performance, scoring 13 points with four rebounds, and her growth is something that is very important to the Spartans style of play.
“She just fits so well in how we play, 6’3, long, mobile, has played really high-level basketball,” Fralick said.
“We’re asking her to guard big physical fives, we’re asking her to guard twos, and the physical part I thought tonight that will be a good learning lesson for her, but she’s getting more and more comfortable she has a really good feel, and really good ball skills,” Fralick said.
The Spartan defense was challenged by Eastern’s Sisi Eleko, who had 25 points and 12 rebounds.
MSU struggled to guard Eleko under the rim, and her height and strength created a tough matchup for the Spartan defense.
“She’s so physical, I thought she really hurt us on the glass, we fouled her a lot off of that, so that’s definitely gotta be a lot better,” Fralick said.
“Obviously with Grace being out it changed her matchups a little bit, but we know moving forward with a physical post player like that we gotta do a better job, and a big part of it just starts with keeping her off the glass,” Fralick said.
Graduate guard Julia Ayrault had 13 points and four steals, and graduate guard Jaddan Simmons had eight points and four steals
The Spartans put defensive pressure on the Eagles, forcing them to 29 turnovers.
The key to stealing is to score on the fastbreak and have communication with the team ensuring that there will be somebody home to get to the basket.
“A lot of it has to do with just practice and it’s what we do every day, like what you see on the court is what you get at practice so just knowing that they’ll be there for me if I steal it then they’ll leak out and they’ll get a layup,” said graduate guard, Jaddan Simmons.
“Just having that team chemistry, I feel like we’ve built that over the summer,” Simmons said.
The Spartans look to keep their win streak going, with their next matchup against Eastern Kentucky this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center.
EAST LANSING– In game three of Michigan State’s early season home stint, the Spartans took down in-state adversary Eastern Michigan 95-49. While the win was not as clean as the first two of the season, MSU still dominated much of the game.
Here are some of the takeaways from the 49-point victory from the Breslin Center.
No VanSlooten, No Problem
While junior forward Grace VanSlooten did not appear due to an illness, the rest of MSU’s interior attack picked up the slack. Finishing the game with 60 points in the paint and going 24-27 on layups.
“Just doing a good job finishing and a lot of it is when we can create an advantage,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said. “Whether that’s off a turnover, whether that’s off a defensive rebound. we can create an advantage and really put pressure in the paint and on the rim.”
This performance from inside made for over 63% of MSU’s final score. Freshman center Ines Sotelo led the way for MSU with 13 points, which tied for the second most on the team. The Ourense, Spain native also hauled in four rebounds on the night.
“She’s [Sotelo] getting more and more comfortable, she has a really good feel, really good ball skills,” Fralick said. “We’re really excited about her. Freshman with her size, versatility, and athleticism. In the way we play and press she fits in so many ways.”
“I feel like I’m finding my place here,” said Sotelo. “I’m improving the games more than in practice. I feel like in this game I was getting better.”
The Spartans also secured 13 offensive rebounds, five of which came from graduate guard Jaddan Simmons, and got rewarded with 18 second-chance points.
Hallock and Ayrault Stay Hot
The guard duo of junior Theryn Hallock and graduate Julia Ayrault remained the focal point of MSU’s backcourt. In the first quarter alone, Hallock scored 14 of MSU’s 29 points. To accomplish this, went a perfect 6-6 from the field and 2-2 from three.
Getting out and running was also key for Hallock, who was largely responsible for the team’s fast break attack scoring 26.
“Theyrn always seems to find her way to the rim, she’s got electric speed, really good change of pace,” Fralick said. “There was a play where it was like a long rebound she tipped out and literally outran three people, and that to me is Theryn. She just has an ability to make plays.”
As for Ayrault, she never missed in the first half, going 5-5 on field goals and scoring 11. In a game where both saw limited second-half action, Hallock finished as the team’s leading scorer with 18 points and recorded four assists. Ayrault ended with four boards, and four steals, and scored 13.
More Pressure, More Steals, More Buckets
Similar to their win against Yale, the Spartans made every inbound for the Eagles a battle by sending presses throughout the game. This defensive gambit continued to pay off, as the continued pressure earned MSU 29 turnovers.
The offensive ability to convert on giveaways also stuck around for the Spartans, as they finished with 40 points off turnovers. While this was MSU’s lowest forced turnover total of the season so far, the average through the first three games is 31.
“I love our team’s effort, I love our connectedness, and happy to find a way to win,” Fralick said.
The Spartans will conclude their four-game run at the Breslin Center against Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, Nov 14, with tip set for 6:30 p.m.
EAST LANSING– Michigan State hockey beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 4-1 on Saturday, securing the Spartans’ fourth sweep.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, the Spartans have a dominant 16-4 record in the second game of the series.
Spartans head coach Adam Nightingale credits his team’s depth for making them dominant on the second night of back-to-back games.
“I like to think we’re in good shape and we can sustain it for two games. The fact that we do play four lines, so that second game you have a lot of juice left,” Nightingale said.
After an unlucky puck bounce got past MSU sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine, a goal was given to OSU taking a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans’ response was led by sophomore forward Gavin O’Connell and freshman forward Shane Vansaghi scoring two goals in a minute to regain the lead.
“When one goal goes in for you loosen up a bit and I think that goal helped,” Vansaghi said.
O’Connell’s goal continued his dominance over the Buckeyes in his career, through seven games against OSU the sophomore has eight goals.
Junior left wing Isaac Howard notched his fifth goal of the season, providing the Spartans a two-goal cushion late in the third period.
O’Connell and Howard’s line was on the ice for both goals allowed on Friday, bouncing back as a plus-two in Saturday’s contest.
“We talked as a line and know we need to be better than last night. So coming to the rink we kind of had an edge to us and wanted to be better tonight. So it was really good to get out there and get a couple of goals and help the team out unlike last night,” O’Connell said.
Spartans junior forward Daniel Russell potted his second goal of the series on an empty net late in the third period to seal the sweep for the Spartans.
This game marks 50 wins for coach Nightingale, the fastest coach to reach 50 wins in program history passing Rick Comley.
The Spartans are back at Munn Ice Arena to host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
EAST LANSING– In their second straight game scoring at least 100, Michigan State continued to build early season momentum in dominant fashion over the Yale Bulldogs.
The defensive aggression stole the show in the early goings. In the first quarter and throughout the game, the Spartans set the tone by pressuring almost every Yale inbound and forced the Bulldogs out of rhythm. MSU then kept the aggression up when Yale made it to the other end of the floor, forcing seven turnovers in the first period and only allowing three field goals.
Even when the Bulldogs limited MSU’s paint production, the Spartans broke through on a steal from junior guard Emma Shumate and a fast break layin by junior guard Theryn Hallock.
The inbound press then got rewarded with a steal from senior guard Jocelyn Tate followed by an easy two for junior forward Grace VanSlooten. She finished the game with 19 points, going 8-11 from the field, and leading MSU in scoring.
“She’s [VanSlooten] working really hard, so its been fun to watch her just continue to improve, continue to develop,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said. “She’s such a physical, athletic presence inside for us. She puts so much pressure on the rim, she does a great job of drawing fouls.”
As the first half carried on, the Spartans started to wear down the Yale defense which had mostly held up to start. MSU ended the half on 58.1% shooting and worked the interior by going 10-15 on layups.
The defense also continued to harass every element of Yale’s attack by forcing 20 first-half turnovers and turning those into 30 points.
This was best highlighted by Shumate earning a second Spartan steal off of inbound and nailing a corner three en route to a 32-point advantage after 20 minutes of play.
MSU also limited the Yale guard duo of senior Mackenzie Egger and freshman Marisa Chapman to a combined four points in the first half, with Chapman going 0-5 on the floor. MSU held Chapman to 1-8 shooting and six points, and Egger to eight points. As a whole, Yale was limited to 26.4% shooting.
“We knew how important they [Egger and Chapman] are to their team, we knew coming in they played great in their opening win,” Fralick said. “They both have an ability to play in iso and attack matchups and get fouled. I thought our team was pretty dialed in on guarding them.”
The start of the second half saw both teams go cold offensively, as MSU and Yale suffered similar droughts of zero field goals at 4:38 and zero points at 3:52 respectively.
“We had some crazy fouls, we were bailing people out, we were taking shots before we even moved the defense,” Fralick said. “I think it’s remembering, regardless of the score, you gotta play good basketball.”
The MSU breakthrough eventually came from the bench and Redshirt freshman guard Kennedy Blair, who missed all of the 2023-24 season. She finished the game with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in a well-rounded outing. The 42 second-half points by the bench closed out the victory for MSU.
“I think my favorite thing about Kennedy is she’s a hooper,” Fralick said. “She’s fearless, she has the ability to make plays for herself and she has the ability to make plays for others.”
“It feels awesome whenever given the opportunity, I’m always gonna make the most of it. Just feels good to be back and healthy,” Blair said. “I just love basketball and I haven’t been able to play in a long time. I think that whenever I’m given the chance I’m always gonna give 100% effort.”
The Spartans continue their early home stand against Eastern Michigan on Monday, Nov. 11, with tip set for 6:30 p.m.
EAST LANSING– Michigan State hockey played Ohio State 4-2 at Munn Ice Arena on Friday in the first of a two-game set to begin Big Ten conference play for the Spartans.
Graduate student defenseman Nicklas Andrews got MSU on the board early in the first period with a shot from the blue line that was snuck by Ohio State’s senior goaltender Logan Terness.
The Spartans forecheck was active early, forcing turnovers and making things difficult for the Buckeyes.
MSU head coach Adam Nightingale was pleased with the effort his team showed on the forecheck.
“We’re at our best when we’re on the puck and we’re playing with our knees bent and working,” Nightingale said.
Nightingale made the decision to start senior captain Red Savage’s line, a line that has been physical but also productive offensively.
“Whoever we feel like will give us the best chance to have a good start and play to our identity and we felt like that line did,” Nightingale said.
Late in the first period, Savage found a loose puck near the front of the net, putting it home to give the Spartans a two-goal lead after 20 minutes of play.
The Spartans began the second period on the penalty kill, but that was no problem for MSU junior left winger Daniel Russell who sniped a one-timer past Terness, courtesy of a two-on-one feed from sophomore defenseman Patrick Geary.
“When they’re on the power play they are looking to score, not quite looking to lock down defensively. So I think if we can get a quick turnover the other way and make something happen,” Russell said.
The Spartans held Ohio State 4-2 to start Big Ten Play. (East Lansing, Nov. 8, 2024) (Matthew Reynolds)OSU stuck around cutting a three-goal deficit to just one with less than ten minutes to go in the third period.
“Just like every good team, like they are, is going to push and we had to hang in there,” Nightingale said.
The Buckeyes elected to empty the net, gaining an extra attacker with two minutes remaining. MSU senior defenseman David Gucciardi sent the puck 190 feet, and with no one there to stop it, Gucciardi scored the game-clinching goal.
The Spartans move to 1-0 in conference play and give OSU their first loss of the season.
The Spartans look to play OSU on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena. Catch Matt Merrifield and Allie Cohen on the call on Impact 89 FM.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State men’s basketball accelerated past Niagara on Thursday, 96-60, with five players in double-digits.
This was the first meeting between the two teams in program history. The Niagara team is an entirely new look with no returning members and 14 new members.
“We got our work cut out, but it was a good game,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said post-game.
Niagara came out in the first half hot off the tip-off. Senior forward Frankie Fidler put up the first points with a jumper, but the Purple Eagles responded with three straight threes.
“I thought we were really average the first couple of minutes,” Izzo said. “Give them credit. They made those three threes right in a row.”
The Spartans had to play catch-up early on. They were able to pull within three with a dunk from senior guard Jaden Akins, an alley-oop from sophomore forward Coen Carr and a second-chance layup from junior forward Jaxon Kohler.
Akins tied it up at 11-11 with a shot from behind the arc. MSU took control of the lead with a layup from freshman guard Jase Richardson and held the lead for the rest of the half.
MSU freshman Jase Richardson works the floor in MSUs victory over Niagara (East Lansing, Nov. 7 2024) (Cole Pannell)Going into halftime the Spartans held a 46-39 lead over the Purple Eagles. Kohler led MSU in points (10) and rebounds (4).
MSU outscored Niagara 50-21 in the second half. Four more Spartans also joined Kohler in the double-digit club: junior guard Tre Holloman (11), Akins (10), Richardson (12) and Fidler (11).
Kohler stayed hot in the second half and had a career-high night in points, rebounds and recorded a double-double, ultimately finishing with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
His former career highs were recorded in his freshman season (2022-23) against Rutgers on Jan.19 when he recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“He was the best player I had all summer and he did some good things,” Izzo said on Kohler. “He did some really good things and he got to the line and that helped us get to the line.”
Up next, the Spartans will travel to Atlanta to take on No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic on Tuesday with the tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. at the State Farm Arena.
EAST LANSING- The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Oakland Golden Grizzlies 107-42 on Tuesday night at the Breslin Center.
The Spartans played an aggressive offensive game, getting into the paint and getting fouled. MSU had 37 free throw attempts, shooting at 70.3% from the line.
Junior forward Grace VanSlooten had a huge showing tonight, with a team high of 15 points and nine rebounds. Junior guard Theryn Hallock also had 14 points and four rebounds.
Hallock moved the Spartan offense quickly by getting down the court and getting fouled, going 5-7 for free throws.
“I think honestly within this past year I think I’ve matured a lot with mistakes and moving on from them, I think coach Fralick has really had my back a lot lately,” Hallock said.
“We know you’re going to make mistakes, (Coach Fralick says to Hallock) make sure you go on the next play mentality, and I have honestly just felt more confident when I’ve had the ball, I know the work I’ve put in throughout the summer,” Hallock said.
“I know not every game is going to be perfect but to get into the next play mentality is what I am striving for,” Hallock said.
The MSU defense was on full display tonight, forcing Oakland to 33 turnovers. The Spartans held Oakland to no made three pointers, forcing the Grizzlies to go 0-17 from the arc.
These Oakland turnovers resulted in 38 fastbreak points for the Spartans, compared to only two fastbreak points for the Golden Grizzlies.
The Spartans had 46 rebounds and put up a fight under the basket, getting 19 second chance points, and holding the Grizzlies to 18 points at halftime.
Coach Fralick highlighted the importance of rebounding every game, which seems to be the focus of the Spartans this season.
MSU’s bench had a combined 48 points, and almost every roster member got a basket.
“I love the impact our entire roster made in the game,” Fralick said. “Really good teams have a lot of players who impact the game and tonight we got a lot of positive impact off the bench from a lot of different people,” Fralick said.
Depth is the key to being able to compete in the Big Ten and through March, and the depth of the Michigan State bench was working their skills last night.
The Spartans dominated throughout the entire game, scoring 107 points and holding Oakland to only 42.
“Great opening night at the Breslin for the season, I thought there’s so many things were excited about, to build on, but there’s also so many things we’re watching and thinking, we can get better at this,” Fralick said.
“I loved our effort, I loved our energy, I loved the impact that our entire roster made in the game, well enjoy it for a little bit and we’re going to learn from it, because there are a lot of things we can do better,” Fralick said.
Michigan State will take on Yale at the Breslin Center this Friday Nov. 8, at 7:00 p.m.
East Lansing– In their season opener against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, Michigan State cruised to a 107-42 victory. It’s hard to find a lot to complain about in the Spartans’ first performance of the year, as MSU looked sharp in almost every facet of the game.
Here are some of the biggest takeaways from MSU’s first official win from the Breslin Center, and what could be expected the rest of the way.
Attacking the Interior
The MSU offense leaned on their physicality in the paint and dared the OU defense to step up. On top of 48 points in the paint, the Spartans collected 17 offensive boards, which was good for 19 second-chance points.
“We felt like that was an advantage in this game, I think our posts did a good job scoring, they also do a good job of drawing fouls,” MSU head coach Robyn Fralick said. “I thought our posts did a really good job and I think our guards do a really good job of finding them.”
If they weren’t hitting shots inside, they were drawing fouls and getting those points from the line. Drawing 24 fouls for the game and going 26-37 on free throws for the night. This run of dominance was highlighted at the end of the first quarter by a four-point play from junior guard Theyrn Hallock. Followed by a steal on the inbound and a lay-in from senior guard Jocelyn Tate.
“I’m proud to be a starter, I think I’m gonna keep bringing that spark, keep bringing my speed, keep bringing that leadership, that energy,” said Hallock. “The second somebody gets a rebound I’m ready to go, they’re gonna pass it to me or I’m gonna get the ball and I’m gonna push right away, I think my teammates do a really good job of following me with that.”
Forcing Mistakes on Defense
Not only did the MSU defense hold the Golden Grizzlies to 26.2% shooting on the night, they forced 33 turnovers. This featured graduate guard Nyla Hampton leading the Spartans with five steals on the night. MSU also showed their two-way potential by turning those takeaways into 44 points for the game.
“Basketball is a lot of things but it’s also a numbers game, gotta find ways to win possessions,” Fralick said. “I was proud, I think our team did a really good job of being disruptive, and our disruption led to a lot of advantages.”
MSU’s protection of the ball also helped the Spartans finish with a plus-22 turnover differential. The all-around defensive performance held OU 18 in the first half and helped the Spartans jump out to a 40-point advantage they never looked back from, finishing the game with a 65-point win.
Front Court/Back Court Dominance
The leading scorers for the Spartans came from both inside and outside the arc. Hallock and junior forward Grace VanSlooten finished with 14 and 15 points respectively.
With Hallock going solid 5-7 from the free throw line and recovering four boards. Three other guards got into scoring double figures for MSU including Tate, junior Abbey Kimball, and graduate Julia Ayrault who combined for 34.
“Now we feel she [Hallock] can change the speed of the game from the start,” Fralick said. “In her burst, in her change of speed, her ability to just make things happen is really good.”
VanSlooten also left her mark under the basket, leading the team with nine rebounds, four of which came on the offensive glass.
“ I call her [VanSlooten] my speed twin, I love playing with her,” Hallock said. “She came in here right away with confidence and that’s what I love about her. The second I throw it into her I know she’s gonna score, she’s gonna do something, create a foul.”
The Spartans are back in action against the Yale Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 8, with tip set for 7:00 p.m.
EAST LANSING – Senior guard Jaden Akins quickly set the tone of the Michigan State-Monmouth match-up with an alley-oop off the tip-off.
“Just my mindset,” Akins said on what was different about this game for him. “Just trying to be aggressive and not worry about the little things and overthink things and just be aggressive. That was all that was on my mind.”
This was the first-ever match-up between MSU and Monmouth in program history. The Spartans topped the Hawks 81-57 on Nov. 4 to open up their 2024-25 season.
“Well a year ago we were 0-1 and now we’re 1-0, so there’s positive things here,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said post-game. “It was the step in the right direction, we were 0-1 last year.”
The match-up was physical from the get-go, ultimately racking up 23 personal fouls from Monmouth and 15 from MSU. Turnovers were also high. The Hawks turned it over four times in just the first three minutes of the first half, granting the Spartans four points off those turnovers.
Junior forward Jaxon Kohler came off the bench with a strong start in the first half leading the team with five points seven minutes into the first half. Kohler put up the only three of the first half for the Spartans.
Akins put up another alley-oop, with an assist from redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. to put up his second two points of the night. After two mishaps, sophomore forward Coen Carr finally found the dunk he was looking for off a fast breakaway off a turnover with about eight minutes to go in the first half.
MSU forward Coen Carr celebrates with fans after the Spartans home opener versus Monmouth (East Lansing, Nov. 4 2024).The Hawks had the Spartans beat from behind the arc and from the free throw line going into the locker room at halftime, but MSU remained on top 38-27.
Coming out of the half, sophomore forward Xavier Booker broke his silence and put up his first points of the night with a second-chance layup.
MSU was beaten by Monmouth in three-pointers in the first half by three more made. Akins broke the three-pointer drought for the Spartans with a shot from behind the arc and was the first player to break into double-digits.
Freshman guard Jase Richardson joined Akins in the double-digit club with 3:35 left in the second half with a lay-up off a fast break. Akins continued to be the star in the second half leading himself to finish with 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
“Jaden looked like every bit of the senior he should be,” Izzo said.
In the closing minutes of the game, redshirt freshman guard Gehrig Normand checked in for his first collegiate minutes and freshman guard Kur Teng recorded his first collegiate points.
Within the span of 35 seconds, Teng put up a jumper and a three-pointer, as well as mark the third three MSU got all night. The Spartans finished 3-18 from behind the arc.
“I thought that the three’s that we had, we took 18, I thought 15 of them were great shots,” Izzo said.
Up next, MSU will host Niagara on Nov. 7 with tip-off set for 8 p.m. Tune into the live game broadcast featuring Matt Merrifield and Allie Cohen at impact89fm.org/category/sports/.
EAST LANSING- In a heavy defensive battle throughout all 90 minutes, No. 1 Michigan State walks away from the match against Rutgers with a 1-1 draw ending the Rutgers shutout streak.
The first 10 minutes of the game were very physical, and the score remained 0-0. Rutgers registered one shot in those opening minutes.
Late into the 12th minute, graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony had a header that went wide, giving MSU’s first goal-scoring chance of the game.
The Spartans continued to maintain heavy possession of the ball and tallied three shots by the 25th minute but struggled to find the back of the net.
Sophomore defender Mimi Hallier registered a shot that was just wide of the goal in the 27th minute.
“The details matter, and we didn’t take care of the very specific details that we knew we had to be successful today,” MSU head coach Jeff Hosler stated.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, Rutgers sent a shot flying past Spartan defense, but graduate goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks kept the game scoreless with a diving save.
Michigan State racked up seven shots compared to the Rutgers three, both teams headed into the break scoreless.
Rutgers opened up the second half firing a dangerous shot that Parks saved in the 63rd minute to keep the game scoreless.
The next 20 minutes of the game would be a heavy defensive battle between the two squads.
To gain momentum, graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor passed a ball from the midfield to redshirt freshman forward Adelle Francis who slotted it to Anthony just inside the box.
Anthony was able to find the bottom left of the net for a massive goal that would give the Spartans a 1-0 lead and end the Rutgers shutout streak.
MSU forward Mackenzie Anthony slots the go-ahead goal in MSU’s matchup versus Rutgers. (Sept. 29, 2024)Parks continued to rack up two saves in the following five minutes, but the game would remain in the Spartans favor.
In the 86th minute, the Spartans were called for a handball in the box after several minutes of video review. This allowed Rutgers to tie up the game with a penalty kick scored by redshirt freshman Gabriela Gil with just four minutes remaining in the match.
“After the goal was scored, you just have to keep your cool, calm and composure, and a big way that is just to keep the ball,” Hosler said. “If you keep it and move it, they don’t have it, you can’t be called for a foul if you’re in possession.”
In the remaining minutes, the Spartans scrambled to gain their lead back but were not able to find the net by the time the clock ran out.
MSU outshot Rutgers 11-10 by the end of what was an extremely physical and defensive match by both squads. The Spartans remain undefeated in play this year with a record of 8-0-4. The Scarlet Knights move to 8-1-2.
No. 1 Michigan State will host their rivals, Michigan, on Saturday, October 5 at 7 p.m.
EAST LANSING- Michigan State returns to East Lansing after a close loss to Boston College, looking to bounce back against the No. 3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Spartans started off the game strong, with Honorary Captain senior defensive back Angelo Grose for a tackle for loss on the first play of the game, stuffing senior running back TreyVeyon Henderson in the backfield for a loss of four.
The Buckeyes marched down the field early, getting to the MSU red zone fast. The Spartans, off a second down penalty, get a stop on a third down quarterback keeper from senior Will Howard that was stopped in his tracks by redshirt junior defensive back Charles Brantley.
MSU starts strong offensively, testing the run game, with a 19-yard run from Junior running back Nate Carter starting things off.
“We were moving the ball successfully on them in the run game and the passing game, and we got into the red zone, but you can’t make mistakes against great teams like that”. Said Carter.
Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles rushes down the field for MSU. But on a fourth down keeper, the Buckeye defense steps up, with senior defensive end Jack Sawyer and senior linebacker Cody Simon forcing a turnover on downs.
Chiles threw 13-19 on the day, he racked up 167 yards and one interception late in the third quarter.
“I thought he was throwing the ball well in the first half, seeing the field, and the protection was there. I thought the guys were holding up for him,” said head coach Jonathan Smith.
Both MSU and OSU went back and forth in the first quarter with neither squad crossing the pylon. But the Buckeyes started the second with a short field on the Spartan’s nine-yard line.
OSU Head coach Ryan Day decided to go for it on fourth down, with a quick pass to senior tight end Gee Scott Jr. for a three-yard gain to put the Buckeyes up 10 to start the second quarter.
MSU coraled the ball again, and marches down the field to the Buckeyes 10-yard line, where Junior tight end Jack Velling catches the ball for a long gain but fumbles on the Sonny Styles tackle and turns it over.
On the next play, OSU made their first mistake offensively, when Senior quarterback Will Howard threw an interception at the Ohio State 48-yard line by redshirt senior Jordan Turner, who rushed it back 36 yards to the Buckeye red zone.
Turner had himself a night in East Lansing, rushing all over the field and causing problems for Howard. Turner gained four solo tackles and the interception turning momentum over for MSU.
“We came out, we were ready to play,” said redshirt senior linebacker Cal Haladay. “We were competing every play that we could, our effort on defense was there, flying around to the ball.”
With MSU getting to start on the 12-yard line and excellent field position, Chiles and company scored on a one-play drive to junior receiver Jaron Glover for the Spartan’s first touchdown of the night making it 7-10.
With Chiles playing clean in the first quarter of this game, a collapsing pocket changed things quickly. Chiles comes out, gets sacked, and fumbles the ball trying to escape the pocket.
Will Howard continued to use the star-studded freshman Jeremiah Smith, starting the drive with a 20-yard completion to the 44-yard line.
Howard continued to feed his receivers as he handed it off to Smith for a 20-yard rush down the right sideline for a touchdown, increasing the lead by seven. OSU increased their lead by seven making it 17-7. Smith had 83 Yards on the night with five Receptions and a touchdown play.
Chiles and the Spartans couldn’t get much going against the OSU defense, keeping the Spartan offense at bay and not allowing any more points in the second quarter.
After a hard hit to quarterback Will Howard, Junior backup quarterback Devin Brown completes his first pass of the day to Smith extending the OSU lead 24-7 in the first half.
Coming into the second half, MSU looks to bridge the gap but does not end up successful for the Spartans, running through a five-play three-minute drive resulting in a turnover on downs.
MSU tried to get their offense going again, starting with the ball at the beginning of the second half but punted it away after a first down and a three-and-out on the MSU 31-yard line.
Ohio State on their next drive took their time. Howard and company stormed down the field with dynamic plays from junior running back Quinshon Judkins, and senior running back TreVeyon Henderson getting the Buckeyes in field goal range.
Judkins and Henderson led the team in rushing, sparking the run game for OSU. Judkins had 11 carries on the night with 54 yards and Henderson had seven carries with 69 yards, the highest on the team.
The Buckeyes did what they do best in the red zone, trusting their receivers and getting them the ball. Senior receiver Emeka Egbuka sprinted into the endzone adding to their lead. OSU worked the clock with a 13-play drive for 7 minutes, scoring and increasing the lead to 31-7.
OSU continued to cap the Spartan offense, they stopped any forward progress after a pass completion from Chiles.
Then, Chiles, in a collapsing situation, threw his first interception of the day to senior cornerback Denzel Burke, returning the ball to the MSU 12-yard line.
OSU quickly took advantage of the field position with a three-play drive with Howard rushing in for six on a six-yard gain. Howard extends the lead again, making it a 31-point deficit for the Spartans.
Ohio State came out of this game victorious, winning 38-7 in East Lansing. Howard threw 21-31 on the night, with 244 yards and 1 interception.
“The biggest positive is that these guys will go back to work because we’ve got a short week, and if they learn from this and continue to move forward. That will be the biggest positive,” Smith said.
The Spartans have another Big Ten battle ahead of them, traveling to Eugene, Oregon for another ranked matchup on Friday, October 4th, at 9:00 p.m.
EAST LANSING– Michigan State Spartans lost 38-7 to the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday night.
The Spartans kept things close in the first half but turnovers continued to handicap them. Two trips to the red zone were halted by fumbles, another ending on downs.
The Buckeyes ran away with this one in the second half, the inflated score shows a lopsided matchup, but that’s far from what the game felt like.
Here are a few takeaways for the Spartans:
They belong on the same field
Last November, the Spartans lost by a similar score at the Horseshoe, 38-3. This loss feels different.
By that time the white flag had been waved and the team was on its second head coach of the season and cycling through three quarterbacks. Essentially, it was a program with no life or direction.
Ten months later, the outcome in the box score seems the same, but it does feel different. Now under head coach Jonathan Smith, there was more fight, energy and hope for the future.
Spartans’ linebacker Cal Halladay was a starter for both games and believed they played better this time:
“I thought we were in this game the whole time, I thought we did what we needed to for the most part,” Halladay said.
The Spartans had their chances, but fumbles from Chiles and tight end Jack Velling in the red zone squandered those opportunities.
Even with those missed chances the defense kept them in the game. Spartans’ linebacker Jordan Turner picked off Buckeyes’ quarterback Will Howard to give the Spartans a boost, eventually scoring their lone touchdown on the next play.
But the biggest separator for the Buckeyes was their depth, they never lost their legs, playing at full speed for the full 60 minutes.
The Spartans matched the intensity for a quarter and a half but once the Buckeyes got rolling, they couldn’t keep up.
So in the record books, it goes down as another blowout loss against a top-ten team. The overall message is much different from the losses to Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State from last season.
Second half drop off
Through five games the Spartans have a worrisome trend of scoring dropping off in the second half of games.
In the first half of games, the Spartan offense is averaging 16.6 points per game. However, in the second half, that mark shrinks to only 5.2 points. In all five games, the Spartans have scored fewer points in the second half than the first.
“We’ll take a look at this film and find ways we can improve, but we gotta be able to score more than that,” Smith said.
The Spartans offense stalled once again in the second half, compiling four punts and an interception in five drives.
It is the second time the Spartans were blanked in the second half this season, the first time was in the season-opener against Florida Atlantic.
Spartans’ quarterback Aidan Chiles started the game strong, completing nine-for-ten passes, including a passing touchdown to wide receiver Jaron Glover.
But in the second half, Chiles flamed out, completing three of six passes and throwing an ill-advised pass that the Buckeyes took the other way.
The final stat line isn’t pretty, but Chiles showed flashes against a top defense in the country.
Quick Turnaround for the Spartans
The Spartans need to put their second-straight loss in the rearview mirror, with a short week approaching.
The Spartans will fly west to Eugene, to face new Big Ten opponent, the Oregon Ducks on Friday. This means less time for much-needed preparation against the No. 8 team in the country.
Spartans’ running back Nate Carter reiterated that the team needs to move on quickly.
“At the end of the day we got to play another game in six days, you know, we got a long trip out to Oregon,” Carter said.
The message in the locker room was to not get discouraged and let this two-game losing streak compound.d
“It’s easy for great teams, which I believe we have, to get to this point in the season where we lose a couple games, and how it can go downhill,” Carter said. “And I think the message is for us, is not to allow that to happen.”
EAST LANSING- A breezy fall afternoon surrounded the Spartans as they played their first home B1G game at Ralph Young Field.
The Spartans faced off against rival University of Michigan. A hard-fought game on all fronts eventually concluded with the visitors victorious, boasting a 3-0 victory for the Wolverines.
Defense is strong, but not everything
The Spartan defense put up tangible efforts throughout the game. The defense faced 11 penalty corners, fighting off all but one throughout the game.
However, defense isn’t everything. While the team’s defense did their part in fighting for the win, the offensive efforts struggled against the Wolverines.
Plays were broken up and the Spartans were often left dealing with intercepted passes and turnovers that pushed more pressure onto the defense.
Struggles Transitioning to Offense
The Spartans overall held their own on defense. However, moving the ball out of the circle and up the field was a struggle against the Wolverines.
Players Emma O’Neill and Ellie Rutherford both cited a need to better finish their passes as an area of improvement.
The team connected passes and was able to gain control of the ball after getting it out of the circle, but fighting off the Wolverine defense proved to be a challenge.
When the team was able to make it into the offensive zone, they struggled to come up with a goal and often found themselves back on the defensive after a loss of possession.
The Spartans were able to regain control of the game at points but were overall outmatched by their opponents.
Fought Until the End
It was a tough game for the Spartans, but they didn’t let the scoreboard deter their efforts.
They kept up their defensive strength as they fought off three more defensive corners in the beginning of the 4th quarter. But the team kept trying and earned back a few offensive corners of their own.
Sophomore Brynn Shaffer intercepted a pass for a great breakaway in the circle that resulted in a shot on goal.
The efforts earned a penalty stroke for the team. The shot was taken by Carmen Pucheta, which was stopped by 2nd string Wolverine goalkeeper Caylie McMahon.
There was also an increase in offensive zone time in the 4th period for the Spartans. The team fought for possession all the way through the final seconds of the game, only relenting once the final whistle had blown.
As the season continues and as the Spartans continue to progress, these late-game pushes may prove to be useful for the team.
They have a few games before playing more B1G opponents. With this attitude, we may be able to watch the Spartans get back on their feet for the next conference games with better outcomes in their upcoming schedule.
EAST LANSING- The Michigan State Spartans traveled into Boston with a 3-0 record taking on the Fighting Eagles, with a back-and-forth game in heavy downpour rain, both teams battled to the very end.
MSU started off the game strong, winning the coin toss and choosing to start on defense, which was the right choice, getting a quick three and out with a big sack from sixth-year defensive lineman Quindarius Dunnigan.
The Spartans’ defense was the anchor point for MSU, making many plays to set the offense up for chances to convert.
Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles sparked the MSU offense early, showing off his dual-threat capabilities and rushing for a nine-yard gain.
Chiles also utilized the tight-end connection, completing a 13-yard pass over the middle to junior tight-end Jack Velling, his number-one target of the night.
The first quarter of action was a defensive front for both sides, ending with a score of 3-0 from a 41-yard field goal from sixth-year kicker Jonathon Kim.
With MSU coming out on the top in the first quarter, Boston College and their dynamic offense did not stay down for long.
Junior quarterback Thomas Castellanos and the running back cohort carried most of the offense for the Fighting Eagles, testing the Spartans’ run defense on every drive.
After moving down the field, freshman running back Turbo Richard goes up the right sideline for 11 yards to the pylon, putting the Fighting Eagles up 6-3.
A muffed punt in the rainy conditions gave MSU a crucial scoring advantage.
Chiles continued to use his legs during the second half, rushing for an 11-yard gain early in the drive.
With the run game struggling hard for MSU, Chiles relies on his arm converting on the 40-yard gain to redshirt senior Montorie Foster Jr. putting the Spartans on the Boston College one-yard line.
Chiles seals the deal with the QB sneak and would put the Spartans up 10-6, taking the lead and ending the half up seven with a field goal from Jonathan Kim.
In the second half, mistakes started to halt the Spartan’s success offensively, starting with sixth-year running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams fumbling a punt near the Eagle’s endzone to turn the ball over, giving Boston College a chance to respond.
“Offensively, we have to get better in the run game, staying away from negative yardage. We had some missed opportunities with Montorie a couple of times, and those things could have changed the game,” MSU head coach Jonathon Smith said postgame.
Boston College quickly capitalized with graduate student running back Treshaun Ward flying down the field for a 36-yard touchdown.
The Fighting Eagles gained the lead by three with 12 minutes left in the quarter. Off an incompletion to redshirt junior running back Nate Carter, MSU would march up the field and Jonathan Kim would make a 51-yard field goal to tie the game 16-16.
The Spartans failed to spark any offense in the second half, and the struggles continued in the fourth quarter. Chiles drove down the field on two tries but failed to convert in the red zone.
Boston College and Castellanos gained the chance to win the game, and they took the opportunity in stride.
Castellanos delivered a 42-yard touchdown to his number-one target, junior receiver Lewis Bond, who iced the game for the Fighting Eagles.
In MSU’s second challenge of the season, they came up short in Chestnut Hill 23-19.
The Spartans go on to start their biggest test of the season yet, taking on the ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in East Lansing on Saturday, September 28.
EAST LANSING— No. 5 Michigan State cruised to a 4-1 victory Thursday night over Nebraska in DeMartin Stadium to remain undefeated. They now have the best start to a season since 2009.
In the first 10 minutes, both squads were unable to get the ball rolling offensively, recording zero shots from either team.
The Spartans scored first with a goal in the 21st minute by graduate forward Meg Hughes, assisted by graduate midfielder Gabby Mueller.
“She had some really good moments today,” said head coach Jeff Hosler when asked about Mueller.
“She’s in tighter areas, and she can maneuver a little bit better maybe than a 5 ‘8, 5’ 9 kid that you typically see in the Big Ten, but she also has a really high IQ.”
With 10 minutes to go in the first half, the Spartans gained offensive possession of the ball after a long defensive battle between the two teams. Redshirt freshman forward Adelle Francis began with a header, and freshman midfielder Kaleigh McPherson attempted to extend the lead with a shot ricocheting off the crossbar.
In the 43rd minute, Huskers junior midfielder Sadie Waite sent a ball off the crossbar to score a goal which was placed under review. A few moments later, the goal would be confirmed to give the Huskers an equalizer at 1-1.
However, the Spartans responded a minute later with a goal by graduate midfielder Emily Mathews to the top left corner of the net, assisted by junior defender Remini Tillotson to give the lead back to them going into halftime. This is Mathews sixth goal this season.
The Spartans tallied six shots and five corner kicks while Nebraska tallied four shots and three corner kicks at the half.
Coming out of the break, Nebraska struggled to get past the Spartans defense, allowing MSU to escalate offensively and rally up more chances to extend their lead. In the 70th minute, graduate midfielder Justina Gaynor assisted senior forward Jordyn Wickes for their third goal of the game and Wickes first goal of the season.
Just three minutes later, graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony looked to get another goal, but instead, forced another save by Nebraska’s junior goalkeeper Cece Villa.
Graduate forward Mackenzie Anthony slides for a block against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. (Peyton Skiver)Sophomore defender Ella Janz scored her second goal in back-to-back games to push the Spartans lead to 4-1 and solidify their victory, keeping their undefeated streak alive.
The Spartans dominated offensively with 15 shots compared to the eight shots by Nebraska.
“I thought we were pretty flat in the first half. I think we were clearly much better in the second half, especially winning balls and collecting seconds that we did almost none of in the first half,” said Hosler.
MSU improves their record to 7-0-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play while Nebraska falls to 3-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
No. 5 Michigan State takes on No. 9 Penn State on the road on Sunday, September 22.
EAST LANSING- A day after sweeping in-state foe Eastern Michigan 3-0 on Monday, Spartan volleyball took the floor and looked to take the momentum they gained in Ypsilanti back to East Lansing in their matchup with Purdue Fort Wayne.
They did just that, starting off strong, taking the first two sets of the match and using that strong start to defeat the Mastodons in four sets (25-14, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22).
In the first set, the Spartans took an early 3-2 lead and quickly expanded it to 7-2 thanks to a nice 4-0 scoring run.
The Spartans scoring was helped all throughout the first by Mastodon errors, with Purdue Fort Wayne committing nine in set one.
Akasha Anderson and Taylah Holdem both had four kills in the first set, with Holdem hitting .500 going 4/8 on attempts. After Purdue FW settled in and closed in on the MSU lead to make it 12-8 in favor of Michigan State , the Spartans again used a strong offensive surge to have subsequent runs of 5-0 and 4-0 to balloon the lead to 21-10.
A little back and forth ensued towards the end of one but the Spartans took set one handedly, 25-13.
In the second set, the Mastodons started to find their footing, putting themselves ahead 5-4 and early thanks to three three errors by MSU and after some back and forth action, the Mastodons kept up and held the lead throughout the set.
Anderson and Holdem continued their offensive performance early in the second, with two kills a piece early to give MSU an 8-7 lead, and after some scoring by both squads MSU used a 4-1 run to take a 15-13 lead, forcing Purdue Fort Wayne head coach Steve Florio to call a timeout to talk things over.
Outside hitter Akasha Anderson celebrates after securing another kill in MSU’s matchup versus Purdue Fort Wayne. (Sept. 17, 2024)Whatever was said worked for a little, as after MSU scored a quick one out of the timeout, PFW went on a scoring run of their own, taking three straight to tie it at 16.
MSU used a nice 5-0 run to give themselves a 23-18 lead after things were tied up 18 all. After the Mastodons scored one off a Mya Plemons kill, MSU scored two in a row to take the second set by a score of 25-19.
Evie Doezema shined in the second and led the Spartans with six kills. Set three saw an early service ace by MSU star libero Nalani Iosia to help her squad jump out to a 6-3 lead.
MSU graduate libero Nalani Iosia sets her outside hitters during the Spartans matchup versus Purdue Fort Wayne. (Sept. 17, 2024)The Mastodons scored two straight and then MSU used a 4-0 scoring run to make it 10-5, which led to a timeout by PFW. MSU made it 15-8 after steady play to keep and slowly expand their lead.
Purdue Fort Wayne closed in and slowed down the Spartan push thanks to a couple of attack errors by Anderson and Doezema, and closed back in using a coinciding 4-1 run to make the score 17-14.
After a Mastodon service ace by Nicole Jones made the score 19-17, Spartan head coach Leah Johnson decided to call her first timeout of the set to try and settle her team back in.
Out of the timeout, PFW continued their sudden surge, tying the set at 19, and eventually taking a 22-20 lead. Due to an Abby Stratford kill and a Panna Ratkai service ace, coach Johnson decided to call another timeout to try and weather the storm that the Mastodons decided to create late in the third.
The timeout did not work for the Spartans, as PFW scored two more to make it set-point for the Mastodons, who completed the comeback to take set three, 25-21.
Set four saw Purdue Fort Wayne continued their late success, giving themselves an early 5-3 lead.
Taylor Preston scored three straight for MSU, helping them tie it 7-7 after some back and forth action. MSU kept it up, increasing their lead to 11-7 thanks to another short 4-0 offensive outburst by MSU, which led to a Mastodon timeout.
Back and forth went both teams for a while, but a little Mastodon surge tied it up at 14. Taylor Preston had two straight kills, (her fourth and fifth of the set), to put MSU back ahead by two, but the Mastodons quickly responded with two kills of their own.
Both squads traded points back and forth, one by one as the game was once again tied at 21 late in the fourth. MSU scored three straight points out of a PFW timeout to make it match-point, and the Spartans MSU prevailed, winning the fourth set 25-22 to take the match.
Taylor Preston helped lead the Spartans to victory in both the set and match with seven kills in set four and 14 overall.
Iosia Nalani led MSU with 22 digs in another nice defensive performance. Senior setter Rachel Muisenga led the Spartans in assists with a solid 27.
Three spartans were tied for the lead in kills during the match, with Taylor Preston, Evie Doezema, and Taylah Holdem all notching 14.
For the Mastodons, Riley Rosneck led the team in kills, with 14. Londynn Betts led Purdue Fort Wayne in digs with 22. The assist leader was Nicole Jones, who had 18 in the match.
The victory makes two in a row for Michigan State (6-3), who is looking to head into conference play with a solid record to build off of.
An opportunity for a pair of quality non-conference wins awaits as they head down to the Tar Heel State later this week to take on both Duke (Sep. 20) and North Carolina (Sep. 22) before starting conference play at arch-rival Michigan on September 27th.
For the Mastodons (4-6), they are looking to right the ship after the loss to Michigan State made it three in a row for Purdue FW.
They will have a chance to bounce back when they host a tournament next weekend. Friday, they will take on St. Francis (PA), and on Saturday they will matchup against in-state rival Indiana State in the morning, and the Eagles of Eastern Michigan in the evening.
EAST LANSING – Ralph Young Field hosted the Colgate Raiders Sunday morning for an exhilarating home match.
Coming off a recent away game victory at Bellarmine this past Friday, the team hoped to close out their weekend with a continuation of their winning streak.
The Spartans delivered, eradicating the competition with a 5-0 shutout victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
MSU started off strong in the attacking zone, with Colgate struggling to maintain possession of the ball.
Bianca Pizano led the path to victory with an unassisted goal 10 minutes into the first. The score remained 1-0 for the rest of the first half, with Colgate’s one shot on the net being easily blocked by Lyra Gavino in a swift right-side save.
MSU continued to carry their momentum following halftime, leading Colgate with three additional shots on net to their zero in the first minutes of play.
A pass from Ellie Wheatley led Jillian Bonczewski to score at the ten-minute mark. With just seconds to spare in the quarter, Emma O’Neill scored a third goal for MSU with an assist from Carmen Pucheta.
Colgate stepped up their game in the fourth, but the Spartans responded with equal strength. With six minutes remaining, Colgate gained possession and rushed into State’s defensive zone.
Strong defensive pressure from the Spartans allowed Midfielder Mora Cavazza to regain the ball, who dribbled away from Colgate toward forward Brynn Shaffer in the attacking zone.
Bianca Pizano scored her second goal of the day off an assist from Shaffer. The high-scoring quarter was closed out with Ellie Rutherford assisting Lilian Knorr in a fifth goal for the Spartans with just under two minutes remaining, and Knorr was to notch her first career goal in the green and white.
Knorr’s milestone wasn’t the only stat highlighted in the victory. Sophomore goalkeeper Lyra Gavino earned the first shutout of her collegiate career.
In addition, head coach Helen Knull celebrated her one-hundredth career victory.
The Spartans’ next home game is Sept. 21 against their biggest rivals, the No. 20 ranked Michigan Wolverines Their ambitions are set high as they hope to impress once again in the home Big Ten opener.
EAST LANSING- A historic day at Ralph Young Field. MSU Field Hockey head coach Helen Knull reaches her 100th career victory, as the Spartans beat the Raiders 5-0.
Michigan State dominated on both sides of the ball, with sophomore forward Bianca Pizano scoring 2 of MSU’s 5 goals. The Spartans were locked down defensively, allowing only 2 shots on goal attempts from the Raiders the entire game.
This dominant performance was the exact push the Spartans needed before heading into Big Ten play next weekend. MSU will travel to Columbus next Friday to take on Ohio State, followed by the Big Ten home opener against Michigan next Sunday.
Defense wins games:
The Spartans were able to hold the Raiders to only two shots on goal and keep the ball in the Raiders zone for the majority of the game.
The Spartan defense put immense pressure on the Raiders, freshman back Caro Schafer kept good man-to-man coverage preventing a Colgate shot attempt in the second quarter.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lyra Gavino had two saves from penalty corner shots, and in locking down this Colgate offense, Gavino said, “We all focus on ourselves more than anything, getting the ball further up the field and attacking baseline as much as we could.”
This forward ball movement allowed for the offense to dominate score-wise, allowing for 15 shots on goal from the Spartans.
Steady Scorers:
Sophomore forward Bianca Pizano has been electric for the Spartans, scoring two of their five goals in today’s game. Pizano’s first goal came early in the first quarter, which was unassisted.
After Pizano’s first goal, the offense slowed a bit, leaving a drought in the second quarter. The Spartan defense was able to maintain their 1-0 lead in enough time for the offense to heat up, leading to a goal from senior forward Jillian Bonczewski in the third.
Shortly after, another Michigan State goal was scored by Emma O’Neill. with only seconds left in the third quarter, and the Spartans prepared to put this game away.
Pizano’s second goal came late in the fourth, followed by a goal from freshman midfielder Lilian Knorr, who scored her first-ever Spartan goal.
Outscoring the Raiders 5-0, Pizano and the Spartans offense dominated in today’s game.
Remaining Steady:
The Spartans showed that they had complete control over this game, and their confidence did not waver. The forward ball movement and strategic plays allowed for open shots and accurate assists.
MSU managed to score goals in three out of four quarters and did not let up on their offensive run. The defense kept the ball out of the MSU zone and kept the pressure on the Raiders offense.
Overall, this team has shown a great sense of chemistry and trust in one another. The ability to remain stable under pressure is exactly what this Spartan team needs.
The true test will be if the Spartans can handle the pressure as they open Big Ten play next weekend.
EAST LANSING– Michigan State Football dominated the Prairie View A&M Panthers on both sides of the ball in a 40-0 victory.
“There are no trap games, everyone has to come out and play their hardest,” said Spartans’ quarterback Aidan Chiles.
The Spartans were efficient offensively, scoring on all five trips to the red zone, something they struggled with the last time they were at Spartan Stadium.
The defense was superb, allowing zero points against the Panthers. It was the first defensive shutout for the Spartans since a 52-0 victory over Akron in 2022.
The first drive on offense for the Spartans was capped off by Chiles with a six-yard scramble into the end zone, his second rushing touchdown of the season.
Later, Chiles connected with redshirt freshman receiver Aziah Johnson, who found the end zone for his first career touchdown.
“[Johnson] came out, did what he had to do, caught a couple of big passes, and gained a couple of yards,” Chiles said.
There were fewer poor decisions today for the sophomore quarterback. However, there was once instance where instead of tucking the ball, he forced a bad throw which led to an interception. Luckily for Chiles, the play was wiped out by offsetting penalties.
In less than three-quarters of work, Chiles did what he was supposed to do, take care of the football and put points on the board. Chiles finished the day with 179 yards in the air and two total touchdowns.
The Spartans leaned on their run game heavily throughout the game. The backfield of Kay’ron Lynch-Adams and Nate Carter had their way with the Panthers with help from a dominating offensive line.
In the second quarter, Carter found a gaping hole on the right side and took advantage, taking it 60 yards to the house.
Carter led the squad in rushing for the second game in a row, running for 91 yards on only eight carries. Lynch-Adams also contributed 90 all-purpose yards for the Spartans’ offense, taking a larger share of the carries for the first time this season.
The defense was disciplined early, committing no penalties for the first 26 minutes of the game. Until, a roughing the passer penalty wiped off a would-be pick-six Charles Brantley, which would’ve been the first defensive points of the season for the Spartans.
However, later in the drive, Brantley got his revenge intercepting Panthers quarterback Cameron Peters in the end zone, taking it all the way 100 yards downfield.
Brantley’s return was the longest return in Michigan State history, passing Michigan State Athletics Hall of Famer Dan Bass, who held the record with a 99-yard interception return in 1978.
“Just yesterday we were in a meeting and coach Rossi said if you catch an interception in the endzone your progression is taking you backward take a knee,” said Brantley. “But I looked to my left and my right and I didn’t see anyone so I said lets take it out.”
In the third quarter, starting right guard Gavin Broscious was carted off the field with an apparent lower-body injury. Broscious will be a big loss for the Spartans’ offensive line if he is out for an extended period of time. “It didn’t look good but next man up, you know,’ said Smith.
North Dakota transfer Tommy Schuster, made his Spartan debut at quarterback for the last three drives of the game.
Schuster managed his opportunity well, completing 8 of 10 passes for 97 yards and a rushing touchdown. This may be the only opportunity Schuster sees, but it is good to have a capable backup quarterback; just in case.
Smith is the first Michigan State coach to go 3-0 in his first three games since Mark Dantonio in 2007.
Michigan State will head to the east coast to take on Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. next Saturday at 8 p.m.
EAST LANSING- It was alumni day at DeMartin Field on Friday, as Michigan State men’s soccer took on Washington for the Huskies first game in the Big Ten.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Zac Kelly spoke about Alumni Day saying, “To us, that’s everything, it’s why we play, it’s the people before us that kind of pave the way.”
Michigan State came out of the gates flying with high intensity and looking to move the ball down the wings with an early chance at goal within the game’s first minutes by Jake Spadafora that crept just wide of the post.
After the initial surge by Michigan State, Washington would turn the pressure up by rattling off three shot attempts of their own. From the corner, the ball being whipped in could not be placed home by anyone in a black jersey.
Sophomore defender Will Eby would come up big for the Spartans denying the other two shots before they even reached Kelly.
Washington would continue the pressure by forcing another corner, through a nice save by Zac Kelly on the shot from Washington midfielder Richie Aman.
From the ensuing corner, the ball would be played to the edge of the box and shot just over the net by Cooper Brunell.
Washington would continue the pressure with a ball switched over to the left side with a beautiful touch by junior midfielder Richie Aman, he would cut into the box and drill a shot just wide of the left post.
Michigan State would not allow this pressure to go on for long as they would continue to work the ball into the box to create chances that just no one could get on the end of.
The Spartans would have a corner delivered that would be taken care of by the Washington Defense.
The Washington defense would turn their clearance into offense with a free kick just on the left side of the box that would be played into the area with another block by Will Eby.
The game would go into halftime with Michigan State possessing 56% of the ball, whereas Washington held the advantage with seven shots to Michigan State’s three.
Both teams were highly competitive and tenacious to get the game’s first goal.
Coach Rensing would speak on the same team coming out at the start of the new half saying:
“There was good energy and the team was together,…, and they played really well and ride that as long as we could.”
The half would begin with Washington going on the offensive straight off kickoff with a free kick after the foul by junior Cristiano Bruletti that earned the midfielder the game’s first yellow card.
Michigan State would follow this up with their offensive opportunities with beautiful link-up play and excellent counterattack pressure with sophomore forward Richie Ludwig and junior defender Jeremy Sharp not being able to bury the chances coming the Spartans’ way.
Defensive miscues by Washington allowed for a huge chance for the Spartans with junior midfielder Jonathan Stout having a wide-open net with the goalie down on the ground and the Washington defense stepped up to block a huge opportunity for MSU.
MSU would have the breakthrough in the 61st minute as Washington’s miscues would lead to the game’s first goal by Jonathan Stout with a beautiful effort from nearly 25 yards away from the goal that sailed into the top left corner of the net.
Washington would go quickly on the offensive to get that goal back working the ball through Michigan State’s defense and what surely looked like a goal for the Huskies, the freshman defender Brandon Munson would pull off an acrobatic save with his feet to keep this game in the favor of MSU.
Coach Rensing would go on to say, “That (Munson) play was one of the most athletic plays I have seen on a soccer field at any level.”
The Huskies would continue to pile on the pressure to break the defense of Michigan State, but the Spartans would continue to stand tall.
Through the Washington pressure, an opportunity would open for Michigan State as the ball was whipped into the box for forward Jonathan Stout to volley the ball and just went to the outside of the right post.
Washington would be given a penalty kick after a review for a handball by midfielder Cristiano Bruletti and Zac Kelly would come up huge for the Spartans saving the spot kick taken by fifth-year midfielder Peter Kingston on the ensuing corner Zac Kelly would make another save to protect the Spartans’ lead.
Kelly stated postgame, “This game was a game where we found out what we are made of.”
“All 4 defenders and midfielders were blocking shots and sliding all over the place, doing whatever it took.”
Michigan State would hold onto the lead and get their first Big Ten win of the season to knock off Washington to improve their record to to 2-3-2.
Coach Rensing would say postgame that,“Wins like these can potentially change seasons.”
Michigan State heads on the road to Penn State next Friday and UCLA on September 27, both on BTN+.
EAST LANSING: On alumni day at DeMartin Stadium, the Michigan State men’s soccer team was set to kick things off with one of their toughest tests to date; as Big Ten newbies Washington came to town to open up Big Ten play for the Spartans. Washington came into East Lansing with momentum on their side on the heels with a victory over No. 11 Seattle, but the loud and rowdy crowd in East Lansing, as well as an impenetrable defense, spurred the Spartans to a 1-0 victory for their first win in two weeks. The nail-biting finish resulted in a much-needed triumph for MSU, who is set to travel to State College for a date with Penn State on Friday.
“Stout” Offense:
Following a 3-0 shutout at the hands of Oakland in their last outing, MSU head coach Damon Rensing returned to the drawing board following a three-game skid. The Spartans started three forwards to forge a 4-4-3 starting lineup against Washington, with junior forward Jake Spadafora, junior midfielder Jonathan Stout, and sophomore forward Richie Ludwig all called upon for a starting nod up front with Big Ten play set to commence.
MSU’s offense sizzled quickly after the kickoff tallying a shot off target from Spadafora, but it seemed to be just a flash in the pan as Washington limited MSU’s exposure to the wings throughout the first half.
Going into the tilt with Big Ten rookies Washington, MSU ranked first in the conference in both shots (109) and shots on target (39), yet the Spartans sat dead last in the Big Ten with just four goals scored.
In the 61st minute, MSU finally broke the tie with a glorious goal from Stout, the team leader in points.
Stout and the MSU offense looked rejuvenated in the second half, generating consistently good possessions while on the attack, as the nine shots and two shots on goal accrued by MSU are encouraging numbers in a victory against a formidable Husky squad.
Bend, Don’t Break:
Facing a potent Washington offense that averages well over a goal per game, the Spartan defense stepping up and keeping the visiting Huskies at bay was an integral key to victory at DeMartin Stadium.
Redshirt junior goalie Zac Kelly tallied just three saves to open Big Ten play, despite Washington’s 12 shots and four on goal. Kelly got much-needed relief from sophomore defender Will Eby, who managed to block a pair of Washington shots ahead of the Holt native’s first save following a Husky corner kick in the first half. Eby accrued a third blocked shot just ahead of the end of the first half to keep the game knotted up at zero heading into the break.
One of the most crucial plays of the night came in the 64th minute. MSU freshman defender Brandon Munson made a miraculous, ESPN-worthy bicycle save on a shot from Washington’s junior defender Harrison Bertos that would’ve undoubtedly tied the game back up at one.
Munson, in his first-ever Big Ten action, stepped up in a moment as crucial as they come in front of the Red Cedar Rowdies, as well as members of the 2004 and 2014 Spartan squads.
Despite a quiet evening for the better part of Friday for Kelly, the Holt native made a key double save with under three minutes to play, including one on a fifth year midfielder Peter Kingston penalty kick in one of UW’s final opportunities to tie up the ballgame.
Kelly may have only racked up three saves, but with two coming in crucial moments, it was the defensive prowess that propelled the Spartans to victory in this one.
Momentum Shift:
Michigan State had not won a game since an August 30 victory over Villanova, so carrying their first victory in two weeks into the toughest part of MSU’s schedule will do wonders for the aspirations of Damon Rensing’s unit for the rest of the season.
“I think wins like these can potentially change seasons,” Rensing said after the game. “We reinforced what we’re doing and I’m happy for the guys.”
The victory for MSU becomes even more important with the Spartans set to go on a road trip in the coming weeks, facing both Penn State and UCLA and not returning to East Lansing until October 1 to host Northwestern.
Going into Friday night, Sparty had fallen to Oakland and No. 5 Oregon State and tied Air Force, so momentum was waning headed into the photo finish at home.
With encouraging signs across the board for the Spartans, there is more hope and potential than meets the eye with this MSU roster.
EAST LANSING- Following a dazzling display that led to being crowned tournament champions in the Kathy DeBoer Invitational, the Michigan State volleyball team looked to continue their momentum on their home floor.
The celebration did not end there for the Spartans, as junior outside hitter Akasha Anderson received Tournament MVP honors, and senior defensive specialist and libero Nalani Iosia was awarded the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
However, Western Michigan was coming into East Lansing with no shortage of wind in its sails following an upset victory over No. 24 Marquette in Milwaukee.
Western Michigan traveled to the Breslin Center on Wednesday night and the Broncos handled business by sweeping MSU, winning all three sets.
Back-to-back attack errors led to MSU finding themselves in a 4-2 hole early in the first set, which quickly snowballed into an 8-4 Broncos lead behind four of freshman outside hitter Annalise Patchett’s five opening set kills.
Despite Western leading by as many as nine points, four straight MSU points and later consecutive service aces from sophomore Taylah Holdem put Michigan State down just three points to the visiting Broncos.
Despite a valiant fight from the Spartans, Western Michigan held on to take the initial set, 25-17 behind eight kills from Keona Salesman and 12 assists in the inaugural set from Logan Case.
The Broncos continued their road glory with a sizzling start to the second set that saw WMU jump out to a quick 6-0 lead, spurred by three kills from Anna Calgano, who finished with five on the set.
The Spartans managed to cut the deficit to three at the midway point due to the contributions of Aliyah Moore, but Michigan State’s eight errors in the second set saw momentum plummet at the Breslin Center.
For the second straight set, the Spartans roared back and kept Western Michigan on their toes, but it was the visitors who prevailed 25-22 as the offensive woes continued for MSU, who hit for a feeble .098 hitting percentage and a .293 kill percentage in the second set.
It was a third-set surge in East Lansing, as Michigan State took a 5-1 lead, though the Broncos ultimately knotted the game up at five, and pulled away thereafter until Holdem added three of her four third-set kills within four possessions to help pull the dormant Spartan offense back in it, WMU pulled off the road sweep, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21.
Junior outside hitter Taylor Preston led the charge for the Spartans with 11 kills and eight digs, while Iosia continued her defensive dominance with 16 digs despite the loss and Aliyah Moore was not far behind with seven kills and a .357 hitting percentage.
WMU saw four players finish with eight or more kills, with Salesman leading the charge for the Broncos with 17, while Case was responsible for 35 of Western’s 45 assists.
Michigan State’s record fell to 4-3 on the season and have ample opportunity for rest with a return to action coming Monday as the Spartans head to Ypsilanti to play another in-state foe in Eastern Michigan.
EAST LANSING — As the Season fast approaches the rankings are in and many eyes are on the Spartans after a historic 2023 season.
The Spartans being upset by the Hawkeyes in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament did not deter the Spartans.
The back-to-back Big Ten regular season champions have high expectations coming into the 2024 season.
The program made history last season after making it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA College Cup. For the second year in a row Michigan State is ranked in the preseason polls for the first time in the program’s history.
The Spartans are ranked No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, and No. 16 in the Top Drawer Soccer. Graduate Transfer Meg Hughes has been named a 2024 United Soccer Coaches midfielder to watch.
The reigning Big Ten midfielder of the year Justina Gaynor has been named a 2024 United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to watch for the second year in a row.
Justina Gaynor has also been named along with the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Bella Najera and Regan Dalton have all been named to the 2024 Big Ten Conference players to watch.
Top Drawer Soccer was done just there with Michigan State as Justina Gaynor is No. 9 in the preseason top 100 and Bella Najera at No. 33. Gaynor and Najera are also a part of the Top Drawer Soccer preseason first and third team respectively.
Justina Gaynor was also named to the prestigious MAC Herman trophy watch list. Gaynor just being the third Spartan in program history to be named to the watch list.
On Thursday, the Spartans opened their season against No. 15 ranked Notre Dame and won 2-1. Goals came from Gabby Mueller in the third minute, and Justina Gaynor in the 45th minute assisted by Emerson Sargeant
Michigan State continues its season against Arkansas for its DeMartin Stadium debut on August 22 at 7 p.m.
EAST LANSING- Two Spartans were in the field this week for the 2024 U.S. Amateur hosted at Championship Hazeltine National Golf Club, and Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minnesota.
Incoming freshman Julian Menser and incoming senior Ashton McCulloch each qualified this summer for the U.S. Amateur, with stroke play competition on Monday and Tuesday this week, followed by match play starting with the round of 64 on Wednesday for those who make the cut.
On Monday, McCulloch started hot with an opening 67 (-3) at Chaska Town Course, placing himself T-12 after day one. The Spartan senior found birdies on holes 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18, as the course was playing from 6851 yards.
McCulloch was under the field average by nearly three strokes for round one, as the rest of the field average was 70.9. However, Chaska Town played much easier than neighboring Hazeltine National as just over 200 more birdies were made from the field on day one.
As for the freshman Menser, he started his U.S. Amateur competition on Hazeltine National on day one and experienced why the field averages were so much higher on Hazeltine National compared to Chaska Town.
Menser found only one birdie on day one, coupled with a front nine score of 38, rounded by a back nine score of 38 en route to a 76 (+4).
Hazeltine National played 700 yards farther than Chaska Town, with a monstrous 7548-yard course test for the competitors. However, Menser matched up with the field solid on day one as the day one field average was 76.1 on Hazeltine National.
On day two, each Spartan had a chance to flip courses, for Menser he had an opportunity to go low on a much more attackable Chaska Town and attempt to make the cut and advance to stroke play.
While McCulloch knew he would have a difficult test ahead of him with Hazeltine National. The 2023 Canadian Amateur Champion would put up a respectable 75 (+3) on Tuesday, placing him T-53 and just one stroke above the cut line with a two-round total of even par.
McCulloch once again found birdies by the bunches as he was able to add five red numbers on his scorecard with birdies on holes 3, 7, 9, 11, and the par 3 13th. However, struggles came on hole 16 as the senior triple-bogeyed the 390-yard par 4.
McCulloch found himself under field average for round two on Tuesday, as the final scores would round out to a 76.1 field average for those who competed at Hazeltine National.
As for Menser, with a total score of +4, and a -8 low round score of day one shot by former Virginia University competitor Paul Chang, Menser had to make magic happen to get inside the cut line and advance to match play competition.
Menser dropped four birdies on Tuesday but struggled with bogeys on 1, 5, 12, and 15, as well as double bogeys on holes 4 and 11. A final-day score of 74 (+4) at Chaska Town placed Menser T-214, missing the cut with his two-day score of +8.
McCulloch however will have a chance to advance to match play competition as the round of 64 will kick off on Wednesday. Wednesday morning however there will be a 14 man playoff with the players all tied at even par, with three spots available spots to advance to match play.
The 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship will continue match play through Sunday, where a champion will be crowned in Minnesota.
EAST LANSING- The Michigan State baseball team wrapped up its regular season this past weekend at McLane Stadium.
MSU salvaged the series against Nebraska by winning on Saturday and sending the seniors off properly on Senior Day, but ultimately lost the series and came up short of reaching the Big Ten Tournament.
The Spartans lost a close game in a pitcher’s duel on Thursday night, dropping the game 2-1 under the lights despite an excellent performance from their bullpen, and escaping many jams throughout the game.
The MSU offense struggled all game, and left a runner on the bases in the seventh, eighth, and ninth inning, in what would be a back-breaking and potentially season-ending loss.
Michigan State was unable to bounce back on Friday, as Nebraska tallied an eleven-run performance, including five early runs in the first two innings off of the Spartans ace, Joseph Dzierwa.
MSU rallied back to make the score 5-3 in the sixth but were unable to produce any more runs, before allowing a four-run eighth, and another two runs in the ninth in a game they would go on to lose 11-3.
Friday’s game marked the fourth in-conference loss in a row, dropping their Big Ten record to 10-13 and effectively ending their postseason hopes.
The Spartans still had one more game remaining on their regular season schedule, which was Senior Day on Saturday at McLane Stadium. Reliable lefty Nick Powers got the start for MSU in what would be the senior’s final start in the green and white.
Powers worked a quality start, picking up his seventh win of the season, going six innings strong, allowing only four runs on five hits while picking up six strikeouts.
Graduate Student Aaron Mishoulam would come on for the three-inning save, allowing only two more runs, picking up four more strikeouts, securing the victory for MSU on the final day of the season, and picking up his fourth save of the year.
SPARTAN SENIOR DAY VICTORY FOR MSU!!!!!
MSU sends the 6 seniors out in winning style!
High fives, handshakes & hugs allllll around!!!
Final score:
Michigan State 11, Nebraska 6#VictoryForMSU pic.twitter.com/tMavHAOaHJ— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 18, 2024
Seniors also carried the Spartans offense, as Jack Frank delivered one more great performance for Jake Boss Jr. Frank picked up three RBI and four hits to close out his excellent senior campaign, finishing with a .383 batting average and a 1.089 OPS.
Frank led MSU in nearly every offensive category this season, including nine home runs and a single-season career high in stolen bases with 19.
Nobody knows that hill in RF better than Jack Frank.
The @MSUBaseball star navigating it twice today, each time robbing Nebraska of an extra base hit. #B1GBaseball x @JackF_22 pic.twitter.com/6ozUS6HkWW
— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) May 18, 2024
Frank wasn’t the only Spartan senior with a hand in Saturday’s win, as Greg Ziegler came through with three RBIs of his own and two hits. Dillon Kark also contributed an RBI and a run scored on two hits, to up his team-high in RBI to forty-two to close out the season.
With the win on Saturday, Michigan State prevented Nebraska from picking up the shared regular season title for baseball in the Big Ten, as the loss knocked them down to second place in the standings with the regular season coming to a close.
As for the Spartans, this weekend series signifies the end of their season, as they failed to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, and a top-eight spot in the Big Ten standings by just one game.
Michigan State finishes the season with an overall record of 24-27, and an 11-13 record in Big Ten play. MSU won only two of their last seven games in conference, proving costly in such a tight race where they missed the postseason by only one game.
Michigan State honored seniors Harrison Cook, Jack Frank, Dillon Kark, Nick Powers, Sam Thompson, and Greg Ziegler on Saturday and will look to move forward without them.
The Spartans will miss these players as they were team leaders not only in the clubhouse but on the field, losing three of their everyday starters and their Saturday starting pitcher, leaving quite a few question marks for the summer off-season, heading into the 2025 campaign.
EAST LANSING- Over the weekend, Michigan State bested the Wolverines in a 2-1 series win. MSU would win on Friday and Saturday, but the loss on Sunday denied the Spartans their third series sweep ever against Michigan in a full series at McLane Stadium. MSU has not won a series against the Wolverines since 2016, pushing MSU to 9-9 in the conference.
To start the weekend for the Spartans, Both teams clocked in a run in the first inning. For the first Spartan run, Junior outfielder Nick Williams forced a 2-out walk, moving to third base by a single play from Greg Ziegler. Ryan McKay racked in his first RBI of the day to get Williams home to tie up the ball game.
After four innings of action, Michigan State infielder Dillon Kark broke the tie with a solo shot home run to put the Spartans up in the bottom of the fifth. The Wolverines came back quickly, with a lead-off double to even the score which led to a late-inning battle.
In the 10th inning, N. Williams would walk off with an RBI fly to get Randy Seymour home, giving the Spartans a 3-2 win on the first day of the series.
For the second game of the series, Spartan fans celebrated Alumni Day, where the 1954 College World Series team was honored with 1,954 fans in attendance.
“It feels good, you try to win every game, try to win every series, they are all equally important, but to win on Friday and Saturday, at home, in front of a great crowd here, against your rival, it really doesn’t get a whole lot better than that,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr.
Michigan State racked in three home runs during the game, including two in the bottom of the eighth inning, with the Spartans starting to pull away.
Jack Frank, the lead-off hitter for the Spartans, hit a go-ahead home run as well as an opposite-field solo home run in the eighth inning.
To close out the game for Michigan State, Kark hit a single to get on base. Nick Williams then knocked in a double to move Kark to third, and Senior outfielder Greg Ziegler hit a three-run home run to left field that gave Michigan State the 12-8 lead and the win.
This would be Ziegler’s fourth home run on the year, as he leads the team with a .383 batting average after only playing in 26 games.
Michigan State led the series 2-0 against their rivals, but in a 12-inning outing, the Spartans could not complete the sweep. Sunday’s game was similar to the previous day, a high-scoring shootout between the Wolverines and the Spartans.
MSU would go up 4-1 with Jack Frank slashing a home run to center field, followed by Sam Busch, Sam Thompson, and Ziegler crossing the plate. In the fourth, Michigan rallied its way back with four home runs in the fourth inning, claiming the lead 5-4 to end the inning.
The two teams traded runs in the fifth inning, leading to an 8-6 Spartan lead. Michigan bounced back and regained control with one run at the top of the 6th and one run at the top of the 9th to extend the match.
Michigan outfielder Joe Longo hit a single on the left side, having Stephen Hrustich scoring the run, and ending the series sweep chance for Michigan State.
The Spartans end the series with a 21-23 overall record, with a 9-9 record in conference play. If the season ended today, MSU currently holds the 7-seed for the Big Ten Tournament in an 8-team tournament with Maryland on their trail with one more loss on the season.
Michigan State resumes league play with their final regular season road trip, heading to Minneapolis to play the Golden Gophers in a three-game series. The Spartans wrap up the season on May 16 taking on Nebraska at McLane Stadium, in a three game series home stand.
With the Spartans season coming to a close, tournament talks begin to arise. Michigan State looks to hold onto the 7-seed and secure a trip to the Big Ten Tournament on May 21.
EAST LANSING- After a third-round team score of 285 on Wednesday, May 8, the Michigan State women’s golf team placed third at the NCAA East Lansing Regional, earning a spot in the NCAA Championships.
The Spartans would shoot a collective total of 860 (-4) through 54 holes of golf, placing themselves in the top three behind Oklahoma State, and Southern California.
MSU’s team score of 860 was 12 shots better than its previous low 54-hole score in an NCAA Regional (872 both at the 2023 Palm Beach Regional and the 2017 Athens Regional).
See you in California!!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/5jj0IZ91nA
— Spartan Women's Golf (@MSU_WGolf) May 8, 2024
Senior Leila Raines would lead MSU in the third round with a 69 (-3), with a tournament score of 210 (-6) through three rounds, shooting 73 (+1) on Monday, and 68 on (-4) Tuesday.
“It feels amazing – this is what we worked all season for,” said Raines in a statement after her Wednesday round. “The anticipation of it, being at home, and then just being able to pull it off like we wanted to is really rewarding.
Raines took 4th place individually, setting a 54-hole record for a Spartan in an NCAA Regional. This will also be the fourth-straight appearance in the NCAA Championships for Raines, who has gone with the team three total times (2021, 2023, and 2024) and qualified as an individual in 2022.
And Leila for eagle on 13! pic.twitter.com/D3iFxBBGza
— Spartan Women's Golf (@MSU_WGolf) May 7, 2024
“Being able to end my senior year here and now, a ticket punched to nationals, you can’t ask for much more,” said Raines in her Wednesday statement.
Junior Katie Lu, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, would be the next Spartan to place in the top 20, firing a tournament score of 216 (E). Lu would cap off her tournament with a 71 (-1), bouncing back after a Tuesday round of 73 (+1) and a Monday score of 72 (E).
A birdie on 7️⃣ for @katie_luuu pic.twitter.com/8Z9aUrckyq
— Spartan Women's Golf (@MSU_WGolf) May 8, 2024
Junior Shannon Kennedy shot an even-par 72 in a round that included a team-best six birdies, while sophomore Paula Balanzategui carded a 1-over 73 to round out MSU’s team scores in the third round. Balanzategui tied for 20th overall at 3-over 219 (74-72-73). Junior Brooke Biermann also tied for 20th finishing with a three-day total of 219 (72-71-76).
As for MSU head coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, this will be her 14th appearance at the NCAA championships, as the Spartans will make their 16th all-time program arrival.
“The feeling of wanting to be there never dies and it never ends,” said Slobodnik-Stoll regarding coaching at the NCAA Championships.
“You are going to get to take those players who are representing Michigan State and all they’ve done and all they’ve worked for, to the national championship, which is the pinnacle of their career. And those are going to be memories that they’re going to remember for the rest of their lives.”
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships are set for May 17-22 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. MSU will be making its third appearance in the past four seasons.
East Lansing- Coming into Sunday’s game on a three-game winning streak Michigan State looked to sweep the weekend series against Penn State, on a sunny day at McLane Stadium.
Senior Nick Ferazzi was the starter for MSU, after allowing a base hit and a walk with two outs, he induced a fielder’s choice to get out of the early jam.
Frankie Sanchez got the nod for PSU, and after allowing a two-out single, Nick Williams was able to reach this on a two-base error by Penn State left fielder Bobby Marsh, but escaped trouble after tagging out Ryan McKay on a soft grounder.
Bryce Molinaro led off the second inning with a single to left for Penn State, but Ferazzi was still able to work an efficient inning after getting a flyout and then a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Greg Ziegler led off the Spartan half of the inning with a hard-hit single to extend his hitting streak to eight games and on-base streak to eleven games. He stole his eighth base of the season on the following pitch. Sanchez was able to get out of the inning and keep the game scoreless.
Ferazzi faced his first trouble in the third, after a one-out walk by Joe Jaconski. Bobby Marsh stepped into the box and drilled a deep home run over the high wall in right field, to give the Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead in the third.
PSU continued to pour it on, as the next batter JT Marr lined a single into center, before the Big Ten home run leader extended his conference lead, as Adam Cecere drilled his 13th home run of the season to double Penn State’s lead to 4-0.
Sanchez gave PSU the shutdown inning they needed in the bottom half as he set down the Spartans in order before Nick Ferazzi got himself into another jam.
After Tayven Kelley led off the top of the fourth for the Nittany Lions, sophomore Bobby Marsh stepped back in and smacked a towering fly ball into the Red Cedar for his second home run of the afternoon, making it a 6-0 ballgame.
The next batter, JT Marr ripped a two-out double, and MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr had seen enough, calling on freshman lefty Garrett Brewer to get the last out of the inning, and ending Ferazzi’s afternoon.
Wake Forest transfer Adam Cecere came up and did more damage, drilling a two-run double off Brewer to give Penn State a 7-0 lead. The hit closed the line on Ferazzi, he allowed seven earned runs on eight hits while walking three, striking out one of three and two-thirds innings pitched.
Facing a tall deficit, Nick Williams led off the bottom of the fourth for MSU with a walk, reaching base for the second time on the day. McKay then looped a single into left to set the Spartans up with two on and nobody out.
Ziegler stayed hot, working a walk to load the bases to bring up Christian Williams. The designated hitter was able to work a walk in a full count to get Michigan State its first run of the day, cutting the lead to 7-1 with nobody out in the inning, and the bases still loaded.
After Sam Busch struck out swinging, Michigan State catcher Sam Thompson lined a ball hard to second base, where PSU second baseman Kevin Michaels made an error. Which allowed two runs to score, and making the Penn State lead, 7-3.
Senior Jack Frank stayed hot, lacing a two-out RBI single to left field to continue the Spartan rally and cut the PSU lead to 7-4. The RBI was Frank’s 31st of the season, leading the Spartans.
Dillon Kark tallied the fifth Spartan run of the inning, driving in Thompson, and ending the day for Sanchez starter in the fourth inning. Freshman lefty Matt Morash came on in relief for PSU, and ended the inning, but not before Michigan State batted around, sending 11 batters to the plate and cutting the score to 7-5 Penn State.
“I thought our guys showed a lot of competitiveness, I thought they stayed in it mentally, it would have been easy to pack it in down 7-0, but they completed their tails off,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr.
The final line for Sanchez was five runs (two earned), on three strikeouts and three walks, also going three and two-thirds innings.
Senior righty Aaron Mishoulam came on in relief for MSU to start the fifth and retired Penn State quickly.
Morash worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth to hold the lead at 7-5 for the Nittany Lions headed to the sixth.
Mishoulam continued his work in the sixth and produced another scoreless inning, getting around a leadoff walk with an unconventional 6-5-3 double play due to the shift, and a strikeout of Marsh to end the inning.
“Aaron Mishoulam did a heck of a job today after throwing close to forty pitches on Friday,” said Boss.
Randy Seymour led off the bottom of the sixth with a four-pitch walk to turnover the order for the Spartans. Jack Frank worked another walk to get the first two batters on for MSU, knocking Morash out of the game with the Spartans threatening.
Anthony Steele came on for Penn State looking to get them out of trouble, Nick Williams worked his third walk off the day to load the bases with one out for the Spartans.
With Ryan McKay at the dish, Steele spiked a breaking ball for a wild pitch to score Randy Seymour and cut the PSU lead in half down to 7-6.
McKay finished the at-bat lining a sacrifice fly to left center to plate Frank, and tie the game at 7-7.
“I thought our two hitting coaches Graham Sikes and Andrew Snow put together a great plan and a great approach, and our guys bought in on that plan all weekend long and that was certainly really positive,” said Boss.
Mishoulam came on for a third inning of work for Jake Boss Jr, and delivered another scoreless inning, striking out two and holding the tie.
PSU Head coach called on freshman Mason Horwat out of the bullpen, who worked a quick inning setting the Spartans down in order in the seventh.
Nolan Higgins came on in relief for Michigan State in the eighth, closing the book on Mishoulam. Mishoulam was excellent out of the bullpen today, with a final line of no runs, four strikeouts, and only one walk and hit allowed each while pitching three innings.
Mason Horwat was on for a second inning of work in the eighth and gave up a one-out double to Jack Frank to set MSU up with the tying run in scoring position.
After a Kark Groundout, Nick Williams came up and looped an RBI single into no-man’s-land to tie the game back at 8-8. It was Nick William’s fifth time reaching base in the afternoon.
Higgins stayed in the game for the Spartans to start the ninth and allowed the first two runners to reach base, with a walk to Cecere and a base hit by Norris.
This set the stage for PSU third baseman Bryce Molinaro, who delivered the big blow for the Nittany Lions, with a towering go-ahead three-run home run over the high wall in right field to make it 11-8. It was the fourth Penn State home run of the game.
“This one stings a little bit because we couldn’t really keep the ball in the park today, you know it feels like we let one slip away there,” said Boss Jr.
Logan Pikur came on in relief of Higgins after the home run and recorded the final three outs of the inning to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.
Mason Horwat started off the ninth for Penn State looking to finish the game and pick up the win, and gave up back-to-back singles to Ziegler and Christain Williams to start off the inning.
Busch came up as the tying run for MSU in the ninth with nobody out, but he grounded into a double play (4-5-3) to force the Spartans down to their final out.
Ziegler would come in to score on a passed ball to cut the lead to 11-9, but Sam Thompson popped out to end the game and secure the win for Penn State.
“These guys did a nice job flipping the script after a really bad week last week, to come in and turn things around and go 3-1 this week is a testament to these guys,” said Boss.
The Nittany Lions broke their five-game losing streak with today’s win and improved to 6-9 in conference play on the year, while MSU dropped to 5-7 in Big Ten play.
Michigan State is now off until Friday, when they open up a three-game set on the road in Columbus, for a three-game set against Ohio State at Bill Davis Stadium.
East Lansing- On a chilly and cloudy day in East Lansing, the Michigan State Spartans hosted the Penn State Nittany Lions in the middle game of a three-game weekend set at McLane Stadium.
Nick Powers was the starter for MSU, and the Nittany Lions struck early in the first, after a lead-off walk and hit by pitch, Adam Cecere ripped an RBI single just past Ryan McKay and into right field to give PSU a 1-0 lead. Nick Powers was able to limit the damage, with some soft contact to get out of the inning
Senior Jaden Henline got the start for PSU and retired the Spartans in order to start off the game. Powers was able to bounce back in the second inning, navigating around a one-out hit, and inducing a double play.
Henline got around a lead-off walk to get through two innings unscathed, Powers got himself into more trouble in the third, after a two-out single and double by JT Marr and Adam Cecere respectively but got out of the jam after inducing a groundout to shortstop Randy Seymour.
After a lead-off walk for Sam Thompson, it was then Dillon Kark who hit an infield single in the shortstop hole, as the Spartans evened up the ball game at 1 after a two-out error by the PSU third basemen Bryce Molinaro.
MSU took the lead on the next batter, as the freshman McKay looped a two-single into left center, and continued to pour it on, as Greg Ziegler stayed hot, extending his on-base streak to ten games, and giving the Spartans a 3-1 lead.
“We talked before the game just about a consistent offensive approach, and I thought we did that again today for the second day in a row,” said MSU Head Coach Jake Boss Jr.
“Just really proud of the effort that our guys had offensively today”
Powers was really able to settle in the middle innings, retiring Penn State in order in the fourth and fifth innings, holding the Spartan lead
“I’m usually a guy that likes to work quickly, I don’t take a lot of time between pitches,” Powers said.
“Hitters don’t have a lot of time to get ready in between pitches so, I think that did factor into the success tonight.”
After getting two quick outs in the sixth inning, Powers gave up a solo shot to PSU shortstop Grant Norris, to cut the Michigan State lead in half, to 3-2. For Norris, it was his second home run of the weekend and eleventh of the season.
MSU led off the bottom half of the inning with back-to-back doubles, starting with Christian Williams, who was driven in by Sam Busch to extend the lead back to two runs.
“It started in BP, we had really good energy and fine-tuned our approach in these last two days,” said Busch. “We had the runners moving, some hit and runs, and just kinda started rolling”
After an infield single by Sam Thompson moved Busch over to third, Randy Seymour drove Busch on another infield single, pushing the MSU lead to 5-2.
The Spartans tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly for Jack Frank. Kark, and Nick Williams, who picked up his third hit of the day, moving Seymour over to third on the single, Nick Williams added on an RBI single to give MSU their fourth run of the inning, making the score 7-2.
Greg Ziegler picked up his second RBI and base hit of the day respectively, with a two-out single, as the Spartans batted around in the sixth inning, scoring five runs and taking an 8-2 lead.
Nick Powers closed out a strong outing in the seventh, posting another scoreless inning in another impressive effort for the Michigan State Saturday starter. His final line: seven innings pitched, with five strikeouts, only allowing one walk, six hits, and two runs en route to his sixth win of the season.
“He went into damage control early and just gave up the one run, which was a big play in the game,” Boss said. “I thought he threw really really well.”
Thompson and Seymour lined back-to-back one-out singles to start another rally in the seventh, leading to Jack Frank ripping a two-run double down the right field line to extend Michigan State’s lead to 10-2 and add to his team-high in RBI with 30, including three on the day today. Frank’s hit also gave every Spartan starter a hit on the day.
Nick Williams drove in another run, on a hard-hit double into the gap to drive in Frank and put MSU up 11-2, giving the Spartans their third run of the inning. The Spartans scored eight unanswered runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.
“When our guys are hitting the ball and scoring runs it gives me confidence,” said Powers on the offensive outburst.
Gannon Grundman came on for Michigan State in the eighth and allowed a 2-run home run to Grant Norris with 2 outs to cut the lead down to 11-4. For Norris it was his second home run of the game, third of the series, and twelfth of the season.
After failing to add any more runs in the bottom half, the Spartans sent out Freshman Logan Pikur to pick up the final three outs of the game for Michigan State. He was able to retire the side while only allowing one run, to secure the 11-5 victory for MSU.
“The goal is to win the weekend, and now we’ve done that, so the focus shifts to tomorrow,” Boss said. “We have an opportunity to get back to .500 after a bad weekend last weekend, and tomorrow is the biggest game of the year because it’s the next one.”
MSU picks up the series win against Penn State and improves to 17-19 on the season, and 5-6 in conference play, with their third straight win. The win also marks the Spartan’s first win in a three-game series against the Nittany Lions since 2016.
“Pitchers have been going great for us, and hitters too, and tomorrow’s a really big one for us, we’re really focused on tomorrow, and getting back into the race into the Big Ten,” Busch said.
Michigan State will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon in East Lansing looking to get back to .500 in Big Ten play. The probable starters for tomorrow are Frankie Sanchez for PSU and Nick Ferazzi for MSU. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
EAST LANSING- Michigan State football concludes its spring practice with the Spring Showcase, where each coach and player were able to demonstrate their skills for the upcoming season.
The 26th head coach, Jonathan Smith, brings in his new staff and players to start a new regime of Michigan State football, and that starts with your quarterback, Oregon State transfer Aidan Chiles.
Coming into the transfer portal, Chiles started as the second overall quarterback in his class, who followed his coach from Oregon State to MSU. In the Spring Showcase, Chiles showed his ability to take on the reins of QB1.
“He looked comfortable and guys made some plays for him in the pass, which was great to see,” Smith said.
With the addition of Smith, a whole new culture was transferred to Michigan State, but with that culture came a very credible coaching staff. At the helm of Smith’s credible coaches, Offensive Coordinator and quarterback’s coach Brian Lindgren got right to work.
To start things off, Chiles threw a 23-yard bomb down the field to make his mark in Spartan Stadium. Shortly after, redshirt junior Nate Carter broke 2 tackles and took it to the house for a 48-yard Spartan touchdown. Speed and acceleration were an important training point for Carter, and his explosiveness is a stepping stone from last year’s performance.
“He runs really hard, we think that Nate is explosive and that fits well in the scheme. The first few practices he was getting his feet wet, but in the back half of the spring he became more and more comfortable,” Smith said.
The main focus of the new regime for coach Smith was that players need to play fast and need to be aggressive. Michigan State came out with a quick pass rush and quick decisions from the offense.
Nick Marsh, the 6-3 true freshman made his impact known on the offensive end, catching two deep balls from Tommy Schuster, solidifying another weapon for Chiles and the Spartans.
“I see a lot of Nick in me,” Chiles said. “He’s young, he’s a baller and he uses a lot of his talent every day. I did the same thing my freshman year. I thought about what I can do talent-wise and athletically.”
Coming back in the Green and White for the Spartans, redshirt senior Montorie Foster Jr. caught a long ball from Chiles down the sideline for 35 yards to put the offensive side up 21 to 17. Foster has become a leader in the receiver room, with his ability to play multiple positions, and with his knowledge, he can teach the rest of the receivers in the locker room.
MSU redshirt senior receiver Montorie Foster Jr. (3) celebrates after a reception for a first down during the the Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI. (Jack Moreland)The Spartans are playing a quick style of football that is intentional in their tackling.
Defensively, Michigan State continued to pressure the quarterback and let Chiles make his reads while on the run. In the third quarter, the Spartan defense kept up the pressure which made Chiles burst out of the pocket for a large gain. Chiles is very keen on sensing incoming pressure, and he ended up turning a large loss into a huge gain for Michigan State.
In the previous season, Michigan State’s defense was less dynamic, but in the new Smith Era, the entire defense is electric, with rushers attacking the quarterback at different angles at different times.
The Spartans now have depth at every position, both on offense and defense. Giving the coaching staff leverage to change every position from the receivers, to the offensive line depending on the play being run.
The Spring Showcase ended with the offense winning 31-24, with the help of many playmakers on the Michigan State roster. But both sides showed how ready they are for Big Ten conference play because their team has bought in on the new era.
“There is a difference between last year’s team and this team because this year you can add to the offense. You can see explosive plays and some very aggressive hustle as well,” said junior defensive back Dillon Tatum.
Michigan State spring football has come to an end. Now the Spartans set their sights on the fall, where they look to polish up their skills and be prepared for the first game of the 2024-25 football season.
EAST LANSING- Michigan State and Penn State kicked off a three-game weekend series at McLane Stadium on Friday, with a pivotal matchup in the Big Ten standings.
Joseph Dzierwa took the mound for the Spartans with Travis Luensmann getting the start for the Nittany Lions.
MSU was able to get on the board first in the bottom of the second, the inning began with a lead-off single by Greg Ziegler, followed by a walk by Sam Busch. After a double steal, Ziegler scored on an RBI groundout by Sam Thompson, as the Spartans struck first.
Penn State was struck right back in the third, on an RBI single by JT Marr, extending his team lead on the season to 37 RBI’s. The Nittany Lions took the lead in the next inning on a lead-off home run by Grant Norris, giving PSU a 2-1 lead.
The Spartans were able to get a rally going in the fifth on Luensmann, as Randy Seymour led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Jack Frank singled in the next at-bat, and Dillon Kark drove both runners in on a hard liner down the third baseline for a double, to drive in two runs and give MSU a 3-2 lead.
Number 2 for a 2-run 2-bagger!!
Dillon Kark smacks a double down the LF line to drive in Seymour and Frank and give MSU a 3-2 lead!!
It's Kark's team-leading 13th double of the season!!#GoGreen | @KarkDillon | @JackF_22 | @RandySeymour14 pic.twitter.com/fMTqbEJZ54
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 20, 2024
Freshman Ryan McKay continued the rally with an RBI single to drive in Kark and give the Spartans a 4-2 lead, wrapping up a three-run rally for the Spartans in the fifth.
“In the first, we took a lot of pitches, we didn’t chase, we didn’t expand the strike zone, our hitters really executed the game plan to perfection,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr.
“We flipped it there in the fifth and were able to get some good barrels to the ball.”
Michigan State continued their offensive push in the bottom of the sixth, as Sam Thompson led the inning off with a single. Jack Frank ripped an RBI triple to stay hot, deep into right-center field, to drive in Thompson and give the Spartans a 5-2 lead.
Frank followed up his two-homer performance on Wednesday with a triple, single, and an RBI tonight, as the senior continued his impressive season at the plate. Dillon Kark picked up his third RBI of the game driving in Frank on a Sac Fly and making the MSU lead 6-2
“Be patient but be aggressive, and ultimately it worked out in our favor, got the pitch count up, got him out of the game and into the bullpen,” Frank said.
“It was an excellent job attacking the plan we had today.”
Aaron Mishoulam came on in relief of Dzierwa to start the seventh. Dzierwa’s final line was six innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on three hits and five walks. He struck out six batters en route to his fourth win of the season.
“I thought Joseph was good tonight, I thought he really competed even though he probably didn’t have his best stuff.” Boss said.
“He said in the sixth he felt really good, really confident . . . I thought Joseph was really good tonight”
Joseph Dzierwa finished the night with six strikeouts!!
It's Dzierwa's 6⃣th outing with 6⃣ or more Ks in 10 outings!!
GoGreen | @DzierwaJoseph pic.twitter.com/E8nMsyqeXd
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 20, 2024
Mishoulam was on his game right away, picking up two strikeouts and setting the Nittany Lions down in order. came back out for the eighth, where Penn State started chipping away, with an RBI double by JT Marr, his second RBI of the night.
The Nittany Lions were able to cut the lead in half in the top of the 8th on a 2-out RBI double by Bryce Molinaro, and then down to one run with a pinch-hit RBI double by Matt Maloney to drive in Molinaro.
Nolan Higgins came on in relief for the Spartans with two outs in the eighth and did his job, striking out freshman pinch hitter Michael DiMartini to end the inning and hold the lead for MSU.
MSU was unable to tack any runs on in the bottom half, and the game went to the ninth with the Spartans clutching onto a one-run lead Higgins stayed on for MSU in the ninth, looking to pick up his first save of his collegiate career. He retired the side in order, recording the four-out save, and securing the win for MSU, 6-5.
“We wanna win a series, and winning on a Friday certainly helps,” Coach Boss said.
“Nolan Higgins, I’m really happy for him, he’s been up and down a lot this year . . . we went back to him today in a big spot and he came through for us.”
Michigan State picks up its second straight win and improves their overall record to 16-19 on the season, with their Big Ten record to 4-6. It was also the Spartans first win against the Nittany Lions since the 2021 season. As for Penn State, they dropped their fourth straight game and their Big Ten record is now 5-8.
“We were winning that game, we should’ve won that game, good result today but at the end of the day I’m not surprised . . . I know we’re good enough to win these games, good enough to win close games,” Frank said.
The series continues with game two tomorrow at McLane Stadium at 3:35 P.M. The probable starters are Nick Powers for MSU and Jaden Henline for PSU.
EAST LANSING- Michigan State faced off against Western Michigan Wednesday evening at Jackson Field in Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans are 2-0 against Western Michigan this year and looked to improve to 3-0 against the Broncos. The Spartans also sought to end their five-game losing streak.
The Spartans beat Western Michigan 12-2 in the seventh inning improving their record to 15-19 on the season.
“I’m proud of our guys and the way they competed today,” Michigan State Baseball head coach Jake Boss said.
“The pitching was good, and we hit a home run earlier. We relaxed a bit and played the way we are capable of playing”.
The offense started for the Spartans when leadoff hitter Jack Frank hit a home run to make it an early 1-0 lead for the Spartans at the end of the first inning.
“My strength is that if I get a fastball, then I need to hit it,” Frank said. “I play to my strengths, and that is one thing I have learned as a fifth year”.
In the fourth inning, Western Michigan answered back with an RBI double from Greg Budig and scored Dylan Nevar from a leadoff triple to tie the score 1-1.
The fifth inning is where the Spartans offense took off. Randy Seymour led off the inning with a single, and Frank hit a double right after him. Dillion Kark then hit a sacrifice fly to score Seymour. At the three spot in the lineup, Nick Williams hit a single to score Frank, making it 3-1.
A couple of batters later Greg Ziegler doubled while advancing N. Williams to third. Christian Williams then hit an RBI single scoring Ziegler and N. Williams. Two batters later Sam Thompson singled, scoring C. Williams, making it 7-0 after the fifth inning.
In the sixth inning, Western Michigan’s Budig led off the inning with a double. Three batters later, Grady Mee drove him home with an RBI single, making it 7-2 after the sixth inning.
In the bottom half of the sixth inning, Frank hit another lead-off home run, making it 8-2. Later in that inning, Ziegler singled, scoring Kark. A batter later, C. Williams, doubled, scoring Ziegler, making it 10-2. Headlining the offense was Frank, who went 3 for 5 with two home runs and two RBI.
“We gotta get back to work tomorrow at practice and let the good vibe of today carry into this weekend,” Frank said. “If we play our game and show up, we can do good things”.
The Spartans host a three-game series against Penn State this weekend. Game one starts on Friday, April 19, at McLane Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The first pitch is at 8:05 p.m.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State baseball was back in action at McLane Stadium for the first game of a weekend series against the Niagara Purple Eagles. The Spartans defeated Niagara 9-0 courtesy of a four-run fifth inning to improve to 13-14 on the season and earned their first shutout win since the 2022 season.
“I thought we played very well today, we played well defensively,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss. “Our pitching I thought was outstanding, really good outing by Joseph [Dzierwa], a lot of positives today.”
Entering the fifth inning, the Spartans led the Purple Eagles 2-0 after senior outfielder Greg Ziegler and freshman center fielder Landen Lozier were hit by pitches.
A double to right center by junior first baseman Nick Williams extended the Spartans’ lead to 3-0 with senior outfielder Jack Frank scoring the run
A wild pitch by graduate pitcher Liam Reynolds for the Purple Eagles also allowed Williams and freshman infielder Ryan McKay to score. Lozier singled to center to cap off a four-run bottom of the fifth for the Spartans, as they led 6-0 after five innings of play.
In the seventh inning, the Spartans’ success continued. Lozier delivered again with another single to center, and senior third baseman Dillon Kark also singled to extend the MSU lead to 9-0.
Sophomore pitcher Joseph Dzierwa shined in the win, allowing no runs, and five hits, and recorded nine strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Offensively, MSU was led by Landen Lozier, who went 2 for 4 with four RBIs. Dillon Kark and Nick Williams also contributed with an RBI.
“I think it’s important to extend him a little bit more, he’s in good enough shape to do it,” said Boss. “It’s good to get to get him deep enough into the game with that amount of pitches.”
The Spartans have now extended their win streak to three and look to extend their streak in the second matchup against Niagara on Saturday. First pitch is set for 3:35 p.m.
“They’re [Niagara] tough, they’re hard nosed, they’re scrappy, we’re gonna get a good effort out of those guys tomorrow,” said Coach Boss. “We need to be ready to play tomorrow and I feel good that our guys will be ready to go.”
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo – For the sixth time this season, the No. 1 seed Michigan State hockey team faced off against Michigan, this time in the Maryland Heights regional final with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line. The No. 3 seeded Wolverines defeated the Spartans 5-2 with four third-period goals to advance to their third consecutive Frozen Four, bringing MSU’s historic season to a stunning close.
“We win with class and we lose with class, I thought our guys finished the game really well,” said MSU head coach Adam Nightingale. “That’s how we’re trying to lay the foundation for our program.”
In a tie game at 2-2 midway through the third period, twelve seconds was all it took for the Wolverines to pull away. Junior forward Dylan Duke, who has scored in every matchup this season against the Spartans, scored the game-deciding goal, with sophomore forward TJ Hughes picking up the assist.
Sophomore forward Gavin Brindley scored the second goal off a great between-the-legs pass from Frank Nazar to extend the Wolverine lead to 4-2.
“Give credit to them [Michigan], they’ve got some talent, some guys made big-time plays,” said Nightingale. “Frankie [Frank] Nazar made a special play.”
Duke scored his second goal of the game to put the finishing touches on the win for Michigan with two minutes to play.
Graduate goaltender Jake Barczewski shined in the win, recording 38 saves on the night. Graduate defenseman Marshall Warren and junior defenseman Ethan Edwards also recorded goals for the Wolverines.
Freshman forward Gavin O’Connell and sophomore forward Joey Larson both recorded power-play goals for MSU in the loss. Freshman goaltender Trey Augustine recorded 30 saves for MSU.
Despite the loss, the Spartans have much to be proud of this season, as the team won the Big Ten regular season and tournament title for the first time in program history.
“We were first place wire to wire and that’s not easy to do in our conference with the youngest team,” said Nightingale. “That’s why I respect our guys a ton, every night this year we played, the other team was coming in playing first-place Michigan State, and that’s pretty impressive.”
EAST LANSING- After dropping the first game of their weekend set on Friday at McLane Stadium, MSU baseball looked to bounce back on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of the three game series.
Nick Powers took the bump for the Spartans, making his 7th start of the season.
Powers was excellent on the day going seven innings while only allowing two runs on seven hits.
He had two strikeouts and allowed one walk on the day as well, leading the Spartans to a 5-2 victory
“I thought Nick was great, really good,” head coach Jake Boss said after the game.
“He was in command of the strike zone all day long, he was throwing three pitches for strikes, and that’s what Nick does.”
Michigan State got the scoring going in the third inning off a long three run bomb into the Red Cedar River by Jack Frank, his third home run of the season, giving MSU an early 3-0 lead.
“Approaching every day or at bat the same way, whether it’s good or bad, can’t be result oriented,” Jack Frank said.
“Yesterday wasn’t as good of a day for me, but at the end of the day, that’s baseball . . . Just keep doing the same things day in and day out and I think good outcomes come to you.
Frank’s homer was his first since March 3rd against Western Michigan and he indeed to his team high 21 RBIs on the season.
Rutgers would strike back with runs in the fifth and sixth on a home run by Johnny Volpe and a sacrifice fly by Pete Durocher, cutting the Spartans lead down to 3-2.
MSU was able to get an insurance run back in the bottom half of the sixth, on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ryan Seymour.
The offense continued in the seventh as Sam Thompson led off with a double, and was eventually driven in by Frank on a single for his fourth RBI of the afternoon.
Ryan McKay would ground into a double play with the bases loaded to end the inning, holding the MSU lead at 5-2.
Aaron Mishoulam came on for the Spartans in relief of Powers, and would retire the Scarlet Knights in order in the top of the eighth.
Mishoulam faced some trouble in the ninth allowing an infield single, and another base runner on an error by Seymour at shortstop, but held onto the pick up the six out save, securing the victory for Michigan State, and earning Nick Powers his fourth win of the season.
“You know what you’re getting, he’s gonna show up, he’s gonna do his thing every time,” said Frank, reflecting on Powers’ start.
The Spartans evened up the series with the win, and improved their Big Ten record to 2-3, and overall record to 11-14.
Michigan State will go for the series win in the rubber match on Sunday, with Nick Ferazzi on the mound.
Zack Konstantinovsky will be making the start for Rutgers.
“Kinda the same approach as today, they’re good, that’s a good team over there,” Boss said.
“We need to take advantage of opportunities when we do get them.”
An Easter Sunday first pitch is set for 1:05 PM EST, as MSU will look to take the series against the Scarlet Knights.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – For the first time since 2012, the Michigan State hockey team appeared in the NCAA Hockey Tournament against in-state foe Western Michigan in the Maryland Heights regional semifinal. The No. 1-seeded Spartans rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Broncos 5-4 in overtime, advancing to the regional final.
“Proud of our guys, that was a really special game for us, our goal is to come here and win two hockey games,” said MSU head coach Adam Nightingale. “Our group has done a good job of being even-keeled.”
Entering the third period, MSU trailed 4-2 after three unanswered goals in the second period for Western Michigan by freshman forward Alex Bump, senior forward Sam Colangelo, and graduate defenseman Zak Galambos.
Halfway through the third period, senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis scored to help spark the Spartan rally, cutting their deficit to one.
“It just comes down to our forwards and their ability to turn pucks over and make great plays,” said Nienhuis. “I got to compliment our forwards, they help make it easy for us.”
With under a minute to play, sophomore forward Karsen Dorwart received a great pass from freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov to even the contest up at four.
Nine minutes into overtime, senior forward Jeremy Davidson scored the game-winner to cap off a thrilling come-from-behind win for the Spartans.
“He’s been through a lot, thankful for him for buying in, it was good to see him get the goal,” said Nightingale.
Freshman goaltender Trey Augustine recorded 34 saves in the win. Sophomore forward Daniel Russell and junior defenseman David Gucciardi also recorded goals in the win.
The Spartans will face the winner of North Dakota and Michigan in the regional final. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
EAST LANSING – In front of a sold-out and hostile crowd, No. 4 Michigan State hockey captured its first Big Ten tournament title in program history with a thrilling 5-4 overtime win over rival No. 11 Michigan.
“You can argue that might have been the biggest game in Munn history,” MSU head coach Adam Nightingale said. “That crowd was awesome, and for them to be able to stick with us and believe in us makes it even more special.”
MSU freshman defender Patrick Geary (2) celebrates with sophomore forward Tiernan Shoudy (13) after a Spartan goal in a 5-4 overtime victory over Michigan for the B1G Championship on Saturday, Mar. 23, 2024 at Munn Ice Arena. (Avery Kotel)Freshman defenseman Patrick Geary was the hero for MSU, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime. Graduate forward Reed Lebster and fifth-year senior Nicolas Muller picked up the game-winning assists on the goal.
In a game featuring several different momentum-changing plays, the Spartans rose to the occasion when it mattered most. Five Spartans recorded goals in the win including impressive performances from senior forward Jeremy Davidson and sophomore defenseman Matt Basgall.
MSU Head Coach Adam Nightingale looks on during his team’s 5-4 overtime victory over Michigan for the B1G Tournament Championship on Saturday, Mar. 23, 2024 at Munn Ice Arena. (Avery Kotel)“Our crowd really energized our guys down the stretch,” said Nightingale. “We responded multiple times throughout the game from being down, they [Michigan] had some good pushes.”
Freshman goaltender Trey Augustine recorded 33 saves in the win and was named the most outstanding player of the Big Ten Tournament.
Sophomore defenseman Daniel Russell and junior forward Tanner Kelly also recorded goals in the win. Russell was named to the All-Big Ten Tournament team along with senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis.
The Spartans hoist the B1G Tournament trophy after a 5-4 overtime victory over Michigan on Saturday, Mar. 23, 2024 at Munn Ice Arena. (Avery Kotel)Sophomore forward Frank Nazar III led the Wolverines in the loss, scoring two goals, while graduate defenseman Marshall Warren and junior forward Dylan Duke also recorded goals.
The Spartans will now wait to see where they are selected for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
“We’ve got areas to clean up, dress rehearsal is done and it’s win or go home,” said Nightingale. “We’ve got to make sure we get a little rest, and be ready for whoever we’re gonna play.”
EAST LANSING – On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Michigan State women’s soccer team hosted the Dayton Flyers and the competition resulted in a tie, 2-2. The Spartans also honored alumni from the Spartan women’s soccer team at halftime of the match. The Spartans move to a 5-2-1 record overall with the draw, as Dayton...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State football took care of business on Saturday afternoon in their second game on the season, pounding the Richmond Spiders 45-14 and improving to 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium. With another slow start from the offense, MSU stepped on the gas with six straight drives resulting in points. “We...
EAST LANSING – For the first time in history, Michigan State and Richmond faced off on Saturday afternoon.
“Really proud of the way our team came out. We did not do these guys lightly,” said Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker in the post-game press conference.
Here are four takeaways from Saturday’s game:
The running game is making a comeback
“I think we can rely on every running back that we have,” said MSU redshirt junior quarterback Noah Kim.
Redshirt sophomore running back and transfer from the University of Connecticut, Nathan Carter had 111 rushing yards and got three touchdowns.
Kim had 21 rushing yards.
Redshirt junior running back Jalen Berger had seven rushing yards for the game. Berger limped off the field in the first quarter and was seen on the sidelines with a boot on his right foot during the second half.
Need for ball security and clean football
MSU struggled from fumbles and a dropped interception.
The Spartans fumbled the ball twice in the second half turning it over to the Spiders. The first fumble resulted in a Richmond recovery and a 47-yard touchdown.
“The ball security is job security,” said Tucker
Multiple holding calls were called against the Spartans. It hurt them most after the big 31-yard pass from Kim to Redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr for a touchdown, and they got pushed back to first-and-20.
The offense needs to get into a rhythm quicker
Last week, MSU had a slow start against Central Michigan. It was the same story against Richmond. MSU started with only a 50-second possession before having to kick it back to Richmond.
“We could still come out a little faster,” said Kim. “We should look to start a little faster.”
The Spartans needed to make the big plays quicker, but there were some impressive plays once they got into their rhythm.
The 31-yard pass from Kim to redshirt freshman wide receiver Jaron Glover. Carter recorded a 44-yard rush touchdown. And Carr’s one-hander for a 22-yard gain.
Kim totaled 292 passing yards.
MSU needs a strong defense for next week against Washington
MSU sacked Richmond redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Wickersham three times. The first sack was in the first quarter by Brandon Wright and Simeon Barrow. Wickersham was sacked again in the first quarter by Derrick Harmon and Aaron Brule. Then in the second quarter, Wright sacked Wickersham again.
With Washington coming to East Lansing next week, the Spartans need to be ready to defend the Husky offense. Last season, MSU traveled to Husky Stadium and lost 39-28. Will the Spartans redeem themselves on their home field? We will see next week.
The Spartans will host the Huskies at Spartan Stadium on Sept. 16 at 5:00 p.m.
EAST LANSING- Michigan State volleyball hosted Duke University on Friday evening. They recorded a 3-0 loss for their third of the season.
“We’re not a team that’s gonna dwell, I don’t dwell,” said Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson. “We say our peace, we watch our film, and we have the same kinda conversations if we win or lose.”
MSU entered Friday’s game on a four-game winning streak after facing Belmont and Syracuse in the Kathy DeBoer Invitational. The team recorded consecutive sweeps.
This was MSU’s first faceoff since Nalani Iosia was named B1G Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5, becoming the first Spartan to hold the title since Jamye Cox in 2019.
Duke’s Gacie Johnson served the first ball of the game. The rally resulted in a point for Duke, who maintained the lead the entire first set, maxing out at a seven point lead. The Blue Devils clinched the set 25-19. Freshman outside hitter Tylah Holdem recorded several rally-winning hits in the first period for the Spartans.
Duke opened the scoring in the second set. MSU maintained a much closer point differential, even gaining leading momentum and never trailing behind more than three points until Duke middle blocker Lizzie Fleming pulled the Blue Devils to 19-15 lead. The Spartans held themselves within four points until Duke closed the set 25-22 for their second of the game.
MSU gained new momentum, opening scoring in the third set. Sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur blocked several hits early in the third allowing the Spartans to stay within three points of the Blue Devils. Sophomore Aliyah Moore delivered several impressive spikes to regain Spartan possession, and tips from outside hitter Grace Kelly had Spartans leading 14-13.
Gracie Johnson continued to lead the Blue Devils offensively, but MSU pulled within two points before Duke took the third and final set of the match 25-23.
Johnson was particularly impressed with Moore’s performance tonight.
“She’s been out with injuries, so this is her first true weekend back,” said Johnson. “She hit .500, 10 kills on 18 swings which is phenomenal, so I was excited about that.”
MSU will face off at home against North Carolina at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
EAST LANSING – On a night when Michigan State men’s soccer honored America’s favorite soccer coach, Ted Lasso, the Spartans found a way to win, getting a late penalty kick from junior Sean Kerrigan to secure a 1-0 victory. While pitch conditions may not have been ideal to some, Kerrigan, an Ireland native, said the steady rain throughout was ideal for him.
“In this weather, there’s more chance of me scoring a goal than when the sun is out,” said Kerrigan. “This is perfect weather for playing football.”
The first half saw little action, with no shots on goal for the entirety of the first 45 minutes. While the field conditions were wet and that likely played a factor, the defense for both sides played exceptional.
Into the second half, MSU’s defense continued to play well, limiting the Dayton offense to forced, uneven shots on goal.
“To me, the whole key is the shutout,” said Michigan State head coach Damon Rensing. “If you don’t give up goals, you’ve got a chance to win.”
Barbecue Sauce!!
Highlights from tonight's 1-0 #VictoryForMSU over Dayton… it was a defensive battle in the rain, but the Spartans emerged victorious on #TedLassoNight at DeMartin!!#DeMartinDefended pic.twitter.com/6oiyvuPG8e
— MSU Men's Soccer (@MSU_MSoccer) September 8, 2023
Michigan State’s starting defensive backs of freshman Will Eby, senior Elijah Howe, and sophomore Jeremy Sharp made it very difficult for the Dayton offense to get good looks. Sharp made key plays throughout the game to continue his very strong start to the season.
“This is a complement to Jeremy, this was probably his weakest game…and he was still good,” said Rensing. “He’s been great for us, and arguably our most consistent player.”
With No. 20 Notre Dame up next, the Spartans will have some work to do to get the best of the Irish.
“Notre Dame is a very good team, we know them very well and they know us,” said Rensing. “Notre Dame will be a great test to prepare us, and get us ready for our first Big Ten game against Rutgers.”
Michigan State’s next contest will take place next Tuesday, Sept. 12 against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Kickoff will be at 8 p.m. EST.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State women’s soccer’s late comeback against No. 15 Notre Dame fell short, as the Spartans were defeated by the Fighting Irish 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium. Notre Dame’s stout backline was as good as advertised in the match. Led by ACC Defender of the Year Eva Gaetino, the Spartans...
EAST LANSING– Michigan State, for its second match of the Kathy DeBoer Invitational, hosted Syracuse.
MSU won the match 3-0. The win marked head coach Leah Johnson’s 200th career win.
In the first set, the Orange struggled to keep up with the fast-paced rallies. MSU took the set 25-12.
Freshman outside hitter Taylah Holdem was a prominent player and led the set with six kills.
Syracuse continued to trail behind MSU in the second set. MSU won the set 25-13.
Junior outside hitter Aliyah Moore made her season debut on the court this season. She recorded two kills for the Spartans.
The third and final set started with Syracuse taking a 2-0 lead after two attack errors from MSU. This gave the Orange new energy, and they kept the Spartans working for it till both teams were 24-24.
MSU outlasted Syracuse and closed out the match with a kill from sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur for a 26-24 win.
Up next, the Spartans will host Delaware State on Sept. 3, with game time set for 1:00 p.m.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State volleyball hosted Belmont for the Kathy DeBoer Invitational Opener on Saturday morning at the Breslin Center.
The Spartans held the lead for the duration of the first set, finishing 25-17. The Bruins had a responsive defense, but struggled with fouls. Senior libero Nalani Iosia closed the set with a service ace.
Belmont struggled to get points on the board in the second set, trailing 6-0. Although the Bruins adjusted and closed the gap to a tie 16-16, they never obtained the lead.
The Spartans closed out the second set 25-19 after an attack error from senior opposite hitter Laura Shoopman and block assists from junior outside hitter Grace Kelly, and sophomore middle blocker Nil Okur.
Despite a rocky start to the third set, the Spartans made adjustments to build their lead. MSU increased its lead to 17, resulting in a 25-7 final score.
Up next, the Spartans will host Syracuse on Sept. 2, with gametime set for 7:00 p.m.
EAST LANSING — Michigan State football opened its 2023 season victorious on Friday evening, defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas 31-7 at Spartan Stadium.
After a first half filled with penalties and stalled drives, Michigan State was able to clean up its miscues, leading to a blowout win against its in-state opponent from Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
“I just thought we had some jitters out there,” said Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker. “We started slow, but we kept choppin’ and we were able to execute in all three phases and get the win.”
On the game’s first play, UConn transfer running back Nathan Carter came out of the gates with a 31-yard run.
The Michigan State offense went stagnant after Carter’s run, as the Spartans only put up six yards through the air in the first 20 minutes of action.
In the second quarter, the Chippewas scored the first touchdown of the contest, with a 12-yard pass to Chris Parker to go up 7-3.
The Spartans quickly responded with a 32-yard pass from quarterback Noah Kim to redshirt freshman wide receiver Jaron Glover to enter CMU territory. Shortly after, Nathan Carter ran up the middle for a two-yard touchdown to give the Spartans a four-point lead.
Kim, who was named the starter by head coach Mel Tucker on his pregame radio show, completed 10 of his first 21 passes in the first half but made second-half adjustments to improve his night. The redshirt junior finished the game with 279 yards and two touchdowns.
“Over the course of time, he won the job. This is his fourth season. He knows the offense. We feel like he can go and run the offense,” said Tucker.
“It’s the first game, mistakes are bound to happen,” said Kim. “We made some great plays out there, but we definitely left some out there.”
It was all Spartans in the second half, led by MSU’s defense that was flying around the field. Linebackers Cal Haladay and Jacoby Windmon combined for 18 tackles in the win. Halladay, a two-year letterwinner, also had an interception.
“In the first half, we had a little bit of a slow start,” said Haladay. “We got a lot of cleaning up to do.”
The second half featured a couple of highlight-reel moments. Redshirt junior wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick hauled in a 72-yard reception to put MSU in the red zone, and sophomore wide receiver Tyrell Henry went up and caught a one-handed touchdown from Noah Kim to put the Spartans up 24-7 in the fourth quarter.
Tyrell Henry makes a catch in the end zone during the fourth quarter of Michigan State’s season opener vs. Central Michigan. Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBM (Jack M)Four minutes later, Michigan State got possession and drove back down the field, with redshirt junior Maliq Carr catching an eight-yard touchdown pass.
Michigan State is now 9-0 in its traditional Friday night games at Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans start off their 2023 season 1-0 and will be back at home next Saturday for a date with the Richmond Spiders on Sept. 9 at 3:30 p.m. Zac Slowik and Matt Merrifield will be on the call from Spartan Stadium on Impact 89FM.
EAST LANSING – On a night where students, children, and parents alike packed the stands of DeMartin Field, the Michigan State women’s soccer team delivered on all ends of the pitch and defeated Eastern Michigan University, 6-0. The Spartans played in front of hundreds of fans tonight, including a roaring student section. Michigan State head coach Jeff Hosler voiced his delight with the students being back on campus and showing up for his team.
“There’s no question that our group fuels off the momentum and energy that the crowd brings,” said Hosler. “It’s so great to have the students back to bring that initial energy to campus. I think that shows in the way we played.”
With two goals in two minutes from Mackenzie Anthony and Raegan Cox, respectively, MSU built up a lead inside the 15 minute mark of the match. Anthony connected on two more goals, for the first hat trick of her college career. After a career night, Anthony emphasized the energy that the DeMartin Field fans brought tonight.
“The amount of fans is incredible,” said Anthony. “I’ve never been able to play in front of that many fans. It definitely gets your adrenaline pumping.”
Senior forward Mackenzie Anthony interacts with the crowd at DeMartin Field on August 31st, 2023. Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBMThe second half was stagnant, until the 79th minute when Bella Najera scored her first goal of the season. Only a few minutes later, Sophia Piotrowski would connect on a penalty kick, to solidify this win for the Spartans and move them to 4-1.
Michigan State will take on No. 15 Notre Dame on Sunday, marking a major test for the program this season against one of the best programs in the country.
“Each match is a big match…But it’s hard not to treat Notre Dame a little different. Tough competition,” said Anthony.
The Spartans will kickoff against the Fighting Irish at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3 at DeMartin Field celebrating Championship Sunday.
Omaha, NE — On Tuesday evening, Michigan State baseball played in its first Big Ten Tournament game since 2018. The eighth-seeded Spartans took on the top-seeded Maryland Terrapins in game three of the Big Ten Tournament at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. Maryland won 3-2.
The Spartans scored one run early after freshman pitcher Kyle McCoy committed a throwing error. Junior infielder Trent Farquhar came around to score.
After only facing four batters and throwing 15 pitches, the Terrapins elected to make a pitching change in the first inning. Afterwards, Michigan State stranded runners at the corners, ending the inning.
It didn’t take long for Maryland to respond; in their half of the first, they had two runners in scoring position for senior third baseman Nick Lorusso. He sent a deep fly ball to center field, recording a nation-leading 97th RBI on the season. Immediately following, Maryland took the lead, making the score 2-1 on another sacrifice fly.
“Make no mistake, they’re (Maryland) really good over there,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
Michigan State grounded into five double plays on the night, tying a Big Ten Tournament record. The Spartans also left ten runners on base. Maryland pitching, however, issued eight walks.
“We had a lot of traffic on the bases,” said Boss Jr. “I think five double plays can get a little frustrating at times. I thought our guys did a great job of not letting that get to them and not getting too frustrated and just continuing to come at them, one through nine.”
Nick Powers worked quickly after the first inning, allowing one double in the third. Shortly after, Powers retired ten straight batters, settling in for four 1-2-3 innings.
“Once I settled in there, I just really trusted my stuff,” Powers said. “My change-up felt really good today, and I was just pounding the zone with multiple pitches, and that’s the name of the game, that’s how you keep hitters off balance, and I feel like I did that really well today.”
Redshirt junior centerfielder Greg Ziegler led off the seventh inning by nailing a triple to left field. Junior first baseman Brock Vradenburg hit the ball through the hole on the third base side to tie the game at two for his 67th RBI of the season.
In the bottom of the eighth, Maryland junior catcher Luke Shliger hit his second double of the game, scoring left fielder Jacob Orr to break the knot, effectively ending Power’s Day. Senior RHP Wyatt Rush came into the game for the Spartans, stranding Shliger at third to end the inning.
Powers’ final line was 7.1 innings pitched, allowing five hits, three runs, and striking out six.
With Tuesday’s loss, Michigan State will await the loser of Nebraska/Rutgers in the elimination bracket. That game will be played on Thursday, May 25th, with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EST.
Coury: Michigan State Baseball looks to build upon strong season with postseason successMSU baseball sweeps Northwestern, moves to second in B1G standingsMSU baseball sweeps Northwestern in Saturday doubleheader
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State Spartans wrapped up their weekend on Sunday afternoon with a three game sweep of the Northwestern Wildcats. Coming off of a Saturday doubleheader in which the Spartans outscored the Wildcats 14-6, Michigan State looked to continue its strong offense to finish off the series.
A double by infielder Casey Mayes sparked the scoring for Michigan State. This was the senior’s twenty third RBI to knock in Dillon Kark, and put MSU up by one run early on.
The score remained 1-0 until the fifth inning when Northwestern thought they had the lead off of a two run home run but it was then reviewed and determined to be a foul ball. The Wildcats stranded the runner and left the inning scoreless in the top of the fifth.
A big bottom half of the fifth inning started with a Brock Vradenburg double and Bryan Broecker tripled after clearing the bases and plating two pivotal runs for the Spartans. Dillon Kark followed with another two-run triple to extend their lead to five runs.
Northwestern’s bats came to life in the sixth inning, plating two runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI double by senior Kevin Ferrer. These would be the only runs they were able to score for the game.
Left-handed pitcher Nick Powers had a strong outing Sunday, propelling him to a 5-0 record on the season. In six innings of work he only allowed two runs on five hits complemented by six strikeouts.
The seventh inning started with a pair of walks early that became costly as Dillon Kark got a hold of a pitch left high in the zone for a three run home run. This was Kark’s fifth home run of the season and extended the Michigan State lead to six runs. A costly overthrow by Northwestern allowed Greg Zeigler to score the ninth and final Michigan State run as they would go on to win by a final of 9-2.
Junior Dillon Kark had an outstanding day with two triples and a home run. Kark was responsible for five of the team’s nine runs.
“There’s still a bunch of guys that love to compete down toward the middle and the bottom of the order too, and it can really be somebody different any day,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss in regards to the team’ s top down confidence for players such as Kark.
This Big Ten series sweep puts Michigan State in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten with a 10-5 conference record. “Don’t write us off. We’re gonna play hard whether we win or lose,” said Boss Jr. “I don’t know that our guys are too hung up on it either.”
With a few Big Ten matchups looming the Spartans look to take their games one day at a time and see where it takes them. “We’re gonna do what we can do to try to win all of them,” said Boss Jr.
With Sunday’s game in the books, the Spartans improve to 28-13 overall and extend their win streak to five straight games. The Wildcats fall to 7-31. Michigan State will travel to Champaign for an important three game series against Illinois. Game one is slated for Friday, May 5 at 7 P.M.
MSU baseball sweeps Northwestern in Saturday doubleheaderMichigan State returns to McLane Stadium, defeats Notre Dame 12-5Michigan State falls to Michigan in second game of series
EAST LANSING – Following a rainout on Friday, Michigan State baseball faced Northwestern in a doubleheader Saturday. The Spartans were victorious in both games, led by great pitching.
“I felt really proud of our guys. I thought we played really well today in both games and got good pitching performances out of our starters,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
Mitch Jebb lined a triple to the center field fence in the first and later scored off a Sam Busch RBI double. Busch now has 35 RBI’s on the season, the second most for an MSU player.
Joseph Dzierwa found his command early on the mound for Michigan State, striking out four in the first two innings and allowing no hits. He finished the game with five strikeouts in his six innings of action.
Northwestern center fielder Griffin Arnone made three spectacular catches early in the game, stealing multiple hits from MSU.
A sacrifice fly by sophomore Alex Calarco scored Owen McElfatrick in the third tying the game at one.
Jebb tripled for the second time today in the third scoring center fielder Greg Ziegler. He scored off a Brock Vradenburg sacrifice fly, giving MSU a two-run lead.
The Spartan bats came alive in the fourth. Three straight no-out singles by Bryan Broecker, Jack Frank and Dillon Kark led to one right. Casey Mayes grounded to the pitcher, scoring another, but Wildcat starter Matt McClure fought back to limit the damage to two.
NU catcher Cooper Foard opened the fifth inning with a solo homer to left, clearing the wall and finding the pine trees. Senior Kevin Ferrer drilled one to right, creeping over the wall and adding another home run to his two on the season.
MSU added to their lead in the seventh on behalf of a Frank sacrifice fly scoring Vradenburg. Ziegler scored in the eighth via a wild pitch and Vradenburg doubled, scoring Trent Farquhar. Vradernburg has 52 RBIs this season, sitting third in the Big Ten.
The Spartans led 8-3 heading into the ninth. Harrison Cook slammed the door closed on any NU comeback efforts. He and Dzierwa combined for six K’s and just five hits against.
Michigan State pitching was spectacular in game two headed by freshman Nolan Higgins. The righty allowed just one hit in the first six innings and struck out four. He finished the game with 6.2 innings pitched, three hits against and one earned run.
Vradenburg led off the scoring for MSU in game two with a solo homer to left. The 6-foot-7 second baseman now has 11 on the season, leading the Spartans. Vradernburg followed up in the fourth with a double and later scored.
In the sixth, the power-hitter sent one over the right-field wall and into the Red Cedar River for a three-run homer. Vradenburg leads the conference in batting average and is tenth in the NCAA. He finished the game with a team leading four RBIs.
“He’s (Vradenburg) a big strong guy that’s capable of a lot of different things and you know, that’s what we need him to do in the middle of the order,” said Boss Jr.
“There’s a lot of different ways that Brock can hurt you.”
NU got on the board in the seventh when Arnone doubled to right, scoring Tony Livermore. Luke Tanner followed up with a two-run RBI double making the score 6-3 heading into the seventh inning stretch.
Andrew Carson and Wyatt Rush pitched in relief for MSU, combining for one hit and completing the win in game two.
The Spartans will look to sweep Northwestern for the first time since 2018.
“We know that those guys are very capable over there, and we need to be ready to go. Don’t take anybody lightly,” said Boss Jr.
Game three of the series will begin at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
Michigan State returns to McLane Stadium, defeats Notre Dame 12-5Michigan State falls to Michigan in second game of seriesMSU baseball defeated by Michigan, 5-3
EAST LANSING – Michigan State returned home Tuesday following a series against Michigan in which they lost two out of three, but finished strong with a 14-2 win against the Wolverines. The Spartan bats stayed hot Tuesday’s game, winning 12-5 in their last regular season matchup against Notre Dame.
Freshman pitcher Robert Klann made his first career start for the Spartans. The Fighting Irish jumped on Klann early in the first, as he gave up two hits, including an RBI double that was smoked into center field by Irish first baseman Carter Putz.
Klann struggled with his command in the first and was unable to find the strike zone, resulting in two walks. The freshman recorded just one out before he was pulled from the game, leaving the bases loaded. He would get bailed out by Harrison Cook, who needed just one pitch to end the inning with a double play.
The Spartans faced an early 3-0 deficit, but as they have done all season, fought back. Good, patient at bats were key for them in the second inning. The Spartans drew three walks, along with good situational hitting by Mitch Jebb, who went the opposite way to bring in a run.
The Spartans recorded their second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Trent Farquhar. Along with Klann, it was no different for Irish starter David Lally Jr. Lally Jr. failed to make it out of the second, as walks and pitch count were a problem.
Pitching on both sides took control of the game. Both teams went down 1-2-3 in innings three and four. Irish pitcher Ricky Reeth got himself in a jam in the fifth inning, walking two and throwing two wild pitches, putting runners at the corners. Reeth fell behind 2-0 in the count to Spartan designated hitter Sam Busch, triggering a mound visit from pitching coach Chuck Ristano. On the very next pitch, Busch crushed a deep three-run home run to right field, marking his sixth homer of the season.
The Busch home run appeared to be the turning point in the game for the Spartans, but the Irish continued to go back and forth with MSU. Notre Dame responded with a pair of runs.
There were several long, tiring innings on Spartan and Irish pitching. Both sides combined for a total of 16 walks this game. The Spartans used six pitchers throughout the game, with head coach Jake Boss Jr. relying on his bullpen to record outs in high leverage situations.
MSU loaded the bases in the seventh against pitcher Ryan Lynch. The Spartans cleared the bases on a wild pitch and a single by Frank. The Spartans didn’t stop there, putting the game away with six runs in the inning.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 25-13, while Notre Dame falls to 23-16. The Spartans will open up a weekend series on Friday, April 28, as they host Northwestern for a three game set from McLane Stadium. First pitch Friday will be at 6:05 p.m.
Michigan State falls to Michigan in second game of seriesMSU baseball defeated by Michigan, 5-3Michigan State baseball falls to Purdue Fort Wayne
ANN ARBOR, MI – Michigan State baseball faced off against Michigan Saturday afternoon for game two of the three game series. After winning Friday, U of M continued the momentum to earn an 8-3 win Saturday.
“It was disappointing today. I think we need to be ready right from the get-go, and it was a tough start for us,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
For the second time in two days, Michigan found their bats in the first inning bringing all nine batters to the plate. Following two walks and a single, senior Joey Velazquez hit one up the middle scoring two runs. In what seemed like a replay of the first one, Jack Van Remortel hit a two-run RBI single of his own bringing the total to four runs.
MSU right-hander Ryan Sczcepaniak entered the game halfway through the first, striking out two and getting out of the inning.
“I thought Ryan Sczcepaniak did a nice job, keeping it there and giving our offense a chance,” said Boss Jr.
The Spartans fought back in the third with a two-out rally. Trent Farquhar started the streak with a single, before crossing the plate on behalf of a Mitch Jebb RBI double. Brock Vradenburg followed that up with an RBI single of his own, scoring Jebb. Vradenburg and Jebb each have had back-to-back games with at least one run batted in.
The lead was cut to one in the fifth when Farquhar lined out, scoring Casey Mayes on the sacrifice.
Sczcepaniak pitched four and a third scoreless innings before a Van Remortel solo-homer ended that streak in the sixth. The sophomore struck out five in his five innings of action.
Michigan added two more runs in the sixth with shortstop Cody Jefferis and senior Ted Burton batting in the runs. One more in the eighth made the lead five headed into the last inning.
Michigan’s pitching was stellar again, with starter Connor O’Halloran throwing a complete game with five K’s and three runs against. The lefty continued his strong season, getting the win today and bringing his record to 7-2.
“We had a couple opportunities and couldn’t come through. Overall, a disappointing day, but we’ll be back and ready to play tomorrow,” said Boss Jr.
The final game of the series will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor.
MSU baseball defeated by Michigan, 5-3Michigan State baseball falls to Purdue Fort WayneMSU baseball defeats Western Illinois in series opener
ANN ARBOR, MI – Michigan State traveled to Ann Arbor on Friday for game one of their three game series with the Wolverines. The Spartans won the first matchup of the season between their in-state rivals in the 2023 MLB Desert Invitational in February, but Michigan got the job done with a 5-3 win.
“I thought it was a pretty good baseball game,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. “I thought we hit some balls hard, I’m pleased with our guys’ effort and it’s kind of one of those nights I guess.”
Michigan started the game strong on offense, with four runs in the first two innings. Cody Jefferis and outfielder Jonathan Kim each batted in a run in the second, but MSU starting pitcher Joseph Dzierwa limited the damage, stranding three baserunners. Dzierwa struck out three in his four innings of action.
The Spartans battled back to score two in the second through a Casey Mayes sacrifice fly and Mitch Jebb RBI single. This was the 19th RBI of the season for Jebb, who began the season on the list of the MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Draft Prospects.
Each side added one run to their total, with U of M’s Ted Burton homering and Brock Vradenburg adding another RBI to get him to 44 on the season, tying him for fifth in the Big Ten.
Michigan lefty Jacob Denner and MSU redshirt sophomore Noah Matheny each put together multiple scoreless innings on the mound. Matheny escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh, forcing a lineout by former Spartan Gabe Sotres and getting out of the inning unscathed.
MSU got runners aboard early in the seventh, but were unable to capitalize.
“We had a chance in the seventh inning and hit a ball hard, and I thought we got a little bit unlucky and hit it right at the second baseman and got doubled off and I guess that’s how the game goes sometimes,” said Boss Jr.
Between Denner and Mitch Voit, the Wolverines slammed the door closed and finished the game with a 5-3 win. Pitching was the star for Michigan, allowing no runs after the fifth inning. Denner pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and allowed just one hit.
The Spartans have failed to score more than three runs in back-to-back games, but will look to heat back up and hit like they have been most of the season, ranking second in the conference in batting average..
“I’m pleased with our effort today,” said Boss Jr. “We’ll be back at them tomorrow and we still have a chance to win the series, and that’s the goal every weekend. It’s hard to sweep anybody, so we’re a little bit behind the eight ball right now, but we’ll have a good effort tomorrow and be ready to go,” Boss Jr. said.
Game two of the series will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Michigan State baseball falls to Purdue Fort WayneMichigan State sweeps Western Illinois in Saturday doubleheaderMSU baseball defeats Western Illinois in series opener
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State Spartans hosted the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons for one game on Wednesday night in search of their seventh consecutive win. The Spartans fell short by a score of 3-2.
The first inning started off well for both teams, as the Spartans and the Mastodons exchanged singular runs in the first inning.
Michigan State’s starter Nolan Higgins only allowed a single run and had two strikeouts before being taken out of the game. Purdue Fort Wayne’s starter Brendan Reid threw a strong four innings, with three strikeouts and only one run allowed.
Both teams exchanged single runs in the first inning, and there were fourteen straight batters retired between the two teams. The Mastodons regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning, with a solo home run by outfielder Grant Thoroman, which was his fifth home run of the season.
“We hit some balls hard at guys but just didn’t stick to our approach today and kind of got away from it and kind of got ourselves out and executed,” said MSU second baseman Trent Farquhar. “They played clean baseball, give them credit.”
The lead was extended in the fifth inning, with Purdue Fort Wayne’s second solo home run of the night by catcher Cade Fitzpatrick extending their lead to 3-1. This was Fitzpatrick’s first home run this season.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, junior infielder Mitch Jebb scored on a fielder’s choice to pull MSU within one.
MSU threatened to score with two in scoring position in the ninth inning but ultimately fell short.
The Mastodons recorded two home runs and a double off the top of the right field wall to score their runs. MSU struggled at the plate, managing only six hits, four of which came in the first.
After the first inning, the Spartans went five innings without a hit, before Jack Frank singled in the sixth. The sole other hit belonged to Gregg Ziegler to start the ninth. Despite having some scoring opportunities, MSU left nine men on base throughout the game.
“We talked about doing several things before the game,” said Boss Jr. “We talked about a consistent offensive approach. We had four hits in the first inning and finished with six. We talked about consistent energy throughout the game. Half the time of the play, we didn’t want to be there.”
After the loss, Boss Jr. addressed the upcoming matchup against rival Michigan.
“It doesn’t matter who we play next,” Boss Jr said. “We can’t put this [game] away. We need to get better.”
“Beautiful thing about baseball is you get another opportunity to show that we can overcome adversity,” said Farquhar. “Obviously not the best game for us, but we just got to bounce back.”
As the rain poured down, the Spartans (23-11) fell to the Mastodons (10-28), snapping Michigan State’s season-high six game winning streak.
MSU will now travel to Ann Arbor for a rivalry series against Michigan starting April 21 at 4 p.m.
Michigan State sweeps Western Illinois in Saturday doubleheaderMSU baseball defeats Western Illinois in series openerMichigan State defeats Oakland in front of packed McLane Stadium
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State football team had its spring game on Saturday, April 15 at Spartan Stadium.
The game featured a 15-period practice session, with scrimmage periods in the second half.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
The quarterback competition isn’t over yet
This spring, there has been an ongoing quarterback competition for who will be QB1. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson revealed at the beginning of spring football that fifth-year senior Payton Thorne, redshirt sophomore Katin Houser, and senior Noah Kim were the top three prospects.
MSU head coach Mel Tucker discussed the competition happening throughout the spring that will continue through the summer and fall, when looking at what was laid out on the field at the spring game.
“Today was very different from what we’ve seen on those guys throughout the spring,” said Tucker.
Payton Thorne celebrates with a teammate after a touchdown during Michigan State’s Spring Game on April 14, 2023. Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBMThe running game is a must
MSU has five returning running backs, two transfers and one incoming freshman. It was tough for MSU to lose Elijah Collins, but Tucker is confident in transfers Nathan Carter and fifth-year Jaren Mangham.
“Both of those players are going to help us win,” said Tucker.
Mangham is a transfer from the University of Southern Florida. He had previously trained with Tucker at Colorado as a true freshman.
“He’s a smart player, really good ball skills, catching the ball out of the backfield and he understands pass protection as well,” said Tucker.
Carter is a junior transfer from the University of Connecticut.
“He’s got really good explosiveness, good vision, and he runs with a lot of toughness. He also has really good ball skills,” said Tucker.
Every position is up for grabs
Head Coach Mel Tucker during Michigan State’s Spring Game on April 14, 2023. Photo Credit: Jack Moreland/WDBMWith every player on the field receiving reps, players who weren’t quite yet on anyone’s radar had breakout plays.
Tucker discussed that he and the coaching staff feel every player understands the expectations and standards they are putting forward.
“I think every position has had a really good competition,” said Tucker.
In the final seconds of the spring game, Kim completed a stellar pass to redshirt sophomore Anotonio Gates Jr. Additionally, junior kicker Stephen Rusnak completed a 43-yard field goal attempt.
“We’re just going to focus on getting better every single day,” said Tucker. “We have quite a few workouts and practices before our first game, so we’ve got a lot of opportunities to improve.
Spartans look to impress as spring practice comes to a closeKeon Coleman will not play basketball this season, will focus on footballJayden Reed declares for 2023 NFL Draft
EAST LANSING – Michigan State and Western Illinois played a doubleheader Saturday due to impending weather Sunday. The Spartans won both games, sweeping the series.
Harrison Cook started on the mound for the Spartans in game one. Besides allowing six hits, he was very efficient, allowing just two runs, compared to his ERA of 5.58. From the third through the sixth, Cook retired eight straight batters. His day concluded with two outs in the seventh.
After a scoreless first two innings, MSU catcher Sam Thompson lined one to left field over the wall and into the pine trees for his second home run of the year.
The Spartans rallied in the fourth, piling four runs on four hits led by a Jack Frank two-run shot. MSU batted around the entire order, bringing nine to the plate and expanding the score to 5-0.
Frank once again opened the scoring in the fifth, totaling his fourth RBI of the game and 30th of the season. Senior Casey Mayes followed with a single up the middle, scoring two more to set the game at 8-0. In game one, the Spartans knocked 12 hits.
“He’s pretty locked in right now as are a couple other guys, but Jack’s got a lot of power,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “That’s what he’s capable of. I thought he put together a couple of really good at-bats, and stayed under control mechanically.”
In the seventh, Western Illinois loaded the bases with two outs, walking in a run for the Leathernecks to cut the deficit to six. Redshirt sophomore Noah Matheny was able to get out of the jam.
The Spartans added their ninth run of the game after centerfielder Gregg Ziegler stole second, allowing designated hitter Sam Busch to steal home. MSU connected to add three more runs, forcing the doubleheader run rule to be implemented at a score of 12-2.
Unlike the first game of the day, Western Illinois scored first. After a leadoff double, right fielder Rickey Pospisil roped a ball down the third baseline for his seventh RBI of the season.
However, the lead didn’t last long, as the Spartans responded with another set of back-to-back home runs, just like Friday. These came from Bryan Broecker and Frank to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead.Frank went 6-8 at bat in the two games and Broecker went 4/4 in the second game.
After a difficult second inning, Nick Powers settled in nicely after giving out the solo run. Powers pitched into the eighth, before the weather delay, throwing 7.2 innings and allowing three hits, two walks and striking out four, while only giving up one run.
“I thought we pitched extremely well today, and I’m really pleased with the effort out of both starters,” said Boss Jr. “Defensively we were clean, we didn’t make an error all day long, and we put up two big numbers, and so that’s a good recipe for a doubleheader sweep.”
The Spartans extended their lead to two in the third inning after a groundout from Brock Vradenburg, scoring Farquhar for his 41st RBI this season.
In the sixth, Vradenburg and Broecker got aboard early and scored off a Frank RBI double for his seventh RBI of the day. Afterward, a balk scored Broecker, and Frank later came around to make the score 6-1.
Rain showers delayed the conclusion of the game, but Michigan State ended up taking six more runs after the sixth inning to win all five of their games this week, bringing their season record to 23-10.
“We just played five games in five days,” said Boss Jr. “You try to play 56 games and sometimes, you get back-to-back midweek games, but credit our guys. I thought they handled five games in five days pretty well.”
Michigan State will play against Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday, April 19 at McLane Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
MSU baseball defeats Western Illinois in series openerMichigan State defeats Oakland in front of packed McLane StadiumSpartans split Saturday doubleheader against Buckeyes
EAST LANSING – Michigan State continued its homestand at McLane Stadium on Friday, defeating Western Illinois in a comeback effort, 10-9. It was a hot one in East Lansing, with a temperature of 83 degrees and sunny at first pitch. The heat didn’t stop the Spartan fans from coming out, and there was another great crowd in attendance.
“It doesn’t have to be pretty but you know, everyone had a good time, and so we’ll take it,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr.
Pitcher Joseph Dzierwa started his eighth game of the season for the Spartans, and struggled early. The 4-23 Leathernecks of Western Illinois jumped out of the gates, putting two runs on the board in the first inning. The Leathernecks made some hard contact in the first inning, with the Spartans defense making a few misplays.
The first inning wouldn’t be the end of the Western Illinois attack. The Leathernecks continued putting up patient and smart at-bats against Spartan pitching.
Western Illinois starter Jake Armstrong, who entered the game with 21 walks in seven starts, walked four hitters, but escaped trouble numerous times. His luck ran out in the fourth inning, on a mistake pitch to catcher Bryan Broecker, who slugged his fifth home run of the season. Armstrong finished with six innings pitched, allowing four walks, striking out three, and giving up five earned runs.
The Spartans made critical baserunning mistakes, and played sloppy defense throughout. MSU finished the game with six errors, and a crucial one in the first inning that allowed a single by left fielder Casey Mayes, allowing Nick Mitchell to get to third base. Mitchell scored on the very next pitch, as shortstop Derek Botaletto drove him in on a single to shortstop.
“The defense tonight was extremely disappointing, very uncharacteristic of us,” said Boss Jr. “But again, at the end of the day, we got a big hit when we needed it. We took what we were given and found a way to win again.”
The sixth inning is when the Spartans made their surge against Western Illinois starter Jack Armstrong. The inning began with back-to-back home runs from redshirt sophomore Sam Busch and Broecker, who hit his second homer off the game.
“Yeah, not a pretty game to say the least,” said Broecker. “However, there’s no quit in our dugout ever. There was encouragement regardless of some of the mistakes that we were making early on. And we stayed excited. We stayed pulling for each other and luckily we were able to pull it out.”
The Spartans then played long ball again in the seventh, as Greg Ziegler hit a ball out of the park in left for his second home run of the season. The Spartans took a 10-8 lead in the seventh, plating five runs on three hits and four walks.
There was one final comeback attempt in the ninth inning for Western Illinois, as Adam Juran hit a solo shot to left, recording the last run for Western Illinois.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 21-10, while Western Illinois falls to 4-24. The Spartans will wrap up their series with the Leathernecks on April 15, playing a doubleheader. Game 1 from McLane Stadium will start at 11:35 a.m. followed by game two at 3:35 p.m.
Michigan State defeats Oakland in front of packed McLane StadiumSpartans split Saturday doubleheader against BuckeyesMichigan State baseball defeats Ohio State 7-1 at Jackson Field
EAST LANSING – Michigan State returned home Wednesday afternoon from its extra inning win in South Bend against Notre Dame on April 11, and capped it off with another win by a final score of 8-3 at McLane Stadium.
McLane Stadium brought in 1,541 fans Wednesday night which was a big contribution to the win.
“[It was an] unbelievable crowd tonight, This is my 15th year here… I don’t know if we’ve ever had a crowd like that. I told my guys people are excited for what they’re doing,” head coach Jake Boss said.
Oakland plated a record-setting 35 runs in its previous game and looked to continue the offensive dominance but the Spartans were able to silence their bats in a well rounded 8-3 win.
The Golden Grizzlies struck first but quickly lost their momentum in the bottom of the first inning as with the bases loaded their pitcher made a mental error and balked in the first Spartan run of the game.
Oakland’s early bats allowed for the team to jump ahead to an early 3-1 lead in the 3rd inning but MSU quickly responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning and never lost the lead again.
Right fielder Ian Clearly was Oakland’s key contributor getting a hit that would knock in two RBIs for them early on. He leads his team with a .312 batting average.
First baseman Brock Vradenberg and right fielder Jack Frank were huge contributors to the game. Vradenberg had a four for five night at the plate with two singles and two triples.
He was able to knock in two RBIs as well as score himself on a base hit by Jack Frank all in that momentum shifting third inning. Frank also had a two for three night with two RBIs to help propel the team to victory. A night like this was one that continued to show once again that the Spartans have an offense that has been able to hit the ball well.
That's a VICTORY FOR MSU
FINAL: MSU 8, OAK 3#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/KXEPzB6ufJ
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 13, 2023
Vradenberg was able to grant MSU the Big Ten lead in triples and has been a huge part of the team’s phenomenal .311 conference leading team batting average. As for personal accolades he tied for fifth in the conference for RBIs with 38 and continued to show why he has the leading batting average in the Big Ten at .424.
“There is always a threat for an extra base hit or an RBI every time he steps to the plate. He is hitting the ball really hard right now,” Boss said.
Coming in to relieve for four innings the right-handed Spartan pitcher Nolan Higgens was able to shut down Oaklands offense allowing no runs and striking out six batters in his outing.
“His stuff is really good. He’s got some swing and miss stuff. He’s got a bright future ahead,” Boss said.
Oakland now falls to 14-18 on the season while the Spartans improve to 20-10, winning 13 of their last 16 games and hope to carry the momentum into their upcoming series against Western Illinois.
First pitch against Western Illinois is scheduled for April 14 at 6:05 p.m. at McLane Stadium.
Michigan State baseball defeats Ohio State 7-1 at Jackson FieldMSU baseball returns to Jackson Field for weekend series against Ohio StatePREVIEW: Michigan State baseball heads to Western Michigan
MSU softball attempted to end its three game losing streak, facing off against the Fighting Irish on Tuesday afternoon. In six innings, the Spartans were defeated 8-0.
“I thought today was a good moment for our bats,” said MSU head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley. “They got going a little bit better than I’ve seen them. It didn’t really show much on the scoreboard, but I think it’s really something that we can build on.”
Notre Dame got off to a strong start, obtaining a three-run lead in just the first inning. Carlli Kloss and Joley Michell stole second base in the first, placing themselves in scoring position. Both players capitalized, scoring the first two runs of the game for the Fighting Irish, with graduate student Lexi Orozco running in the final score of the inning on a single from Macie Eck.
The second inning served as a slight bright spot for the Spartans, who held Notre Dame to a 1-2-3 inning.
Notre Dame brought out the theatrics for the third inning, with junior Karina Gaskins sending a home run out of Secchia Stadium in the first at-bat of the inning. The Spartans appeared to mitigate the damage, sitting on two outs with Leea Hanks on first after a fielder’s choice. Anna Holloway hit the second home run of the inning for Notre Dame, and her second of the season.
After a scoreless fourth inning from both sides, Jane Kronenberger added another run to Notre Dame’s total, stretching the lead to seven going into the bottom of the fifth.
Leea Hanks scored the final run of the game for Notre Dame at the top of the sixth, stretching their lead to eight and ending the inning with a double play, causing the mercy rule to come into play to secure the Fighting Irish victory. The victory was the 849th win for head coach Deanna Gumpf, setting a new record for wins by a Notre Dame softball head coach.
Michigan State will return to Secchia Stadium on Wednesday, April 12th at 5:00 p.m. to face off against in-state rival, the Michigan Wolverines.
“We think this Michigan team is a team that we matchup well against, but you kinda throw all of the records…all of the things out the door when it comes to rivalries…so we’re just excited to go play it,” said MSU’s head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley.
MSU softball returns to Secchia Stadium, defeats Oakland 4-3Michigan State softball splits doubleheader against WisconsinMichigan State softball triumphant in home opener against Central Michigan
EAST LANSING – Michigan State concluded its series against Ohio State Saturday, playing a doubleheader at Jackson Field. MSU split the doubleheader but won the weekend conference series. It was the Spartans’ third series win in as many weekends.
“We told our guys at the beginning of the year that if you win every series, you’re probably Big Ten champions,“ said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “We’ve won three of them, and we’ve got five to go.”
“It’s hard to sweep anybody; I don’t care who you are and where you’re playing. It’s really tough to sweep, and so the goal is to win the series, and I am thankful for us to get that done today,” said Boss Jr.
In game one, Ohio State got on the board in the first to start the action. Centerfielder Kade Kern doubled, scoring Trey Lipsey for his 19th RBI. The Buckeyes scored one more in the inning.
The Spartans responded in the bottom half of the third, headed by Jacob Anderson’s second triple of the season, scoring one in the third.
After initially thinking he was out of the inning with a strikeout; Harrison Cook got hit by the ball on his back for the second time, allowing a Buckeye to come around and score for their fourth run in as many innings.
Bryan Broecker got his fourth RBI of the series and his 21st of the season to cut Ohio State’s lead to two.
That momentum didn’t last long as catcher Matthew Graveline belted a two-run jack to the right, his third of the year. Graveline brought in four RBIs in the first game.
“We got our butt handed to us in the first game, but that’s the beauty of baseball,” said Dillion Kark. “You just have a short memory, and we played 40 minutes after, so I couldn’t really carry it into this game, and I mean mercy down so it was a good day overall winning series.”
The Buckeyes blew the game open in the seventh, putting six runs in the inning and bringing ten men to the plate.
The first game ended 13-2 in the seventh due to a conference run rule during a doubleheader on the last day of the series.
VICTORY FOR MSU!!
Spartans bounce back in G2 with 16-3 win over Ohio State, splitting DH after losing G1, in Saturday's DH at Jackson Field.
MSU won the @B1Gbaseball series, its 3rd-straight B1G series victory in as many league weekends!!#VictoryForMSU | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/uOUTPGKCFZ
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 8, 2023
“I don’t know that I’ve ever been a part of being 10 run ruled in one game and then turning around and doing it to the opponent. Kind of a strange day,” said Boss Jr.
In game two, the script flipped. Michigan State trotted around the bases, scoring six runs, two of which occurred off an error by Graveline. The rally started at the top of the order as Trent Farquhar was hit by the pitch. The Spartans brought 12 batters to the plate in the inning.
“We got great kids that have really strong leadership out here,” said Boss Jr. “And so when I challenged those guys between the game today, I walked away, and I heard our leaders kind of pick up on that, and really, just the emphasis was on flipping the script. Game two to their credit, they got that done, and that’s hard to do when you get your backside handed to you like we did in game one.”
In the top half of the second, Ohio State got one run on a sacrifice fly in the top half, before Kark yanked a two-run shot 404 feet for his fourth homer of the season, making the score 8-1. Kark ended up with five RBIs on the day.
“It felt really good,” said Kark. “I’ve seen the ball really well. Just driving the ball around. And yeah, it was a good day.”
On the mound, junior Nick Powers was in control. After allowing a run in the first and second, Ohio State couldn’t do anything offensively. Powers threw six innings, giving up five hits, two runs, and striking out one. This was the most innings Powers has pitched all season.
“Nick was really good today,” said Boss Jr. “Believe it or not, it can be tough to pitch with a big lead like that because I think sometimes guys lose focus. I thought Nick did a really good job of damage control and really didn’t let them back into the ballgame, which was huge.”
The Spartans scored in every inning they came to bat besides the sixth and had 16 hits.
“I’d credit a lot to our hitting coaches,” said Kark. “They work with us anytime we want an off day when they could have an off day, and they’re sitting at home; we asked him to come throw to us and work with us. So credit to these guys and the scouting reports they build and really helps.”
Michigan State (18-10) won 16-3 in seven innings and the Spartans’conference record is now 6-3. Their next game is in South Bend, Indiana against Notre Dame on Tuesday, April 11, starting at 6 p.m.
Michigan State baseball defeats Ohio State 7-1 at Jackson FieldMSU baseball returns to Jackson Field for weekend series against Ohio StatePREVIEW: Michigan State baseball heads to Western Michigan
EAST LANSING – After flooding from the Red Cedar River this week, Michigan State announced that its scheduled series against the Ohio State Buckeyes would take place at Jackson Field. MSU won game one, 7-1.
Spartan bats connected early against Ohio State’s left-handed pitcher Isaiah Coupet. Bryan Broecker’s single drove in Mitch Jebb and Brock Vradenburg for the first runs of the game. Broecker had three RBIs in the game.
“He’s (Broecker) a pretty mature player,” said head coach Jake Boss Jr. “He’s gotten a lot better and came up with a big spot today, early in the first inning, that was really maybe the biggest at-bat of the game. So yeah, it was good to see him get the barrel to the ball there.”’
Before Coupet was taken out, he threw a wild pitch allowing redshirt freshman Jacob Anderson to score.
After an injury-related pitching change, Buckeye pitcher George Eisenhardt walked three straight Spartan batters, allowing one more run.
The Buckeyes used six pitchers in the series’ first game ahead of Saturday’s doubleheader.
“We put up seven runs, we found a lot of different ways to score and our guys didn’t expand the strike zone too much at the plate which is fun to watch. We are seeing the ball well right now,” Boss Jr. said.
Spartan starter Joseph Dzierwa came out of the gates firing for MSU. The freshman threw six innings, allowing only two hits and four walks while striking out four and giving up one run, including a lot of soft contact with eight flyouts and four groundouts.
Out of the bullpen for the Spartans, Andrew Carson threw up zeros through three innings, facing 11 batters.
“We needed a great effort on the mound tonight from Joseph and Andrew,” said Boss Jr.
MSU tacked on two more runs in the eighth to win the ballgame 7-1. However it wasn’t just an ordinary victory; it was Boss Jr’s 400th win. Boss Jr. is just the third MSU coach to get to 400 wins.
“That’s so awesome for coach,” said junior Trent Farquhar. “He’s working day in and day out. He deserves this, and it’s just awesome to play for a guy like Coach Boss Jr and to see him get his 400th win, especially here in the city of Lansing, is just awesome.”
“It means a lot,” said Boss Jr. “We’ve had a lot of good players here. I’ve been here for a while and had a lot of good coaches and I think this was the dream job for me a long time ago. So yeah, I think they all mean something. 400 is fantastic, but looking for 401 tomorrow.”
Michigan State took game one of the three-game set against the Buckeyes on Friday, improving to 17-9. They will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:05 p.m.
MSU baseball returns to Jackson Field for weekend series against Ohio StateLugnuts snatch 12-3 win over Spartans in 15th Crosstown ShowdownMichigan State, Lansing Lugnuts set for 15th Crosstown Showdown
EAST LANSING – After a weekend that Michigan State softball would like to forget against Maryland, the Spartans got back in the win column, winning a tight contest with Oakland University, 4-3.
The Spartans entered this standalone matchup sitting at 10-17 overall, with Oakland holding a 7-10 record. MSU is coming off a three game road trip in which they were outscored 22-0 to Maryland. Oakland came to Secchia Stadium after splitting a pair of games with Youngstown State.
It was a big day for one Spartan in particular, as freshman Hailey Bila recorded her first at bat in collegiate softball, and the first hit of her young career. After the game, Bila was all smiles.
“Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a really long time now,” said Bila. “I’ve had a lot of support from my teammates. As soon as my name got called to be in the lineup, they (teammates) were cheering for me.”
The first inning saw most of the scoring, as Oakland opened with an RBI single. The Spartans scored all four of their runs in the opening inning, starting with a leadoff homer from senior Jessica Mabrey. Junior Jenae Wash and Colette Allen, and senior Anna Fox all followed with RBI’s, stretching the Spartans lead.
Oakland pitcher Sydney Campbell came in to pitch in relief for starter Mia Konyvka in the first inning, and was dealing for the rest of the game against the Spartans. Campbell finished with just over five innings pitched, only allowing three hits while striking out two.
Pitcher Madison Taylor threw six full innings for the Spartans, only giving up three runs and tying her career high in strikeouts with four. Postgame, Taylor described how she was able to stay composed after giving up runs.
“Just trusting my teammates and working through it…staying confident,” said Taylor.
First year head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley spoke on how the team bounced back after struggling the previous weekend.
“Anytime you can get a win on the ballfield, it’s huge. We just take each piece that we liked, build on it and move forward.”
With the win, Michigan State moved to 11-17 on the season, with Oakland falling to 7-11.
The Spartans’ showdown with Michigan on Wednesday is canceled due to inclement weather. MSU will face Iowa in a three game series this weekend, beginning with a 5:00 pm first pitch at Secchia Stadium on Friday.
Michigan State softball splits doubleheader against WisconsinMichigan State softball triumphant in home opener against Central MichiganMichigan State softball head coach Jacquie Joseph steps down after 29 seasons
EAST LANSING- Michigan State baseball traveled to Jackson Field Tuesday evening for its 15th Crosstown Showdown exhibition match with the Lansing Lugnuts. The Lugnuts won their 10th straight game against the Spartans, securing a 12-3 win.
“I mean it’s always a fun night, I thought we did some good things, I thought we could take away a lot of things from just paying attention and watching how the Lugnuts did some things,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “It’s every guy’s dream and goal to play at this level and I think we got a little bit of a taste of what it’s gonna take for some guys to play at this level.”
The Lugnuts came out swinging in the first two innings plating four runs on six hits. Four of those hits for extra bases.
Lugnuts first baseman Jake Winkler had three of the first four RBIs, finishing with five.
Michigan State rebounded in the third with three runs on four hits. The RBIs came from Trent Farquhar’s triple to right and Mitch Jebb’s single.
“I think the most important thing is our guys made adjustments the second time through the order, which was good to see,” said Boss Jr. “The first time you don’t have any scouting reports you don’t really know how you’re going to be attacked by their guy.”
Farquhar spoke about the experience of playing in the Crosstown Showdown.
“I honestly thought it shows tonight that our team is good and we can compete with some pro guys,” said Farquhar. “I use it just like a confidence booster for us and getting to see that we’re not too far off from those guys and how far off our dream is so it’s really fun to see.”
straight Crosstown Showdown wins!
Jack Winkler: 2-2, 2 2B, 5 RBI, BB
Caeden Trenkle: 2-3, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
Euribiel Angeles: 2-4, 2B, 3 R, SB
Daniel Susac: 2-4, R pic.twitter.com/O7avTYJS0v— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) April 5, 2023
In the bottom of the third Lugnuts came right back scoring another three-run inning opening up the game to 7-3.
After a 20-minute weather delay, the game resumed at the top of the fourth.
The Lugnuts tacked on five more in the fifth, bringing ten men plate to plate, which made the score 12-3.
The Spartans might have lost 12-3, but according to Farquhar, the experience was an enjoyable one.
“(It is) so much fun, especially when the community can come out for baseball in April,” said Farquhar. “Not the best night, but to see everybody out here just really encouraging to us and really glad that we were making it. Even though it didn’t go the way we wanted it to, it is still so much fun playing professional baseball.”
The Spartans (16-9) continue regular season play with a non-conference showdown Wednesday, April 5, hosting Bowling Green. First Pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
MSU baseball sweeps doubleheader against PurdueMichigan State baseball hosts Purdue in B1G season openerMichigan State, Lansing Lugnuts set for 15th Crosstown Showdown
EAST LANSING— Michigan State baseball (13-8) looks to take a season sweep against in-state rival Western Michigan (5-16). The Spartans have won eight of their last nine games and hope to continue their winning ways against a familiar opponent they faced less than one week ago.
In their last meeting, the Spartans rallied plenty of runs complemented by a very strong pitching performance to come back from a 3-0 deficit and win by a score of 8-3 on March 22.
“Put on the pressure,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “Get ahead early in the count and play well on defense. If we do that we give ourselves a pretty good chance.”
The Spartans continue to show that they are capable of winning in many different ways as their pitching has seen some improvement throughout the past few games. While they may be defensively trending in the right direction, their strength is their offense. Their .314 team batting average is among the top 30 in the country at No. 26.
A focal point of the team’s current success comes from their ability to stay confident and resilient.
It's a Tuesday Spartan Game Day!!
MSU at Western Michigan – 3:05 pm
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: https://t.co/6Jcl6cFMcP#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong | @JakeDresselhou1 pic.twitter.com/TabQ7xkOcA— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) March 28, 2023
“They don’t get too high, they don’t get too low,” said Boss Jr. “They show a lot of sustained enthusiasm whether they are up or down.”
The Broncos have dropped six straight games and are looking to snap that streak in their home opener Tuesday. The key to their game is a steady stream of runs all throughout the game as well as another strong outing from the pitching staff. The team has shown they are capable of scoring a solid amount of runs as well as pitching well at times but consistency is a huge aspect of this game.
Inclement weather changed the date of this game to be played Wednesday, March 28 with the first pitch set to start at 3:05.
MSU baseball sweeps doubleheader against PurdueMichigan State baseball hosts Purdue in B1G season openerMSU baseball looks to extend win streak against Western Michigan
EAST LANSING — After a rainout on Saturday forced Michigan State and Purdue to play a doubleheader Sunday, the Spartans swept the double header, taking two out of three from the Boilermakers in the opening Big Ten series of the season.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Purdue took advantage of the shift in the first inning. Michigan State shifted twice to the left side, where a double play could have been turned to end the inning. Purdue ended up scoring two in the first two innings.
Ryan Szczepaniak came in for relief for Nolan Higgens in the fifth, keeping Purdue at bay pitching four innings, only allowing two hits and striking out five, allowing zero runs.
“I think Ryan’s a guy that has a chance to be special on the mound for us here,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “It’s been kind of an up-and-down season so far for him and a couple of other guys, and so, I guess, the challenge is to repeat, to follow up a good performance with another good performance.”
After the seventh-inning stretch, Sam Busch pinch-hit for Jacob Anderson. Busch doubled to right field, and Bryan Broecker scored to put the score at 3-2 Purdue.
“That’s what he’s capable of; he’s a big strong kid who is starting to get regular at-bats this year, and he’s really taken advantage of his opportunity, which is what we challenged our guys to do at the beginning of the year in September,” said Boss Jr.
In the eighth, Purdue pitcher Aaron Suval came into the game and pitched for the third time this week. Unlike Friday’s game, his command wasn’t firing on all cylinders, walking two and allowing two runs putting the Spartans ahead 5-3. Purdue got one run in the ninth, but it was not enough.
“It was huge to bounce back the way we did,” said Busch. “Getting the first one, tough pitching at the end really sealed the deal for us; coming to the next one, we had a lot of momentum and put together a lot of good at-bats, and the scoreboard said it all.”
Game two was the same story for Purdue, scoring two runs in the first.
After only bringing 10 men to the plate against Purdue pitcher Kyle Iwinski in the first three innings, the Spartans hit two deep balls to right center field. Their four-run inning was highlighted by Busch’s two-run homer, scoring Brock Vradenburg.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling,” said Busch. “I knew I got it pretty well, but I put my head down and ran, and I was just trying to get a fastball over the plate I can handle and I did.”
In the bottom of the fifth, Bryan Broecker singled on a bunt and got to second base after the catcher’s error; Busch and Vradenburg came around to score after the overthrow. After the three-run inning, the Spartans led 7-2.
The Spartans sent 27 combined batters to the plate in the fourth, fifth and sixth, scoring all 12 in the middle frames. Batting around leads to a lot of confidence among teammates.
“That makes my job a lot easier when they are on base,” said Vradenburg. “It also creates a lot of havoc for their pitchers if they’re gonna worry about them stealing or something. So kind of like gives me a sense of relaxation, and they’re always probably going to be on base for me. So it just makes me excited to go ahead.”
Purdue brought the game within six but ended up on the wrong side of the doubleheader sweep by MSU, losing the second game 12-6.
“We can do a lot of damage here,” said Vradenburg. “We’re kind of playing with that chip on our shoulder like no one really cares about us. So we want to make people realize that we’re no slouch and definitely want to get back to the tournament.”
Michigan State (13-8) will play Western Michigan in Kalamazoo on Tuesday, March 28, starting at 3:05 p.m.
Purdue defeats MSU 5-4 in B1G openerMichigan State baseball hosts Purdue in B1G season openerFINAL: Michigan State 8, Western Michigan 3
EAST LANSING – After rain forecasted for Saturday altered some plans, Michigan State faced a double-header to begin conference play, going against a strong Wisconsin team in Secchia Stadium.
The Spartans entered the matchup with a record of 9-12 after defeating Central Michigan to begin the homestand. The Badgers began the day with a record of 13-8, coming into the double-header following an impressive win over No. 13 ranked Alabama. Wisconsin’s record could be deemed as deceiving, as they are 13-4 in their last 17 games, starting the year slow with an 0-4 skid.
Michigan State’s defense fought against some adversity in the first inning. Sitting with players on second and third base, the Spartans secured three straight outs to end the top of the first, including their rejection of Skylar Sirdashney’s attempt to steal home. They would carry this momentum into the bottom of the first, striking first blood with an early run from Jessica Mabrey.
After an unremarkable second inning, Wisconsin utilized some theatrics to get on the board. Skylar Sirdashney advanced from second to third base off of a wild pitch, then secured a run for the Badgers off of a double steal.
The bottom of the third and the entirety of the fourth consisted of 1-2-3 innings, but all of the waiting paid off in the fifth. Sirdashney got her revenge for her failed attempt to steal home earlier in the game, hitting the first opposing home run in Secchia Stadium this season and recording an additional RBI with Brooke Kuffel scoring as a result.
The top of the fifth would cap off with Crane recording two RBI’s after hitting a ground ball that just barely stayed inside the field of play, which allowed both Ellie Hubbard and Katie Keller to score. The Spartans decided to employ a similar strategy during their turn at bat, with AJ Militello recording a run after Jessica Mabrey hit a ground ball that rode the foul line to stay inbounds.
The final two innings would result in no score change, with Wisconsin winning 5-3.
In the second matchup of the day, the Spartans came out scorching hot. During a near home run from Mandy Esman that bounced off the top of the wall, Macy Lee used the situation to her advantage to score the first run of the match. Esman would get retribution for the missed home run, scoring during Barroso’s single hit.
MSU continued their domination in the second inning, adding two more runs from Esman and Barroso to extend their lead to four.
“I just tried to relax, stick with my plan, and not get too much in my head and then just do my thing,” said Esman. Wisconsin cut into the four point deficit at the top of the fourth, with Konwent hitting a home run to start the inning. Schlossler and Kuffel scored two more runs for the Badgers, cutting the lead to only one for the Spartans.
The Spartans would add some separation in the bottom of the fourth, with a run coming from Militello. After a strong defensive effort to begin the fifth, Barroso hit a home run to extend the lead to three.
The sixth inning began with a quick possession by the Badgers that didn’t result in any changes. On the other side, the bottom of the sixth included the Spartans putting the final nail in the coffin, with runs scored by Mabrey and Militello after Macy Lee used the left foul line to her advantage.
Michigan State defeated Wisconsin 8-4 after a scoreless seventh inning, splitting the double header 1-1 between both teams.
The Spartans will face the Badgers on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Secchia Stadium to finish their three game series.
Michigan State softball triumphant in home opener against Central MichiganSpartan softball goes 2-1 in weekend matchup against PurdueSpartan bats silenced by Michigan ace Alexis Storako, fall 3-0
EAST LANSING- Michigan State baseball started conference play at home Friday afternoon against Purdue. The Boilermaker’s five-straight runs were enough to complete a 5-4 comeback over MSU, and earn their first away win of the season.
“It’s not an effort related thing, but it’s an execution thing. The effort was fine, the effort was there, but we need to execute,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “When the effort is good, it doesn’t always win you games.”
Michigan State started strong and got on the board in the first through a Brock Vradenburg RBI double, which scored lead-off hitter Trent Farquhar. This was Vradenburg’s 28th RBI of the season, leading the team and placing him third in the Big Ten.
The Spartan added three more runs in the second inning. Jake Dresselhouse, Trent Farquhar and Mitch Jebb each batted in a run, improving the lead to four. This was Freshman Jake Dresselhouse’s second RBI in as many games.
“He’s [Dresselhouse] a talented player. I mean he’s one of the best high school outfielders in the state coming out of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s,” said Boss Jr. “He’s gonna be a very good player for us.”
Farquhar’s RBI double in the fourth inning brought his season total to 11 doubles, leading the conference and now third in the NCAA.
MSU lefty Joseph Dzierwa started on the mound for the Spartans and retired his first nine batters without a blemish.
In the fourth, Purdue got their first hit of the day, and later in the inning, were a few feet short of knotting the game at four with a grand slam. Instead, Connor Caskenette’s deep fly ball to left found the glove of Casey Mayes, but one run still scored on the sacrifice fly. Dzierwa fought back to allow just one run after finding himself in a hole with the bases-loaded with no outs.
The Boilermakers continued to find themselves on base in the fifth scoring three more runs. Paul Toetz batted one of those runs in, bringing his season total to 31 RBIs, leading the team and tying for the Big Ten lead.
Final score from McLane Stadium at Kobs Field:
Purdue 5, Michigan State 4
G2 of series scheduled for Sat at 3:35 pm.#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/uBQpJKHjta
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) March 24, 2023
Purdue starting pitcher Khal Stephen struggled in his first two innings, but found command after that. The Boilermaker pitcher had a win in the first game of the season, the first home game of the season and was looking for one in the first conference game of the season.
Stephen struck out a career-high eight players and pitched another career-high six innings in the game.
Andrew Carson reacted well to the pressure for MSU and tallied three strikeouts. Carson entered the mound and got out of a bases-loaded jam before pitching three more scoreless innings.
A Purdue rally in the ninth loaded the bases for the third time in the game, leading to the winning run and making the game 5-4.
MSU pitcher Wyatt Rush struck out the next two batters getting out of the inning with just one run against, but Michigan State could not find the game-tying run in the ninth.
Purdue reliever Aaron Suval pitched the final three innings, recording three strikeouts while slamming the door closed on the MSU late comeback efforts.
“We’ve got to take care of the details and got to take care of the little things,” said Boss Jr. “When you play better than the other team, you usually win, and when you lose, you really deserve to lose. And we deserved to lose today. We didn’t play well enough.”
Saturday’s matchup has been postponed due to cold temperatures and inclement weather. Sunday will now be a double-header with game one slated for 12:05 p.m. and game two taking place around 30 minutes after the first game is completed.
Michigan State baseball hosts Purdue in B1G season openerMSU baseball looks to extend win streak against Western MichiganMSU Baseball falls to Gardner-Webb, 7-3
EAST LANSING – A game that was originally scheduled to be played in Kalamazoo was moved to East Lansing, due to wet field conditions.Michigan State baseball opened up its schedule at home against Western Michigan on Wednesday afternoon after being on the road for the first 17 games. MSU rallied back to win 8-3.
MSU has won 10 of its last 11 home openers.
“It’s great to get the home opener. We’ve been looking forward to this since September,” said MSU head manager Jake Boss Jr. “We love playing at home, we love our park, we love our fans. Good to finally be here after the first 17 games over the four weeks. It’s always fun playing out here.”
In the first inning, Western Michigan sophomore pitcher Luke Thelen got out of a jam after allowing two walks and hitting one with a pitch. After settling in, he retired 10 of the next 12 batters he faced and was throwing a no-hitter until the bottom of the fifth.
Coming into play Wednesday, MSU had a .318 batting average, and an average of 11.7 hits and 7.7 runs.
Thelen finished his start, pitching four innings, allowing two hits, giving up four walks and striking out five.
Momentum shifted when MSU junior third baseman Dillon Kark singled, ending Thelen’s no-hitter to lead off the fifth. The Spartans rallied, showing resilience and bringing eight men to the plate, tying the game at three.
“This is a group that doesn’t get too high or low,” said Boss Jr. “That’s something we’ve talked about since September as well, so I give ’em a lot of credit. I think our leadership is really good with these guys and our seniors especially. “They bought into that and they’ve kinda taken ownership of that.”
The Spartans broke the game open in the sixth inning, scoring four and putting MSU up 7-3. Trent Farquhar was one of the main contributors in the inning with two RBIs. He finished the day with three.
On the pitching side, MSU junior pitcher Nick Powers was firing on all cylinders out of the bullpen. He was the third Spartan on the mound Wednesday. He threw 4.2 innings, striking out five, and only giving up one hit.
“I’m really happy for Nick, he started opening night for us and didn’t throw well and he’s had a couple other opportunities and has kinda struggled a little bit,” said Boss Jr. “So for him to get back on the mound and not pack it in and throw the way he did today, hopefully it’s kinda a springboard for the rest of the year for him.”
“He’s certainly capable,” said Boss Jr. “He’s been our number one guy here in the past and if he can get going like he threw today, and stack up a bunch of different outings like he did today, we’re going to be in for a good spring. He’s a big part of what we are trying to do this spring.”
The Spartans, (11-7) extend their win streak to six. MSU will open Big Ten play this weekend against Purdue. The first game is at 4:05 p.m. Friday. MSU will play Western Michigan once more in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, March 29 at 4:05 p.m.
NEW YORK CITY – For the second time this season Michigan State traveled to Madison Square Garden. The Spartans took on No. 3 seed Kansas State in the Sweet Sixteen. In one of the most entertaining games of the season, Michigan State saw its season come to a close, falling to the Wildcats, 98 – 93.
After a layup from Tyson Walker knotted the game at 82, Markquis Nowell’s layup rattled out just before the buzzer sounded, sending the opening game of the Sweet Sixteen to overtime, where Kansas State edged past the Spartans.
“I give a lot of credit to Kansas State,” said MSU head coach Tom Izzo. “I’ve been a part of a lot of big wins and I’ve been a part of a lot of tough losses. I’ve never been prouder of a team.”
“Both teams made plays,” said MSU senior forward Joey Hauser. “They just happened to make a couple more at the end of the game.”
Joey Hauser shoots a free throw during Michigan State’s overtime loss to Kansas State in the Sweet Sixteen on March 23, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)Kansas State capitalized in several facets of Thursday’s game that proved to be the difference. The Wildcats recorded 16 points off 13 MSU turnovers and tallied 44 points in the paint.
“It’s those points off turnovers, I call them turnovers for touchdowns,” said Izzo. “And that’s why their shooting percentage was so high. So, you’ve gotta live with it.”
Kansas State also received a boost from its bench. The Wildcats had 26 bench points from players Ismael Massoud and David N’Guessan, who recorded 15 and 11 points, respectively.
The Wildcats had an excellent first half, drilling seven threes, getting 12 points from the bench and shooting 62% from the field. They were led by Nowell, who recorded 20 points and an NCAA Tournament record 19 assists in the victory.
Nowell controlled the flow of the game, threading passes between defenders, forcing MSU’s defense to collapse in the paint for kick-outs and getting the Wildcats out in transition.
“He’s a special player,” said Izzo. “I think we were mesmerized by him. That’s what makes him a great player. It’s not only the plays he makes, but the position he puts people in that keep you backpedaling.”
Senior forward Keyontae Johnson had 22 points and 6 rebounds, while playing every minute of Thursday’s game.
Junior guard A.J. Hoggard had one of his finest performances of the season, recording a career best 25 points and six assists in 25 minutes.
After scoring 7 points in the first half and going 1-4 from the field, Hoggard took command in the second, getting to the rim at will and dismantling Kansas State’s pick and roll defense. Hoggard also scored seven of MSU’s eight points in overtime.
AJ Hoggard celebrates after a big play during Michigan State’s overtime loss to Kansas State in the Sweet Sixteen on March 23, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)“I was proud of A.J. and the way he stepped up,” said Izzo.
“I made plays, but I didn’t make enough for us to win,” said Hoggard.
Five guys scored in double figures for MSU. Hauser and Walker recorded 18 and 16 points, along with sophomore guard Jaden Akins and senior forward Malik Hall, who recorded 14 and 13 points, respectively.
“I think we just kinda wore down,” said Izzo. “We got caught with our bigs, and then we went with Malik and Joey and so now we went smaller which was okay, but we hardly gave A.J. and Tyson much of a rest and I think that hurt us a little bit too.”
In a game that hung in the balance for its majority, Michigan State fell just short of advancing, bringing an eventful season to an untimely close.
“I really believed that when we were three up, that we were gonna win that game, and that this team was destined. And that’s what I believed all year,” said Izzo.
After a whirlwind of a year, Michigan State’s season ends at Madison Square Garden. The journey to the Sweet Sixteen was certainly a memorable one, for a community that rallied around its basketball team and a coach that cherished every moment.
“It’ll go down as one of the great years for me,” said Izzo. “Not a good year. It’ll go down as one of the great years.”
Back in his home ground, Tyson Walker is “back to his old self”“We’ve still got some dancing to do.” Spartans defeat Marquette, clinch their bid to Sweet Sixteen“We’re not dodging anybody.” Battle-tested Spartans set to face Marquette
EAST LANSING – Michigan State softball’s home opener took place on Tuesday, March 21 as the Spartans secured a 3-0 victory over Central Michigan University. The Spartans improved their season record to 9-12 overall before they kick off their Big Ten campaign later this week.
After fears of a possible snow-cancellation earlier this week, Central Michigan made the trip to East Lansing and were greeted by a warm welcome from mother nature. With cloudy skies and temperatures around 50 degrees, the Spartans and Chippewas faced off in Secchia Stadium.
The main storyline of the first two innings was the pitching heroics of both Faith Guidry of MSU and Grace Lehto of CMU. Neither pitcher allowed any runs throughout the two innings, with Guidry not allowing a single player on base. Lehto showcased her resilience in both innings, throwing strikeouts after giving up a walk and a hit respectively in inning one and inning two.
Michigan State began to pull away at the top of the third, with Guidry continuing her heroics with three straight outs, including one strike out. At the bottom of the third, the Spartans turned up the heat on offense. With bases loaded, Alexis Barroso stepped up to the plate and while she did not get on base herself, Barroso was able to deliver a sacrifice-fly for Anna Fox to score the first run of the game.
The quest for the perfect game by Guidry ended at the top of the fourth, with Michaleigh Vallimont becoming the first Chippewa on base after earning a walk. While it appeared as if this might build some momentum for CMU, the Spartans delivered two straight outs to end the possession.
A few highlights from tonight's 3-0 win over Central Michigan!
Faith Guidry tossed a two-hit shutout for the Spartans while AJ Militello belted her second home run of the season.#GoGreen | #UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/yTXKoc7lYU
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) March 22, 2023
During MSU’s turn at bat at the bottom of the fourth, AJ Millitello hit her second home run of the season, her first since Feb. 17.. “Just playing and having Michigan, the state that I grew up in, across my chest is very surreal…very special,” Millitello said.
The Chippewas had their best chance all game at the top of the fifth, with the opportunity to load the bases ruined by two consecutive outs. The Spartans took advantage of CMU’s missed opportunity, stretching their lead to three with a run from Jessica Mabrey.
The top of the sixth opened with the first hit from CMU’sAbbey Tolmie. Just as the door began to open for the Chippewas, it was slammed shut with the Spartans producing a double-play and a third out on the following two pitches.
Following a quiet sixth inning from the Michigan State offense, the top of the seventh produced a déjà vu for those in attendance, with the Chippewas securing their second hit of the game following an early out.
Michigan State begins their three-day homestand against Wisconsin on Friday, March 24 in Secchia Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. against the 13-8 Badgers.
EAST LANSING— After inclement weather in Terre Haute, Indiana canceled Friday and Saturday’s games, Michigan State baseball faced the Indiana State Sycamores in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 19. The Spartans won both games extending their winning streak to five.
Game 1:
It was just 35 degrees at first pitch but MSU freshman pitcher Joseph Dzierwa came out of the gates firing. He had eight strikeouts facing 14 batters. Dzierwa gave up one hit with no walks. He threw 65 pitches with 42 of them being strikes in his 3.2 innings, before handing the ball over to freshman Nolan Higgins.
MSU junior right fielder Jack Frank was three for five in game one with three RBIs. Michigan State had its eye in game one against Indiana State. MSU knocked 14 hits, and walked seven times in its 8-2 victory.
“Everybody contributed offensively, even if it didn’t show up in the box score, I think we did a lot of little things right, that put our guys in position to score,” head coach Jake Boss Jr said. “Some things didn’t show up in the box score, but were really, really big parts of both games. It was a big day at the plate, and guys threw well today on the mound.”
Sycamore’s pitcher Connor Fenlong had a rough time with his command. He had four walks with one hit by pitch in three innings. Before turning the ball over to his bullpen, Fenlong allowed four earned runs on five hits.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Indiana State opened with back-to-back homeruns on consecutive pitches from Higgins to a pair of redshirt sophomores Keegan Watson and Parker Stinson, making it 6-2
The Spartans finished game one with an 8-2 win.
Game 2:
The top half of the first inning started like game one for the Spartans, having scored four runs in the inning with two off a Frank two-run shot.
MSU redshirt sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch had two RBIs and Frank had three in the game. Michigan State had 14 hits.
Michigan State pitching struggled to start game two. In the first Inning, MSU redshirt sophomore Adam Berghorst couldn’t get out of the first only getting two outs.
Berghorst threw 34 pitches facing seven batters, allowing three earned runs off two singles and two walks, before being relieved by junior Harrison cook. Indiana State was able to bat around just like MSU did in the first game.
Cook settled in nicely, not allowing a single run until the sixth inning when left fielder Adam Pottinger hit a two run shot which made the game 8-5 Spartans. This homer was just his second hit in his 4.2 innings of work.
Indiana state wasn’t quite done, as Miguel Rivera hit a high two-run shot to right field to make the game 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth. The Spartans held on to win after two insurance runs scored in the top of the ninth winning 10-7.
“I’m really proud of our guys today. I think they showed a lot of toughness, both physically and mentally, the conditions were not ideal, but both teams had to play in it and our guys really showed up today,” Boss Jr. said.
The Spartans (10-7) will host Western Michigan in East Lansing on Wednesday, March 22 at 3 p.m.
COLUMBUS, OH – With 40 seconds left, Tyson Walker took flight.
The 6-foot guard elevated for the first dunk of his college career, putting the finishing touches on a masterful 23-point, zero-turnover performance, where he and backcourt mate AJ Hoggard propelled the Spartans to victory in the game’s final minutes.
In front of a divided arena, Michigan State defeated Marquette 69-60 in a hard-fought game to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
“I’ve been in Elite Eight games, I’ve been in Final Fours. That was as intense and tough of a game as I’ve been in in my career,” said MSU head coach Tom Izzo.
“We took some things away, they took some things away, but that was a war,” said Izzo.
Defense served as the catalyst in Sunday’s game in which the Spartans shot just 2-for-16 from the three-point line, but forced 16 turnovers and out-rebounded the Golden Eagles by a margin of 26-22.
Michigan State also recorded nine steals and 19 points off turnovers.
After leading by as much as 13, Michigan State went into halftime clinging to a slight five-point lead after a 6-0 run from the Golden Eagles.
At times Marquette’s defense stifled MSU’s offense. The Golden Eagles utilized a variety of looks, including their patented full-court press that led to a ten-second violation and a handful of turnovers.
“Give them some credit, I thought they got into us worse than we got into them,” said Izzo. “We played our defense, which was more gap defense, and they played their defense, which was more in your face.”
Mady Sissoko blocks a shot late in the game against Marquette’s Tyler Kolek en route to an upset victory for Michigan State over Marquette in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBMHowever, similar to its first-round game against USC, MSU managed to exploit Marquette’s interior defense. The Spartans scored 32 points in the paint and also recorded 15 second chance points.
In turn, the Spartans gave up only 16 paint points.
“We worked on it for 48 hours,” said senior forward Joey Hauser of MSU’s interior defense. We scouted them hard, and it helps that we have Mady Sissoko down there, a shot-blocking presence.”
In a typical NCAA Tournament game where guards dictate the flow of the game, Sissoko was a dominant presence for his team when it mattered most. In limited minutes, the 6-foot-9 junior collected a game-high 10 rebounds, along with eight points and two critical blocks in the game’s final minutes. Even more impressively, Sissoko played the last five minutes with four fouls.
“Mady beat himself to death in that huddle,” said Izzo. “He was so down, and these guys all rallied around him, and he went out and made big play after big play, and got big rebounds. That’s the difference in this team today than maybe a month ago.”
Izzo also noted the growth he’s seen in his point guard.
After getting the ball stripped from him and giving up a layup in the first possession of the game, Hoggard responded with five points in the early stages of the first half and continued to match the intensity levels of Marquette’s guards.
“They came at him all day,” said Izzo. “To AJ’s credit, that’s why I think he’s grown. He made some big steps, and that was key.”
Hoggard finished with 13 points, three rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes.
“Coach told us to be aggressive, get downhill, put pressure on those guys and make it harder for them when they get on offense and make them have to guard as well,” said Hoggard. “I think we did a good job of that tonight.”
The Michigan State bench goes crazy as the Spartans took down the No. 2 seed in the East Region, Marquette, 69-60 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBMOn a night in March when they committed more than ten turnovers and made only two three-pointers, the Spartans found another way to win against a favored opponent and keep their season alive.
“We’ve still got some dancing to do, and we’re going to New York,” said Izzo.
MSU will face the No. 3 seed Kansas State Wildcats in New York City at Madison Square Garden in the Sweet Sixteen on Thursday.
COLUMBUS, OH – With 4:21 left in the second half, Nationwide Arena erupted.
A three from Jaden Akins put the Spartans up by 15, in front of a crowd predominantly filled with MSU fans. It was the second three in a row for Michigan State and just the fifth of the game.
The shot was an exclamation mark on a fantastic performance from Akins, who recorded 12 points and 6 rebounds in MSU’s well-balanced attack.
In their opening game of the NCAA Tournament, MSU defeated USC 72-62 to advance to the second round.
After leading by 11 in the first half, MSU saw its lead dwindle to one after a late run from USC. The Trojans made their last four shots to shut the door on MSU’s lead and head into halftime with the score knotted at 34. Redshirt junior forward Joshua Morgan exploded for 10 first half points, converting on all five of his attempts from the floor.
In the second half, MSU continued its ascension on offense. The Spartans excelled at spreading the floor, pushing the pace and connecting on 50% of their field goals and 36% of three-point attempts.
Although USC stayed within striking distance, the Trojans never found their rhythm offensively and shot only 31% from the field in the second half.
MSU’s trio of junior AJ Hoggard, senior Tyson Walker and Akins did an excellent job of defending USC’s leading scorer Boogie Ellis, who recorded just six points and went 3-12 from the field. Ellis entered Friday’s contest averaging 18.0 points and leading the Pac-12 in made 3-point field goals with 83. He had zero against MSU.
AJ Hoggard dribbles the ball during Michigan State’s 72-62 victory over USC in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 17, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith )“Coming in, we knew he was the engine that made this team go, and we felt like if we limited his play we’d have a chance to win, and that’s what we did,” said sophomore guard Jaden Akins.
“They did a great job,” said Ellis. “I let my teammates down today. I didn’t make shots, and they made things tough for me.”
Ellis’ backcourt mate, Drew Peterson, also had a rough game. The fifth-year senior recorded 11 points on 4-10 shooting from the field.
Against a USC team that had the best field goal percent defense in the Pac-12, and one of the best interior defenses in the country, MSU recorded 32 points in the paint.
“They did get some paint scoring opportunities, which is a little unusual for our defense because we’re so good against the two,” said USC head coach Andy Enfield. “Give them credit, they were able to get to the rim and finish.”
USC struggled to find an answer for MSU’s screen actions, especially out of the pick and roll, where Hoggard and Walker consistently got into the paint and made plays.
“I thought we spread them out a little bit with our ball-screen stuff, and we changed up a few things at halftime to slip those things,” said Izzo.
After Hoggard picked up a third foul early in the second half, Walker took over the point guard duties and continued dissecting USC’s ball screen defense, making plays for himself and others.
“Tyson’s a special player, because he can score it, defend it and he’s getting better at distributing it,” said Izzo. “Not a lot of guys can do all three.”
Walker finished with 12 points, four assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes.
Jaden Akins dunks the ball during Michigan State’s 72-62 victory over USC in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 17, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)Joey Hauser led MSU in scoring with 17 points, going 4-9 from the field and 5-6 from the free throw line.
Friday’s victory was an encouraging start to the tournament for an MSU team that saw four players score in double figures. The Spartans also shut down an opposing team with one of the most dynamic backcourts in the country.
For another year, Michigan State makes it out of the first round.
“I’m happy we’re moving on, and I’m happy we’re moving in the right way,” said Izzo.
Michigan State will take on Marquette on Sunday. The time is TBD and the game will tip-off from Nationwide Arena again in Columbus.
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CHICAGO– March Madness was in full effect Friday afternoon as Ohio State became the first 13-seeded team to advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament. Michigan State fell victim to the Buckeyes’ incredible run, losing 68-58 and they sent the Spartans back home empty-handed.
“We came here to win a championship,” said MSU forward Joey Hauser. “It felt like a let down today.”
Fatigue can be an issue for teams in conference tournaments, especially when you get further into the tournament, but that appeared to have no effect on the Buckeyes who played their third game in as many days. OSU was also without its leading scorer, freshman Brice Sensabaugh, who was sidelined after picking up an injury in the game against Iowa on Thursday.
Despite playing without Sensabaugh, the other three freshmen for OSU were the standouts in this game.
“With [Brice] Sensabaugh out, I thought they played better,” said MSU head coach Tom Izzo. “Where fatigue is overrated, excitement and energy is underrated.”
OSU guard Bruce Thornton led the game with 21 points– his fourth 20-point game of the season
Roddy Gayle Jr. hit a clutch three-pointer for OSU in its win over Iowa and carried that confidence over into Friday where he scored a career-high 15 points. Gayle Jr. was a perfect 3-3 from deep as the Buckeyes finished the game shooting 10-19 from beyond the arc.
OSU center Felix Okpara made his presence known at both ends of the floor, finishing the game with eight points and eight rebounds and was strong at defending the rim with a career-high five blocks.
The first six minutes of the game was the start the Spartans were looking for as Hauser and senior guard Tyson Walker propelled MSU to an early 11-10 lead. A 10-2 run from the Buckeyes lifted them firmly in front of MSU and they never trailed the rest of the game.
MSU came into the tournament with six days of rest– the most out of any team. The Spartans played like a team that had been off for six days in the first half and found themselves trailing 33-24 at the half.
Tyson Walker shoots the ball against Ohio State in the B1G Tournament on March 10, 2023/ Photo Credit: Mikayla Lomas/WDBMMSU struggled to score from deep in the first half, shooting 1-9 from three-point range despite coming into the tournament as the third best three-point shooting team in the nation. OSU continued to take away MSU’s looks from deep, holding the Spartans to 3-16.
The Spartans are 6-10 this season when they attempt less than 20 threes in a game.
MSU was able to pull within two with 16:35 left in the second half but OSU head coach Chris Holtmann used a timeout to suck the life out of a charged MSU crowd. The Buckeyes came out of that timeout with a 10-2 run of their own to hold off the Spartans.
MSU found itself down by as much as 13 midway through the second half when the Spartans tried to make another push. A couple free throws from Hauser and a three-pointer from guard AJ Hoggard got MSU within six, but Holtmann put good use to a timeout to halt the Spartans’ momentum.
A Gayle Jr. three-pointer with 3:13 remaining put the Buckeyes up by 11 points and sealed a 68-58 victory.
The Buckeyes move on to play No. 1 seed Purdue on Saturday at noon CT while the Spartans will have to wait until Selection Sunday to know when they will play next.
Michigan State set for B1G Tournament quarterfinal against Ohio StateSpartans sweep Buckeyes on Senior DaySpartans bring smiles back to campus with 80-65 win over Indiana
EAST LANSING – Michigan State hosted Long Island and Bowling Green in a multi-record-breaking tri-meet for their annual Jan Howard Breast Cancer Awareness Meet.
MSU set five program records, recorded two perfect 10.0s, and set multiple new career highs.
“Hey, these fans are waiting to see what all the chatter has been about. Let’s just give it a show,” said MSU head coach Mike Rowe. “And it was that easy. That’s all I had to say, and then just step back and watch what happens.”
Right up front Jenison was beaming with energy between what the gymnasts brought to the competition floor and the crowd. The Spartans dominated on vault with a new program high of 49.575, and freshman Nikki Smith earned a perfect 10.0. BGSU and LIU both had rocky starts, but that didn’t stop either from pushing through. The Falcons ended with a 48.850 and the Sharks ended with a 49.000.
“I’m feeling super excited especially because it’s my first 10.0 in college.” said Smith. “My expectations for the rest of the year is to keep going up from here.”
The Spartans went into rotation two on fire. They earned their first 10.0 on bars in program history from senior Jori Jackard. “When her dismount dropped in front of me, I was like, there it is,” said Rowe.
“It feels so amazing just to have my team behind my back and supporting me,” said Jackard.
MSU broke their bars record for the second time this season, with a score of 49.550. Although, the Falcons and Sharks struggled to keep up. LIU fell behind MSU by 1.200 points and BGSU fell behind by 1.225 points.
Rotation three was solid for MSU, and they broke yet another record to set their new beam record to be 49.600. BGSU was on floor, and earned a 48.075 and LIU earned a 49.175 on vault. There was little progress made by the Falcons and Sharks on catching up to the Spartans. MSU stood at 148.725, LIU at 147.100, and BGSU at 146.975.
The fourth and final rotation sealed the deal for MSU. Anchored by a stellar performance from sophomore Skyla Schulte, the Spartans swept the competition to set a new school record of 198.225.
Despite MSU taking the competition as a team, for all-around LIU and BGSU got up on the scoreboard. Third place went to sophomore Kathryn Weilbacher from BGSU, and the second place went to freshman Syd Morris from LIU. Smith took first place and set a new school record for all-around with a score of 39.775.
Rowe is proud of this team’s cohesion.
“They help each other, they have each other’s backs, ” said Rowe. “They give each other good advice. They stick together and basically, that’s the message we were trying to send as that’s how we would be successful.”
Up next, the Spartans will host Northern Illinois on March 11 at 7 p.m. for their senior night.
No. 13 MSU wins first B1G Regular Season Championship in program historyPREVIEW: No. 12 Michigan State gymnastics visits No. 17 IowaNo. 13 Spartans defeat Penn State with fourth-highest score in program history
EAST LANSING – It was a bittersweet moment at the Breslin Center Saturday afternoon. The Spartans closed the Big Ten season with an 84-78 win over Ohio State and the Breslin crowd honored its graduating seniors Jason Whitens, Tyson Walker and Malik Hall after the game.
Junior guard A.J. Hoggard led the charge with 23 points on 54% shooting while the whole team shot an efficient 54.7% from the floor and 60% from three-point range.
“We still have some work to do,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “If we’re shooting the ball this good, we should be able to regain our defense because we’ve been there already for two-thirds of this year.”
This was the fourth-straight game that the Spartans shot over 45% from deep but it was also the third game in the last five where MSU gave up more than 70 points.
The game started with a strong dunk by Hall who received the give-and-go alley-oop pass by Hoggard. In his last game against Nebraska, Hoggard set a career-high 14 assists in the win over the Cornhuskers.
Hall, who ended the night with 10 points, played with an ongoing back injury, according to Izzo.
“Our guard play has been getting better and better,” Izzo said. “You need good guard play and you need to be able to defend to win in any kind of tournament scenario.”
Big Ten Freshman of the Year candidate Brice Sensabaugh scored 21 points for the Buckeyes and recorded five rebounds while only turning the ball over twice. Throughout the season, Sensabaugh is averaging 16.5 points per game on 48% shooting.
“[They’ve] played their best basketball in the last four games,” Izzo said. “Their freshmen have been really good.”
Michigan State went on a run after sophomore Jaden Akins scored nine points in his first nine minutes played, making it 35-26 with 3:00 remaining. Akins ended the day with 13 points and zero turnovers.
The Spartans went into halftime with a 43-34 lead over the Buckeyes.
Tyson Walker just makes tough baskets look easy. @TysonWalker13 x @MSU_Basketball pic.twitter.com/cH3im6OsMp
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 4, 2023
“We did a pretty good job in the first half. We were running,” Izzo said. “In the second half, we just didn’t do as good a job.”
To start the second half, Tyson Walker hit a long-range three-pointer to extend the lead by eight points. Walker slowed down in this game with 15 points after recording a career-high 31 points against Iowa on Feb. 25.
After the game, fans chanted “one more year” at Walker during his Senior Day presentation, hoping the prolific scorer will come back to East Lansing after the conclusion of this season.
“I think this team has a chance to make a run,” Izzo said. “You can be good but it comes down to matchups in these tournaments.”
The Buckeyes made it a one-possession game midway through the second half after Bruce Thorton made a three-pointer that had OSU trailing 64-67.
A series of free throws by Hoggard with 1:26 left in the game put the contest out of reach for OSU as the Spartans secured an 84-78 win. The seniors subbed off the court in the final seconds as they kissed the Spartan logo at half court and made their way out.
With the win over the Buckeyes, the Spartans put themselves in a promising position to end as a four-seed if other results go their way on Sunday night.
“We could be a three-seed or a 10-seed,” Izzo said. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s incredible.”
“Time heals everything”: Spartans set for emotional return to BreslinSpartans bring smiles back to campus with 80-65 win over IndianaJoey Hauser’s 20 points lifts Michigan State past Maryland
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Michigan State tied the best-of-three series at 1-1 after defeating Notre Dame 4-2 Saturday afternoon. Coming into Saturday’s contest, the Spartans were 0-14 in Big Ten tournament games.
“We played how we wanted to play. We played to our identity,” said MSU head coach Adam Nightingale.
The Spartans came out with blazing speed and aggression, 12 minutes into the contest MSU had a 16-1 shot advantage and a handful of chances to net their first on Notre Dame goaltender Ryan Bischel in the series, but the nations leader in save percentage was on top of his game early.
A Spartan turnover while the defensive line was changing led to the first goal of the game. Senior forward Solag Bakich and assistant captain Trevor Janicke skated in on MSU goaltender Dylan St. Cyr, who was left with zero defenders back, making it 1-0 for the Fighting Irish.
It was not till the 53rd shot of the series where MSU solved Bischel. With Grant Silianoff in the penalty box, Jeremy Davidson buried a precise cross ice feed from senior forward Nico Müller. Davidson’s eighth goal of the season tied the game up at 1-1 midway through the second period.
“Once we got that first one it just felt like a bit of a relief and it felt like we could beat those guys,” said junior defenseman Nash Nienhuis.
MSU doubled up in the middle frame as freshman forward Tiernan Shoudy was able to find a streaking Matt Basgall who wristed one past the blocker of Bischel for his fourth goal and his 17th point of the season.
“A really good feeling after being down by one to come out of that period up by one,” said freshman forward Daniel Russel.
Two quick goals by Michigan State in the third period pushed the lead to 4-1 with 14:26 remaining. Nienhuis recorded his fourth goal of the season thanks to a Jagger Joshua pokecheck and some swift puck movement and just two minutes later Karsen Dorwart from between the goal line and face-off circle sniped one near side on Bischel.
“We were firing on all cylinders. Our forecheck was unreal. We shut them down pretty good so it was just an overall great team game,” said Nienhuis.
Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson decided to pull Bischel with 6:40 remaining and the Irish on the power play and it proved dividends as Jack Adams tipped a point shot past St. Cyr for Notre Dame’s second goal of the game.
The Spartan defense and St. Cyr held tight, securing a 4-2 victory.
The Spartans and the Fighting Irish square off once more on Sunday at 6 pm. The winner will move on to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament.
SOUTH BEND, IN — In a hard fought game, the No. 5 seed Michigan State Spartans fell to the No. 4 seed Notre Dame 1-0 in the first game of the best of three Big Ten Tournament series.
Although the Spartans did not see the outcome they wanted, they played an incredibly strong game, leading the shot margin 36-21.
“It’s part of the foundation we are trying to build. It’s not about what happens or if the puck goes in, it’s about your next shift. ” said head coach Adam Nightingale. “They’ve done a great job buying into that and knowing things won’t always go your way.”
Ryan Bischel played an unbelievable game for the Fighting Irish with a total 36 saves, shutting out the Spartans. This was his fifth shutout of the season and his second against MSU.
In the regular season, the Spartans came out on top with a 2-1-1 margin over the Fighting Irish. The last time these two teams played, Michigan State swept Notre Dame with 3-0 and 3-2 victories in East Lansing.
Michigan State was 0-13 in the Big Ten Conference’s postseason tournament coming into this matchup. They now add to that streak, being 0-14 in conference post season games.
The first period came with a lot of fast paced play from both teams, the way they have played all season. Michigan State took early advantage of getting in the offensive zone and applying pressure on Bischel. After having a bye week in the last week of regular play, it was clear the Spartans were hungry to be back on the ice.
With 5:48 left in the first period, senior forward Jagger Joshua was whistled for interference, giving Notre Dame the first power play of the night. Although the Spartans were able to kill the penalty, the Irish found their momentum in the final five minutes and did not slow down, getting some good looks at the net, but Dylan St. Cyr denied his former teammates any chance to get the puck behind him. MSU led the shot margin 10-9 by the end of the first period.
The second period started fairly similar to the first. Both teams saw multiple good looks at the net. The Spartan defense did a great job of blocking shots and shutting down the Irish attack. Michigan State saw a good offensive push once again, and successfully set up many opportunities, but couldn’t quite get their sticks on the puck in front of the net.
With 3:47 left in the second period, senior forward Trevor Janicke got a pass from on the left circle to the front of the net, where junior Grant Silianoff snuck it straight past St. Cyr. Jack Adams also had an assist on the goal, giving Notre Dame a 1-0 lead going into the final period. Notre Dame led the shot margin 19-18.
“We are playing our game and they were just able to capitalize with that one goal,” said freshman forward Tiernan Shoudy. “They are just really well coached and play their style and it’s hard to create offense off of it.”
In the first two minutes of play in the third, freshman Tiernan Shoudy had a big rush to the net, but Bischel denied his shot and Mucha’s rebound attempt.
Five minutes into the period, MSU sophomore forward Tanner Kelly and Notre Dame graduate defenseman Chase Blackmun were called for roughing, sending the game to a 4 v 4 matchup. Throughout the 4 v 4, the Spartans kept the majority of the puck control. This led to many good chances, but still no goal for MSU.
“We just have to find another level of work and get on the inside,” Nightingale. “We created quite a bit of chaos and we have to be ready to go tomorrow.”
The Spartans saw their golden opportunity halfway through the period when Irish sophomore Jake Boltmann was sent to the box for roughing. However, the Irish penalty kill stopped the Spartans from getting many looks on net. Notre Dame’s penalty kill for the regular season was .752.
With 7:30 to play the Irish almost saw a chance to tally another point on a 2 v 1 rush, but St. Cyr made a crucial diving save to block the shot. St Cyr had 20 saves on the night.
Michigan State got one more chance at the power play after senior Jesse Lansdell received a penalty for tripping. Daniel Russell saw his best chance of the night and got the puck right behind Bischel’s pads, but the puck hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced back out.
In the final 1:30 of the game St. Cyr headed off the ice to give the Spartans the extra skater. Tiernan Shoudy saw a good chance at the corner of the net, but it was knocked out by an Irish defensemans stick. The Spartans may not have been able to get past Bischel, but had a lot of positives coming out of tonight.
“I think we outplayed them, especially in the first and the third,” said St. Cyr. “I think we just have to continue to stick with the chances and get guys in front of Bischel.”
Puck drop for the second game of the series is Saturday at 4:30 at Compton Family Ice Arena.
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EAST LANSING– No. 13 Michigan State won its first Big Ten Regular Season Championship in program history on Feb. 25. MSU is doing exactly what they said they would do. Change everyone’s minds.
“We knew they could do it and are so proud of how they didn’t give up and pulled it all off,” said head coach Mike Rowe.
The Spartans hold a 9-2 overall record, and share the regular season title with rival No. 4 Michigan.
MSU will compete during the evening session of the Big Ten Gymnastics Championships on March 18 as the No. 1 seed. The session consists of the top four seeds, who will compete at 5:30 p.m. E.T.
The Spartans earned the top seed with their dual meet win against the Wolverines on Jan. 27, marking the first time in program history that MSU will compete as the No. 1 seed.
The 2023 Big Ten Championships will take place at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, and will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network.
EAST LANSING – Michigan State baseball wrapped up its third and final game in the One Spartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic on Sunday afternoon against Presbyterian College. MSU suffered an 8-6 loss against the Blue Hose and left the Carolinas 1-2.
“I’m very disappointed in today’s outcome, and it was just a disappointing weekend for us,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. “Overall, I think we did some good things both yesterday and today, but it wasn’t quite enough.”
Entering Sunday’s matchup, both teams were 4-2 on the season.
The Spartan offense started strong early in the top of the first. Junior first baseman Brock Vradenburg hit a two run homer to left center field driving in junior Trent Farquhar. This homer was Vradenburg’s first of the year.
Presbyterian College was quick to respond in the bottom half of the inning as right fielder Joel Dragoo scored from a double to left by catcher Dalton Reeves off MSU pitcher Andrew Carson, making the score 2-1 for the Spartans.
In the home half of the second, Presbyterian College leveled the score at 2-2. Reeves reached on an error by MSU senior left fielder Casey Mayes.
Freshman first baseman Evan Cuervo doubled to left and his teammate Jack Gorman made it 5-2 in the third inning.
Carson’s days came to a close after three IP, giving up five hits, five runs, four being earned. Carson was replaced by sophomore right hander Ryan Szczepaniak who was charged with loss.
Final score from Clinton, SC:
Presbyterian 8, Michigan State 6
MSU back in action next weekend in Charleston, SC.#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/OA2J4r3ous
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) February 26, 2023
Michigan State closed the gap in the fourth inning as redshirt sophomore Bryan Broecker hit MSU’s second homer of the day, driving in Mayes to make it 5-4.
In the bottom of the fifth, Reeves picked up his fourth RBI, homering to right field scoring Dragoo. That made it 7-5 in favor of Presbyterian College.
In the eighth inning, MSU junior right fielder Jack Frank hit a solo home run which brought the Spartans within two runs again.
“I give our guys credit, we put ourselves in a position where we can tie the game or take the lead in the ninth, but we weren’t able to quite get it done, so credit to Presbyterian, offensively, they were really good today. We need to be better next weekend,” said Boss Jr.
Michigan State (4-3) will play College of Charleston and Charleston Southern in Charleston, South Carolina next weekend. Game one against College of Charleston is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, March 3.
MSU Baseball falls to Gardner-Webb, 7-3Michigan State baseball splits doubleheader in MLB Desert InviteMichigan State baseball announces 2023 schedule
EAST LANSING – Michigan State baseball team played their second game of the weekend in the One Spartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic on Saturday afternoon against Gardner-Webb, losing by a score of 7-3.
In MSU’s first matchup in the invitational on Friday, the Spartans beat University of South Carolina Upstate by a score of 13-6. Gardner-Webb defeated Northwestern 6-2, in their first game.
Two batters in, Gardner-Webb came out of the gate swinging. Senior left handed hitter Curtis Robison hit a solo home run to right field off redshirt sophomore MSU pitcher Noah Matheny, making the score 1-0 in favor of Gardner-Webb in the first.
Gardner-Webb tacked on another run in the third, making the score 2-0, after sophomore second baseman AJ Solomon doubled to start the inning. Solomon eventually scored off a sacrifice fly to center field.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Matheny’s day ended after two base runners got on. Matheny handed the ball over to MSU pitcher Nick Powers, before handing the ball to Harrison Cook to finish the inning. Gardner-Webb ended up extending their lead, to five.
Matheny’s final line was three IP, four hits on four earned runs with one walk and three strikeouts. Matheny picks up his second loss of the season.
In the top of the fifth, Michigan State rallied with two outs in the inning, scoring three runs. Junior shortstop Mitch Jebb doubled to left center, scoring juniors Trent Farquhar and Dillion Kark. Junior Brock Vradenburg also got in the action, singling and scoring Jebb, and cutting Gardner Webb’s lead to two.
Bottom half of the fifth, junior designated hitter Bo Rusher III hit a two run homer to center field, bringing Gardner-Webb’s lead back to four, where it stayed for the remainder of the game.
“I didn’t think we particularly swung the bat well today, obviously as we’ve done in the past few games,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. “You’ve got to credit their left-hander starter (Tyler Switalski) a little bit, he got us to chase some balls out of the strike zone with his breaking ball and that was unfortunate for us. But we just didn’t do enough to get ourselves back into the ballgame when we got down, and that was disappointing, but that’s the way the game is. We still have a chance to basically win the series tomorrow, so we need to play well and hopefully we can get that done.”
Michigan State (4-2) will play Presbyterian ( 4-2 ) on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. EST.
MSU defeats USC Upstate in ‘Battle of the Spartans’Pianto and Vradenburg collect Big Ten weekly awardsRECAP: MSU opens season with a win over Michigan
EAST LANSING — The Michigan State baseball team battled against the University of South Carolina Upstate, also called the Spartans in South Carolina on Friday afternoon. Unlike the movie 300, two Spartan sides faced off against each other in the One Spartanburg, Inc. Baseball Classic this weekend. Michigan State won the battle by a score of 13-6.
Last weekend, Michigan State won three of the four games in the MLB Desert Invitational. They beat Michigan 15-8, took one of two in a doubleheader, winning seven to four against Fresno State, and losing to Arizona seven to one. MSU concluded play in the invitational against Grand Canyon, winning seven to one.
Moving into today’s game, South Carolina Upstate got their offense firing early. Daniel Gernon batted a RBI double, bringing Troy Hamilton home to score the first run of the game. Noah Rabon also doubled in the first, but MSU pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was able to strand him with a strikeout and ground out to end the first.
“I thought Joseph Dzierwa was pretty good again today,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. “He had a tough start walking a guy and giving up a double, and then really kind of settled into it and, unfortunately, kind of made one bad pitch with the grand slam, but, other than that he was really, really good. He keeps showing signs of what we think he can be here and he’s just going to continue to get better and better and better. I’m really proud of Joe for getting his second win today,” said Boss Jr.
Michigan State’s offense went six up, six down, to start the game against Reese Dutton. This was before redshirt sophomore and designated hitter Sam Busch reached first base through an error made by Johnny Sweeny.
Shortly afterwards, a single by Dillon Kark and a bunt single by Greg Ziegler set up Trent Farquhar. Farquhar’s line drive to left field brought all three runners in, making it a 3-1 game. MSU ended up putting a four spot up in the third inning.
In the fourth, Bryan Broecker was hit by a pitch. Busch also originally got a free base after he was hit, but after discussion from the umpire crew, it was a foul ball off the swing. The next pitch Busch saw, he hit a double and advanced on to third on the play at home trying to get Broecker.
Broecker was ruled safe, making the score five to one.
Immediately after, Ziegler doubled to make the score six to one. The inning ultimately came to a close for Michigan State after Ziegler was called for runners interference at third base.
In the sixth, the Upstate Spartans brought MSU’s lead to one after a grand slam to left field from Grant Sherrod off of Dzierwa.
Dzierwa’s final pitching line in his first start of the season was six IP, five runs all earned. He also gave up seven hits, two walks, five strikeouts and got the win.
In the top half of the seventh, Michigan State scored five insurance runs before Upstate scored one in the bottom half of the inning, but MSU got that run and one more right back.
“When they got the big grand slam and made it close, our guys really responded, so I’m very proud of our guys and the approach that they took all day long,” Boss Jr. said. “We just keep playing hard and nothing really fazes these guys and they showed that today, so we put together nine pretty good innings of baseball,” said Boss Jr.
Michigan State (4-1) will play Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. EST.
Pianto and Vradenburg collect Big Ten weekly awardsRECAP: MSU opens season with a win over MichiganMichigan State baseball splits doubleheader in MLB Desert Invite
EAST LANSING – Saturday’s 6-2 loss at Wisconsin threw a wrench into Michigan State’s postseason plans. The Spartans are now on the outside looking in to make the NCAA Tournament, and they’re in danger of having to play the first round of the Big Ten tournament on the road.
Michigan State’s second bye happens to be the last week of the regular season, so its fate is controlled by the rest of the Big Ten.
There are three series this weekend: Wisconsin at Penn State, Notre Dame at Michigan and Ohio State at Minnesota. While the latter won’t have much effect on the Spartans, the other two are critical to determine whether MSU gets home-ice advantage.
So what should Michigan State fans want? Who needs to win for the Big Ten playoffs to come to Munn Ice Arena? What needs to happen to put MSU back into NCAA Tournament contention?
Let’s take a look at both tournaments and see what is the best case scenario.
Big Ten Tournament
The format for the Big Ten tournament is simple: the first seed, which Minnesota clinched, gets a first-round bye. The remaining six teams face off in a best-of-three series. The winners are then reseeded for the semifinals, and everything from that point on is single elimination. Every game is held at the home rink of the team with the higher seed.
The points system in college is more complicated than the NHL version. If you’re unfamiliar, it works like this:
- Three points for a regulation win.
- Two points for an overtime/shootout win.
- One point for an overtime/shootout loss.
- No points for a regulation loss.
OK, now that we’re all on the same page, let’s look at how this applies to the current standings.
Michigan State has 34 points — three ahead of both Penn State and Notre Dame. That lands the Spartans in fourth place, which is the lowest possible seed for home-ice advantage. To remain that way, the stars need to align in the final week.
First, Michigan needs to take care of business against Notre Dame. Both teams split in November, but now in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines will need to take at least four of six points.
Second, Wisconsin needs to beat Penn State at least once in State College. The Nittany Lions can get no more than three points to stay behind the Spartans. It is a tall order, however — PSU is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games, but the Badgers have yet to win a conference road game.
The Big Ten’s tie-breaking procedures are complicated, to say the least, so MSU can’t win if all three teams are tied at 34 points. Two-way ties are broken by head-to-head records, and since the Spartans are 2-1-1 against both Penn State and Notre Dame, they would win in that case.
However, if all three are tied, then the conference resorts to overall conference win percentage. In that case, it comes down to ties. Notre Dame has three, Michigan State has two and Penn State one. There, ties count as a half of a win, so the Irish would win in that situation, making MSU the fifth seed.
The chances of Munn Ice Arena hosting a Big Ten tournament game are low. PlayoffStatus.com gives it a 22% chance of happening, mostly because of PSU-Wisconsin. However, the Badgers have knocked off both MSU and Minnesota in back-to-back weeks, so anything is possible.
NCAA Tournament
If you missed it, I wrote an earlier article about what Michigan State needed to do to make the NCAA Tournament. I recommend checking that out if you haven’t, since that explains how the selection process works.
The loss to Wisconsin significantly hurt the Spartans’ chances. They’re now down to No. 18 in PairWise, which makes them the third team out after Alaska and Notre Dame.
Updated version of the NCAA bracket. Michigan State now on the outside looking in after the Wisconsin loss.
Made a few changes this week, moved some teams around to be more like what the NCAA would do: pic.twitter.com/wuFpQuZDOa
— Jacob Stinson (@jacobfstinson) February 22, 2023
PairWise is designed to reward teams for winning against quality competition. When Michigan State lost, Omaha — which is 9-1-1 since Dec. 31 — took its place.
The Spartans’ advantage is that the Big Ten is loaded with high-end teams, so there’s ample opportunity for quality wins. While they’re on the outside now, if they win the first round of the conference playoffs, consider them locks for the tournament.
According to PlayoffStatus.com, MSU has a 43% chance to face Penn State in the conference tournament. The Nittany Lions only beat the Spartans once in four tries, but they’re ranked No. 7 in PairWise. Therefore, two wins against a top team should be more than enough to catapult Michigan State into a playoff spot.
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EAST LANSING – The Michigan State women’s basketball team (14-13, 6-10) played their last home game of the season late Wednesday afternoon at the Breslin Center, defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-18, 3-14) 71-67 on senior day.
The game was moved from a 7 p.m. tipoff to 4:30 p.m. due to inclement weather.
Michigan State honored three graduating seniors after the game. Jayla James, Stephanie Visscher, and Kamaria McDaniel were all recognized for their contributions on and off the court.
“To see their journey and see the growth that they’ve made since they got here, it’s special,” said interim head coach Dean Lockwood. “More than anything, it’s kind of a benchmark moment. This is a chapter that’s ending because those three will never wear this uniform on this floor again. There’s always a little sadness to it, but you’re also excited for them and their futures.”
“They’re my sisters,” said sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann. “All three of them bring those positive vibes, they always keep our energy up, and we wouldn’t be us without them.”
It was a defensive battle in the first quarter, as both teams struggled from the field. Each team shot a combined 4-20 early on, and Minnesota would only shoot 12% in that span.
The Spartans ended the first quarter with a 17-7 lead. That would quickly fade as the Golden Gophers improved on the offensive side and went on a 7-0 run to begin the second quarter. A three-point basket by graduate guard Mi’Cole Cayton tied the game at 23-23 with under five minutes left in the half.
Minnesota took its first lead of the contest in the third quarter, going up 40-39 after a 6-0 run. However, Michigan State stopped the Golden Gophers from scoring in the final 2:20 and regained the lead at 51-45 to start the fourth quarter.
Freshman guard Mara Braun led the Golden Gophers in scoring with 17 points.
Both teams traded buckets in the fourth quarter, but the Spartans were able to put the game away. Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel led the team in scoring down the stretch, putting up 10 of her 15 points in the final 10 minutes.
Four Spartans reached double figures in scoring, with Kamaria McDaniel and sophomore guard Matilda Ekh leading the team with 15 points. Senior guard Moira Joiner and DeeDee Hagemann also added 11 points.
“DeeDee and Tilly [Matilda Ekh] have been very stable for us. When they do well, we typically do well,” Lockwood said. “That’s the beauty of this game, it never falls on one person, it always has been and always will be a team game.”
Michigan State will close out the regular season on the road against Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
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EAST LANSING – Michigan State men’s basketball earned a crucial win against No. 17 Indiana Tuesday night, a day after students at MSU returned to classes since last week’s mass shooting. Senior guard Tyson Walker led the game with 23 points as the Spartans left the Breslin Center with an 80-65 win over the Hoosiers.
“I said [to the team] if you want to make people feel better, if you want to give them a hug, this is the way to give them a hug,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “I hope all 15,000 people enjoyed the hug.”
It was an emotional return to the Breslin Center for the Michigan State community.
The players, along with fans and students, honored the lives of the three MSU students that were senselessly killed and five others that were injured with a moment of silence before tip-off. MSU and Indiana’s players wore shirts that read “Spartan Strong” as they were warming up.
Although it was a late Tuesday night game, the Breslin Center was crowded until the game ended around midnight.
“I wish I could’ve run up to the top row and thanked the people that were there,” Izzo said. “I said to myself ‘I hope we can come through for you’.”
Shortly after the moment of silence honoring the victims of the shooting that occurred on February 13 in East Lansing. This place is united. pic.twitter.com/Gt2UArr8eC
— Gianluca Melloni (@mellonluca) February 22, 2023
It wasn’t the best of starts for Michigan State right after the first whistle. Indiana led 12-5 by the sixth minute of the first half and was led by Jalen Hood-Schifino, who made his first three baskets in a row.
Hood-Schifino ended the night with 16 points, second behind his teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis with 19. In Indiana’s last game against Illinois, Jackson-Davis recorded 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Both of Indiana’s best scorers had a strong start to the game, something that the MSU coaching staff expected.
“We threw a lot of different things at Trayce [Jackson-Davis],” Izzo said. “He’s a phenomenal player. They have two or three really good players but this kid learned how to dribble and pass. That’s the part of his game he improved the most.”
The tide turned for Michigan State after Walker hit back-to-back threes with 3:51 left to level the score at 24-24. Walker ended the game with five three-pointers on seven attempts and it felt as if every shot from deep found its way into the basket.
Malik Hall shoots the ball during Michigan State’s 80-65 win over Indiana on February 21, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)A second-chance layup by freshman Jaxon Kohler near the end of the half put the Spartans ahead 32-29 and his teammates surrounded him with a wave of chest bumps and cheers. A late three-pointer by Walker saw the Spartans enter the break with a 35-29 lead.
“It felt good to come here and have the students’ support,” senior Malik Hall said. “Just being here was not only good for us but everybody around.”
In the second half, the Spartans led by as much as 13 points as junior guard AJ Hoggard and senior forward Joey Hauser saw more shots go in. Hoggard finished right behind Walker in scoring with 22 points and went 7-8 from the free-throw line.
Hoggard would prove to be the closer in the game as he notched the final free throws to secure an 80-65 win against one of the conference’s best teams in Indiana.
“There was no luck and we earned the win,” Izzo said. “[Indiana] is a very good team that I think is going to win a lot of games.”
After the final buzzer, MSU football coach Mel Tucker greeted an emotional Izzo in the hallway to the locker room as he congratulated him and his team for their efforts.
MSU moves back to seventh place in the Big Ten standings with the win.
The Spartans will begin a two-game road trip to Iowa starting Saturday, Feb. 25, and Nebraska before returning home for the final regular season game against Ohio State.
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EAST LANSING — The Michigan State men’s basketball team returns to the Breslin Center Tuesday night as the Spartans host No. 17 Indiana. This will be the first time that MSU plays on its home court since the deadly mass shooting that occurred in East Lansing on Feb. 13.
“It’s our first game back on campus with our fans,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “Make no mistake about it, this [feeling] will never go away. Time heals everything.”
The Spartans fell short against Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 18, when they lost 84-72 at the Crisler Center. A strong and determined finish by the Wolverines in the last 1:10 of the game sprang them past the Spartans in the Big Ten standings.
Joey Hauser led the game in Ann Arbor with 20 points and while the Spartans had the game within reach, the Wolverines made the right plays down the stretch to earn another rivalry win at home.
Hauser became the first Spartan since Cassius Winston to score 20 points in three straight games.
“I thought we put ourselves in a position to win the game,” Izzo said. “We had opportunities, we just didn’t get it done.”
The University of Michigan honored the tragic event that claimed the lives of three MSU students and injured five others before tipoff. The UM Maize Rage student section wore shirts reading “Michigan Basketball stands with MSU” and the entire Crisler crowd was supportive of the Spartan community throughout the night.
“It meant a lot,” senior guard Tyson Walker said after the game. “They put pride aside and they did something for the greater purpose.”
Despite the loss, Izzo said he was proud of his team.
Tonight’s game against Indiana is at 9 PM ET at the Breslin Center and will be broadcast on ESPN.
We encourage everyone to wear white in unity. pic.twitter.com/GyWtIHUcbD
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) February 21, 2023
The Spartans sit in ninth place in the standings while their upcoming opponents, Indiana, are in third place behind Northwestern. The Hoosiers are 10-6 in the Big Ten and 19-8 overall this season.
Hoosier senior Trayce Jackson-Davis leads his team in scoring with 20.5 ppg and posted a 26-point double-double in Indiana’s latest win over Illinois.
“He’s [Jackson-Davis] has really improved his game with his ball handling. He’s improved his game with his strength and passing ability,” Izzo said. “He’s a load.”
In the last matchup against the Hoosiers, the Spartans suffered a 69-82 loss at Assembly Hall. In that game, Jackson-Davis recorded one of his best stat lines of the season, recording 31 points and 15 rebounds.
“We’re going to have to mix some things up,” Izzo said. “Our game plan can’t be just to stop Trayce [Jackson-Davis]. We got beat last time because [Tamar] Bates hit five out of six threes and I’m not sure he’s hit that many since.”
With four games remaining in the regular season, the Spartans look to jumpstart a winning run in front of a Breslin crowd that seeks comfort after an emotionally difficult week in East Lansing.
The game against the No. 17 Indiana Hoosiers is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tip-off from the Breslin Center.
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EAST LANSING— The Michigan State baseball team played a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 19 against Fresno State University and the University of Arizona. In the first game, the Spartans defeated Fresno State 7-4, in their first matchup since 2018. In the nightcap, MSU fell to Arizona 7-1.
Fresno State started the game firing on all cylinders on the offensive side, driving in two runs in the first and ending Spartan starter Adam Berghorst’s day after two outs. Fresno State had eight batters come to the plate in the inning.
Momentum shifted when reliever Dominic Pianto entered the game, shutting the door and pitching 8.1 innings through the end of the game. He allowed three hits on the day, two runs, with only one being earned. He had four strikeouts on 107 pitches.
“Dominic Pianto was just outstanding. For him to do what he did today was a huge boost for our team. He never was really in trouble, he was in command the whole way,” said head coach Jake Boss. “He did a really nice job of getting us out of the first inning and the plan was to at least get us into the fifth or the sixth, but he was just extremely efficient, got outs early in the count and was just in control the whole way.”
The Spartans came back in the third getting three runs on the board. The inning started with a single by Trent Farquhar, who was three for five on the day. Farquhar stole second, bringing him into scoring position for Mitch Jebb, who brought him home.
After two walks to Brock Vrandenburg and Jack Frank, Casey Mayes brought them in on an RBI triple. Mayes finished the game with three runs batted in.
The spartan offense kept clicking throughout the game totaling 15 hits. In the five-inning, the lead was extended to three, making the score 5-2 with RBIs from Frank and Kark.
In the sixth inning, Fresno State made things close. A triple from Bobby Blandford scored Tyler Davis. Blandford later scored off a throwing error made by Jebb.
The Spartans would win 7-4 after Vradenburg, and Bryan Broecker in the ninth scored insurance runs.
Michigan State faced Arizona in game two of Sunday’s doubleheader, but the perfect start to the season would not continue.
“In game two, we ran into a really good arm, the left-hander pitcher from Arizona (Bradon) Zastrow was outstanding. The velocity was good, the breaking ball was good; I think he was as good of an arm as we’ll see all year long,” said Boss. “I don’t think we played poorly today, I just think we got beat by a very good team.”
MSU starting pitcher Noah Matheny struck out the side in his first inning with the Spartans and got out of a jam in the second.
Arizona outfielder Chase Davis’ two-run-homer got the scoring going early in the third inning. Michigan State evened it up in the bottom of the third with a Broecker sacrifice fly, scoring Sam Thompson.
The Wildcats regained the lead and didn’t look back. Davis hit a second home run and tallied an RBI double, totalling the junior with four RBI’s in the game.
Kiko Romero, Tommy Splaine and Tyler Casagrande also batted in one run each for Arizona.
Arizona left-hander Bradon Zastrow struck out five and allowed just one run in his 5.1 innings on the mound. Following two electric games for the Spartans on the offensive side, they could not get much going, totaling just fives hits in the game.
Dawson Netz and Chris Barraza entered in relief for the ‘Cats and sealed the win.
Max Chapman, Nolan Higgins, Gavin Sitarz and Brian Martin joined Matheny as Spartans on the mound on the night. Greg Ziegler lead the green and white with two hits in his three appearances at the plate.
“We’ll regroup and be ready to go for tomorrow,” said Boss.
Michigan State’s next game will be Monday afternoon against Grand Canyon at 1 p.m., a short turnaround following an emotional week for all in the MSU community. Right-hander Andrew Carson is expected to take the mound for MSU.
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EAST LANSING – Michigan State wrestling head coach Roger Chandler earned his 50th career win on Friday, Feb. 10, as No. 24 Michigan State notched a victory in the last home event of the season. The Spartans secured their first ranked win of the season against No. 22 Indiana, 20-16.
“My name is on it [the wins] as head coach, but these are their wins that they earned, and I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys,” Chandler said.
As the night got started, the Jenison crowd had some honoring to do. Eight seniors were honored for their dedication to the program.
Graduates Cameron Caffey, Rayvon Foley, Benny Gomez, and Ryan Vasbinder said goodbye to Jenison as they walked the mat with their families. The Spartans also bid farewell to Peyton Omania, Skyler Crespo, Cameron Monzadeh, and Miles Hoey.
“To be honest, I didn’t know it was going to be my 50th [win],” Chandler said. “Obviously, it’s bittersweet. Guys like Cam Caffey and Rayvon Foley, they’ve been here six of my seven years here as head coach, and those guys earned most of those wins.”
Leading the match was junior Tristan Lujan, who made his return to the lineup after not competing in the last dual.
After a scoreless first period, Lujan elected to start down to begin the second period, where he mustered an escape. That would prove to be the match-winner, as the rest of the match was scoreless and the Spartans would head into the second bout with a three-point lead.
Up next, No. 29 Henry Porter for the Hoosiers took on No. 17 Rayvon Foley for the Spartans. Porter managed some early takedowns to go up 6-2 at the end of the first period. Foley cut the deficit to 6-5 with just over a minute left in the second, but a pair of escapes and a late takedown would earn Porter the upset decision, 10-5.
Jordan Hamden for Michigan State came into the 141-bout trying to regain the lead for the Spartans, but Cayden Rooks for Indiana had other plans. Rooks collected four takedowns in the match, with Hamden only able to come up with five escapes. The Hoosiers were ahead for the first time, leading 6-3.
In the 149-pound weight class, Omania for the Spartans looked to take down Indiana’s active career leader in wins for the program, Graham Rooks. The match was physical out of the gate, but Omania struggled to get many offensive attacks going against Rooks. Heading into the second period, Omania only had a two-point deficit, but Rooks handled the California native throughout the rest of the match, winning 13-4.
Coming off a huge tech fall in his last match, Caleb Fish looked to keep the momentum going in the 165-bout against Hoosier Nick South. Fish got a takedown within the first minute of the match, with no real action occurring until the final stanza when South would get an escape with under a minute to go. Fish managed to fend off South for the rest of the match, also tallying a point for riding time to earn the decision 4-2.
A ranked dual win at Home to close out the B1G season! #GoGreen | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/1328W1BREw
— Spartan Wrestling (@MSU_Wrestling) February 11, 2023
The 13th-ranked Spartan Layne Malczewski would take on Clayton Fielden, in hopes of keeping Michigan States’ dual chances alive. Malczewski would take 1:37 of riding time into the second period, and he controlled Fielden throughout. Fielden eventually got some riding time himself, but a flashy turnaround and thrilling pin by Malczewski put Michigan State back on top, 15-13.
Cam Caffey strolled onto the mat to take on Indiana’s Drayton Harris to attempt to extend the Spartans lead. A 22-4 tech fall win would seal the deal for Michigan State before the final match even takes place.
Already leading 20-13, Ryan Vasbinder was only wrestling for individual achievement here, as he stepped out to take on Indiana’s No. 26 Jacob Bullock. Vasbinder scored first on an escape, but two third-period escapes for Bullock would notch the win for him.
“Last year they had great regular seasons and didn’t have great postseasons,” Chandler said. “We’ve changed some things in the approach and you can see they are starting to bubble to the top.”
Michigan State will end its regular season in Mount Pleasant against Central Michigan University on Feb. 17, starting at 7 p.m.
EAST LANSING — As Adam Fantilli skated to the Michigan locker room, the crowd at Munn Ice Arena showered him with boos. He had just been ejected for fighting with Michigan State’s Nash Nienhuis, so his night was over.
Instead of taking a straight line to the bench, Fantilli veered towards the student section, raised his hands and encouraged fans to boo him even louder.
They gladly obliged.
On a night where the list of penalties was as long as a drugstore receipt, the brawl between Fantilli, Nienhuis and every other skater on the ice was the most potent memory of the Wolverines’ 4-2 win Friday night.
While tensions had been rising for the entire game, they boiled over when Fantilli cross-checked Nienhuis from behind after a stoppage. Other Spartans, including freshman Tiernan Shoudy, took issue and came to Nienhuis’ defense.
“We just had a little bit of grabbing,” Shoudy said. “And then I saw their two D coming down. I don’t know what happened from there. Everyone was just a mosh pit.”
Here’s the fight that got Fantilli ejected: pic.twitter.com/Vozhp1j0Fh
— Jacob Stinson (@jacobfstinson) February 11, 2023
That “mosh pit” resulted in 38 total penalty minutes and ejections to both Fantilli and Nienhuis.
Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale didn’t think much of the ordeal. Rather, he praised his team for playing with zeal while not losing its composure.
“I have a hard time calling any of that fighting,” Nightingale said. “I know they called it fighting, but there were scrums. There was emotion, right? That’s good, I think you’ve got to play the game with emotion.”
His squad had plenty of reasons to be emotional early. Michigan scored three goals — including one from Fantilli — in the first 12 minutes. Viktor Hurtig had one called back for goaltender interference. Referees intervened in scrums after nearly every whistle.
The first period made it clear the upstart Spartans were never going to be competitive in a track meet. They simply could not match the speed of a more talented team. They would need to be aggressive on the puck if they wanted a chance, so that’s what they did.
“Any time you give skillful players time and space, they’re going to make plays,” Nightingale said. “I thought we did that in the first, and then I thought in the second and third we did a better job of eliminating time and space.”
Michigan State would start a run of its own in the second. Shoudy would get the home team on the board, and the physicality forced the Wolverines to play on their heels for large swaths.
Tiernan Shoudy puts MSU on the board in the second. pic.twitter.com/IY1GfbrIlG
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 11, 2023
After Shoudy’s goal, things hit the fan. Michigan’s Ethan Edwards was ejected for a hit to Matt Basgall’s head. Then came the Fantilli-Nienhuis fight. Countless other scrums ensued throughout the game.
Michigan interim coach Brandon Naurato didn’t take kindly to the change of pace.
“They can’t play with us,” Naurato said. “They can’t play with us unless they goon it up, so we got the bad end of the deal there.”
While Naurato’s comment can seem abrasive, he’s not completely wrong.
The Wolverines are chock-full of NHL-ready talent. They dressed eight draftees Friday, including three first-round picks. Fantilli is a consensus top prospect in the upcoming draft. The Spartans’ highest draft pick, Hurtig, was picked in the sixth round. There simply aren’t enough skaters in green and white sweaters that can match Michigan’s pace, so playing the body becomes the only option.
Senior forward Nicolas Müller scored in the third period, cutting the deficit to one. While the Spartans had their chances, they couldn’t get another past goalie Erik Portillo, who stopped 30 of 32 shots on goal.
With Dylan St. Cyr on the bench, Michigan State made one last-ditch effort to tie the game with an extra attacker. However, forward Gavin Brindley would send one into the empty net and seal the Wolverines win.
Brindley with his second of the night! pic.twitter.com/uwgD8kiIcm
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) February 11, 2023
To no one’s surprise, there were more fights. A frustrated David Gucciardi and Cole Krygier would both go after Brindley and earn game misconducts with 1:01 left. If it wasn’t clear before, that moment proved just how deeply these two teams despised one another.
“You can ask any guy in that room…we hate these guys,” Michigan captain Nolan Moyle said. “And we always say, you can’t beat these guys enough.”
Overall, the in-state rivals would combine for 105 penalty minutes. Only an Oct. 23 game between Alaska and Omaha had more this season (143). The Spartans would account for 57 of those minutes, the most by any team not in the aforementioned Alaska-Omaha contest.
After the game, Nightingale emphasized his team’s need to balance aggression and discipline, playing physically without taking unnecessary penalties.
“I thought our guys did a great job of not running their mouths,” Nightingale said. “We want to play between the whistles, and emotions boil over at times in scrums, and that’s part of our game.”
Shoudy shared the same sentiment.
“We just want to play between the whistles,” he said. “Like, we don’t want to be taking penalties there…I think we can play that style if that’s what they want to play, but I mean, that’s not necessarily what we always want to do.”
These two teams face off again Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Neither Fantilli nor Nienhuis will be allowed to play. The Spartans will need a short memory, but more importantly, they’ll need to avoid falling into the same traps that gave them almost an hour’s worth of penalties. Under the bright lights and larger crowd of an NHL rink, that challenge will only get more difficult.
Unlike the NHL, however, fighting leads to more than a five-minute trip to the penalty box. In college hockey, it could prove costly in an important late-season rivalry game.
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EAST LANSING- Michigan State traveled a rocky road to earning its 15th win of the season, defeating Maryland 63-58 late Tuesday night. The back-and-forth matchup between the two teams was highlighted by elite guard play and multiple runs.
“To hell with starts,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “There is only one thing that matters: that you finish the game, period.”
Graduate student Joey Hauser would get Michigan State started with a mid-range jumper just seconds into the game. Hauser would continue to accumulate points, ending with a game-high 20 after having just 24 total points in his last three games.
“[In] the past couple of games I feel like I shied away a little bit from some shots,” Hauser said. “I just have to have a shooter’s mentality, and the next one is going in.”
After trailing by 15 points in the first four minutes the Terrapins would only allow 16 more in the first half.
Maryland guard Jahmir Young had nine of the 22 points scored in the first half for the Terrapins and finished with a team-high 17.
Michigan State would hold their lead for the beginning of the second half, but it quickly vanished as the Terrapins went on a 12-0 run in under three minutes, tying the game at 38.
A pair of free throws from Maryland forward Patrick Emilien would give the Terps their first lead of the game, but it would not last long.
Sophomore Jaden Akins would spark another Spartan run with a corner three followed up with a block on the other end of the floor. The block turned into transition points for the Spartans, as junior A.J. Hoggard found senior Tyson Walker open for another three. Pushing Michigan State back out in front 52-48
A.J. Hoggard’s name was all over the stat sheet by the end of the night. Finishing the game with game-highs in rebounds (10) and assists (8) to go along with his eight points.
Jaden Akins makes the crowd at the Breslin Center go crazy with a slam dunk in the final seconds of Michigan State’s 63-58 victory over Maryland on February 7, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)“I think we are a better team when A.J. has eight assists and two turnovers, then when he has 15 points,” head coach Tom Izzo said after the game. “A.J. played like a point guard. Our guys got shots, but they hit their shots because they were great passes.”
One of those guys who was hitting shots for the Spartans was Guard Tyson Walker. After getting into early foul trouble, Walker only saw nine minutes in the first half.
Walker would end the night with 17 points, making it his 19th game in double figures and the 65th of his career
“I didn’t really get to play in the first half because of fouls,” Walker said. “So I really wanted to come out and be aggressive in the second half… it was just one of those days everyone made their shots.”
Maryland would continue to keep it close, but a Jaden Akins dunk would seal the deal for Michigan State.
The Spartans will travel to Columbus Sunday to take on Ohio State. The Matchup against the Buckeyes is set to tip off at 1 p.m.
EAST LANSING – No. 24 Michigan State wrestling suffered a hard-fought loss in its dual against No. 21 Illinois on Sunday afternoon. A comeback effort by the Spartans fell just short as Illinois won with a score of 17-16.
The Spartans fall to 1-5 in Big Ten, with each loss coming to teams ranked in the top-25.
Opening the night in the 125-pound weight class, Benny Gomez for the Spartans battled Maryland’s, Maximo Renteria. Gomez got his first look at Big Ten action this season and with Renteria through the first period, as it was 0-0 to start the second.
After Renteria got a quick two, followed by a Gomez escape, the crowd was buzzing toward the end of the third period. With a late takedown, Renteria iced the match, winning by a 4-1 decision.
In the 133 class, Rayvon Foley had a difficult time handling Lucas Byrd, who sits at a 21-3 record this season. In the third period, Foley got a quick escape to cut Byrd’s lead to 5-1; however, an elusive escape and last-second takedown would give Byrd the 8-1 decision.
Trailing 6-0 heading into the third bout, junior Blake Noonan stepped in to fill Jordan Hamden’s shoes. Getting his first action in Big Ten play, Noonan found it challenging to get anything going against the 141-pound Illinois redshirt freshman, Danny Pucino.
It was all Pucino from start to finish, as he got the bonus points and won by tech fall, 23-8.
Peyton Omania put some life into Jenison early in his 149-pound bout against Illinois’ Jake Harrier. Omania went up 2-0 early, but Harrier found 6 quick points to go up 6-2.
Omania got the home crowd going after a takedown to tie it up 6-6, but an official review resulted in the takedown being erased due to an out-of-bounds call. Harrier finished strong to take this one 8-4.
At 174, freshman Ceaser Garza looked to continue the Spartans’ comeback against No. 12 Edmond Ruth. It was a valiant effort by Garza who came up just short, as Ruth’s takedown ability proved to be too much with a 13-7 decision, and the Fighting Illini stretched their lead to 17-7.
Final from Jenison#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/MwjFJVJqnP
— Spartan Wrestling (@MSU_Wrestling) February 5, 2023
No. 14 Layne Malczewski was on the mat for Michigan State at 184 pounds, dueling No. 24 Dylan Connell.
After a stalemate for a long period, Malczewski got the first point on an escape in the second period. He made an effort to get in a few more attacks in the second period, but Connell fended him off well.
Malczewski came out on top in a low-scoring match, with a decision of 2-0.
With only two bouts left in the dual, the Spartans needed Illinois native Cam Caffey at 197 to spring his team back level on the scoresheet against Zac Braunagel. Braunagel controlled this match for much of the way, but something clicked with Caffey at the end, and he turned it up a notch.
As the seconds whittled away at the end of the third period, Caffey managed two electric takedowns in about 12 seconds and had every Spartan fan in Jenison fieldhouse on their feet.
Heavyweights Ryan Vasbinder (MSU) and Matt Wroblewski (Illinois) led the final bout. Vasbinder needed bonus points for the win, so he did his best and left it all on the mat. Wroblewski stayed back and did not attempt to do much attacking, as he just had to keep it a stalemate to get the win. Vasbinder got an escape in the second period, but no scoring after resulted in a 17-16 team win for Illinois.
The Spartans move on to their final home dual of the season against the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday, Feb. 10, before one final regular season dual. The Spartans hope to get a good run of form before the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships.
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EAST LANSING – In the latest chapter of the Michigan State versus Michigan rivalry, the Michigan State women’s basketball team (11-12) came up short, in a 77-67 loss to the No. 18 ranked Michigan Wolverines (19-5) on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.
MSU started off the contest red hot, with a 10-0 run highlighted by 3-pointers from senior guard Moira Joiner and sophomore guard Matilda Ekh.
“Our first quarter was exactly the way we wanted to play that game,” said MSU interim head coach Dean Lockwood. “We wanted to pressure, we wanted to move the ball, and we got great looks.”
The Wolverines would battle back and cut the lead to 21-15 by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Michigan State struggled to find points, as the Wolverines went on a 6-0 run to tie the game for the first time. The Spartans started to regain momentum, with a couple of threes made by Julia Ayrault and Matilda Ekh. MSU went into the locker room up 40-33 at halftime.
Michigan started the second half by scoring eight of the first nine points to tie the game. Graduate guard Leigha Brown hit a 3-pointer to give the Wolverines their first lead of the contest.
Brown finished the game with a double-double of 29 points and 12 rebounds.
“She [Leigha Brown] thrives in these moments and she wants the ball in her hands in these moments,” said Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico. “She does a great job of drawing fouls and making everyone else on our team feel extremely confident.”
Michigan also got contributions from senior guard Maddie Nolan, who had 22 points.
Despite being outscored 23-15 in the third quarter, MSU only trailed 56-55 heading into the fourth quarter. A highlight reel moment came at the end of the period when sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann hit a half-court buzzer-beater.
Hagemann played all 40 minutes of regulation in the loss, finishing with 11 points and 9 assists.
The fourth quarter featured a dominant Michigan performance. The Wolverines’ defense began to take control, with the Spartans only going 5-for-23 from the field. The Michigan lead swelled to as much as 13 in the late stages of the game.
“We were missing shots and we were struggling, and rather than getting back to who we were, we deviated from that,” Lockwood said.
Michigan State will be on the road against Wisconsin on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
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EAST LANSING– No. 13 Michigan State competed against Penn State in an exhilarating meet on Saturday night. The Spartans recorded a season-high score, and the fourth-highest in program history of 197.450. MSU head coach Mike Rowe was thrilled with the results of the meet.
“It feels amazing, especially only going into week five,” Rowe said.
Rowe expressed he was happy with the team’s progress, and said he understands the team’s mindset. “They felt like they had unfinished business from last year and they mean it,” Rowe said.
The competition started with MSU on vault and PSU on uneven parallel bars. The Spartans dominated on vault, led by sophomore Gabrielle Stephen, who scored a 9.925.
The Nittany Lions had a slow start on bars. Sophomore Jessica Johanson had a fall but still managed a 9.675. Their highest score on bars was a 9.850 from senior Cassidy Rushlow.
Going into the second rotation MSU held the lead, 49.350-48.875. The Spartans had a fall on bars from senior Jori Jackard, but were able to still remain in control of the event and meet. PSU also made a little bit of groundwork with a 9.925 on vault from freshman Ava Piedrahita.
The second rotation ended with MSU holding a .750 lead. Vault concluded with Stephen and Piedrahita tied for the event. For bars, freshman Nikki Smith secured the event with a score of 9.925.
Next up, the Spartans went to the balance beam and the Nittany Lions went to the floor. MSU had a few bobbles on beam and a fall from freshman Olivia Zsarmani.
“If Olivia wasn’t nursing a wounded ankle right now, she’d have been all around and in the hunt with the rest of them, ” Rowe said.
Despite Zsarmani’s injury, junior Baliegh Garcia scored a 9.925 in the event and the Spartans walked away with a 49.275 on beam. The Nittany Lions had a few step-outs and mistakes that hindered the rest of the lineup. Their highest score for the event was a 9.825 from Piedrahita and sophomore Isabella Salcedo.
Entering the final rotation, MSU held a 1.325 on PSU. 148.025-146.700. The Nittany Lions picked up a little slack on beam, but it still wasn’t enough to close the gap the Spartans had created. PSU walked away with a score of 48.775 on beam.
The Spartans were electric on floor. The lowest recorded score, excluding Delanie Harkness’ 9.500, was a 9.850 from Smith. Skyla Shulte scored a 9.925 to clench the event and for beam, Garcia took the event with her 9.925.
The meet closed out with the Spartans winning by 1.975. The final score was 197.450-195.475.
For all-around, fourth place was Piedrahita with a score of 39.350. Third place was Smith with a score of 39.450. Second place was Schulte with a score of 39.475. And the first-place title went to Stephen with a score of 39.575.
Stephen was excited about being able to take first place all around.
“We’ve been working out a lot of small details on all of my routines,” Stephen said. “And so seeing those come out in my routines today was so amazing and so exciting.”
“I think the team has worked a lot to separate ourselves from what other people think and what the media thinks we’re going to do,” Stephen said, “and focus on what we know we can do, and not letting that influence how we practice and how we compete.”
Up next, MSU will travel to Iowa City to compete against Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. ET.
Nikki Smith named B1G Gymnast of the Week and Freshman of the WeekNo. 14 MSU defeats in-state rival No. 3 Michigan for the first time since 2007Spartan gymnastics travel to Big Five Meet this weekend
EAST LANSING — The 10 seniors on Michigan State’s roster have been through it all. Some of them have spent four or five years with the Spartans. They’ve had seasons cut short, played in empty arenas, gone on historic losing streaks and endured coaching changes, all in the last four years.
Others only came to East Lansing for one season, but they’ve made the most of it. They joined a group that changed the fortunes of a hockey program that’s on pace for its first winning season since 2014-15.
After a 3-2 win and series sweep of No. 20 Notre Dame on Saturday, Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale reflected on what his first senior class meant to him. Only three seniors — goalie Dylan St. Cyr, captain Miroslav Mucha and forward Ryan Nolan — had committed to MSU after Nightingale became head coach, so he thanked the group for believing in him and being great teammates.
“I think change isn’t easy,” Nightingale said. “A lot of these guys were already here or already committed to (Michigan State) coming in, and to have a new coach and to trust our staff, you know, it’s not an easy thing to do.”
St. Cyr is one of the five who transferred for their final season. After spending four years at Notre Dame and one at Quinnipiac, the Northville native came back to play his last season in his home state. For St. Cyr, playing his senior night against the school where he began his college career, made the game extra special.
“Even just to see some of those guys,” St. Cyr said, “even when we were doing the senior night ceremony, but they’re coming up on the bench to say hi. I still know about half that team and the support staff and coaching staff as well.”
St. Cyr’s play was critical in the Spartans’ sweep of the Fighting Irish. He stopped 65 of 67 shots on the weekend and made a few highlight-reel saves along the way.
This save from @dylanstcyr was filthy. @MSU_Hockey x @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/Ql6u5bnHTv
— Michigan State on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) February 4, 2023
Those saves create a synergy between St. Cyr and his teammates. He said that the confidence he gets from making the saves helps the players in front of him be their best.
“I think that’s something you want to portray to your team,” he said, “obviously so they have confidence in you, and you show confidence in your team…gives me confidence with the way our team played this weekend.”
Despite his performance, St. Cyr was still quick to recognize those who had put in more time in a green and white sweater than him.
“Obviously here on senior night,” St. Cyr said, “for the guys who put in four years and even the grad transfers who’ve come in, it’s obviously really special. And then to do it against a team like Notre Dame in an important time of the year, it’s all awesome.”
One of those seniors is forward Nicolas Müller, who had a sensational two-goal, two-assist weekend. He teamed up with fellow senior Erik Middendorf and junior Jeremy Davidson for the Spartans’ second goal of the game.
Nico Muller with the go-ahead goal! His second of the weekend and fifth of the season (Extended cut with all the replays, because you need to see them.) pic.twitter.com/o96olxARSn
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 4, 2023
“Middy made a nice play,” Davidson said, “dropped it through his legs, and I kind of picked it up. I knew I had a guy on my back, and I just kind of tried to get it to the front of the net. Nico (Müller) happened to be there, and it was right on his tape, so it’s pretty fortunate.”
Müller is now tied with Karsen Dorwart for the team lead in points (25), but, like the rest of the team, he tries not to concern himself with statistics.
“I definitely get a lot of opportunities that I’m really thankful for,” Müller said after Friday’s 3-0 win, “but I think it’s just fun playing with the team and adding the wins. I think individually, it’s always also nice, but it’s a lot of fun playing with the team and (to) get those wins.”
Most importantly, Nightingale is thankful for how his seniors have impacted the underclassmen. According to him, seniors like Müller and St. Cyr have helped establish the culture that the new coach wants for his program.
“We’re judging them on effort,” Nightingale said, “we’re judging them on attitude, judging them on being a great teammate, and those guys have done it every day for us.”
That culture allows Nightingale to develop the underclassmen, who he says have stepped up in a big way down the stretch.
“I think they’re playing their best hockey right now,” he said, “and it’s a great sign for our program…once you get a group of people like that, that are motivated and self-driven, that’s a good sign for your program.”
A prime example of that development is sophomore defenseman David Gucciardi. Gucciardi blasted a puck from the blue line past Notre Dame goalie Ryan Bischel, which eventually became the game-winner.
Gucciardi's one-timer gives MSU back the lead. Absolute laser. pic.twitter.com/DLeDGCiUQx
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 4, 2023
Entering the series, Gucciardi had recorded one point since Nov. 26. Despite the lack of production on the scoresheet, Nightingale praised Gucciardi for his overall improvement away from the puck.
“He’s a young defenseman,” Nightingale said, “ and I think (he’s) learning what a real defenseman looks like. He’s an elite skater, and to use his skating to defend and close and eliminate time and space, and then be able to make quick decisions offensively…less focus on points and more being a real, world-class defenseman.”
Michigan State still has four regular season games left, including two against rival Michigan. In a tight race in the Big Ten standings, the Spartans will continue to lean on their seniors for leadership.
However, their legacy goes beyond the box scores of this season.
“We’re not done yet here this year,” Nightingale said, “and I think we’ll continue to get better, but they’re laying the foundation for what I think is the greatest program in college hockey, and we’re trying to build it back.”
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EAST LANSING — Michigan State goalie Dylan St. Cyr isn’t one to brag about his accomplishments. After a 3-0 shutout win on Friday over Notre Dame, St. Cyr’s former school, he was quick to deflect the attention away from himself and towards his teammates.
“Our team played really well (Friday),” St. Cyr said. “Penalty kill was awesome. So they kind of made it easy kind of getting into the game, and I think that led me to find my groove better.”
His teammates would disagree with him.
“He always tells (us) that it doesn’t really matter for him,” senior forward Nicolas Müller said, “but deep inside of him, I think it matters a little bit, and it’s pretty cool for him. We’re just glad that we’re able to get him the shutout.”
St. Cyr said he still knows about half of the Fighting Irish roster from his time there, which he said gave him extra motivation heading into the contest.
“Obviously it’s a fun night to see those guys,” he said. “Any time I get to see those guys, they’re still friends, but when you kind of get in the ice, it’s an extra fire that’s lit under (you).”
St. Cyr made 32 saves en route to his third shutout of the season. It was a much-needed redemption after a weekend where he allowed 11 goals in five periods at Minnesota. He was pulled after the two periods in the first game in that series, so he was happy to find his rhythm again.
“I think it’s just with kind of getting back into it,” St. Cyr said, “after a weekend like last weekend and finding comfort playing in front of our fans at home.”
While the Spartans struggled to defend against a high-powered Minnesota team, they were able to limit chances and frustrate the Fighting Irish for much of the game. Notre Dame took five penalties, one of which led to a Jagger Joshua deflection that broke the scoreless tie.
This Jagger Joshua PPG gets MSU on the board early in the second period. pic.twitter.com/50f1IfoLYK
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 4, 2023
The Spartans never looked back. While a goal from senior Erik Middendorf gave them the insurance they needed, St. Cyr shut the door on the other end. While he was never forced to make the sprawling, highlight-reel saves that fans have become accustomed to, he stepped up when necessary.
Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale prefers it that way.
“His rebound control was really good,” Nightingale said of his goalie. “So it seemed like, any time they got any type of pressure, he was able to kind of calm it down, and that’s when Dylan’s playing his best.”
The most pressure St. Cyr faced came right at the end, when Notre Dame pulled goalie Ryan Bischel with over five minutes left, meaning the Fighting Irish would throw all the pressure it could at Michigan State with the remaining time.
“Usually,” St. Cyr said, “that’s something they would do thinking they didn’t have any five-on-five chances as much. So obviously, that speaks to the way our team was playing.”
While the Spartans stood tall on defense, Müller was able to put away the game with a heave from the red line, and so the Spartans would walk out with a much-needed three points in the Big Ten.
With five games left in the regular season, the race for playoffs is heating up. The second-place team, Penn State, is only four points ahead of Notre Dame, who’s in sixth. The Spartans, currently fifth, will need to finish fourth or better if they want home-ice advantage in the Big Ten tournament.
With only two more home games left, wins like Friday’s are critical in making that happen. Michigan State is now 10-4-1 at home, so it will look to make the most of the home ice it has left.
“Down the stretch, that’s going to be an important (five) games,” St. Cyr said. “I think to play in front of our home crowd in that environment was definitely something special.”
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Michigan State men’s basketball team suffered its worst defeat of the season at the hands of No. 1 Purdue on Sunday. Zach Edey led the Boilermakers to a 77-61 win over the Spartans, and he recorded a new career-high with 38 points.
Edey had 13 rebounds to go along with his dominant performance. He’s recorded a career-high in points three times against the Spartans throughout his career.
“I thought we just couldn’t cover him [Edey],” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “He’s physical. You can’t push him out. I was disappointed in that a little bit.”
All signs in the first eight minutes of the game pointed towards a tightly contested game, but as soon as Edey caught fire, it became an uphill battle for the Spartans.
That's some effort. @zach_edey x @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/baUAxP3b8W
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 29, 2023
MSU only scored two baskets out of their last 11 attempts to end the first half.
Michigan State went into the halftime break trailing 40-22 and was essentially bullied down low.
“They played well and they did an unbelievable job of giving him [Edey] the ball,” Izzo said. “He can back you down and you can’t do much about it.”
It was a deja vu of MSU’s trip to Mackey Arena on Jan. 12, 2020, where the Spartans lost 71-42. In that game, the Spartans trailed at halftime by a 17-point deficit. On Sunday, they went into the break with an 18-point deficit.
To make matters worse, Izzo received a technical foul while heading to the locker room, giving Purdue two free throws as soon as they returned for the second half.
“The place [Mackey Arena] was electric and it was a great crowd,” Izzo said.
After halftime, Michigan State started the game with two straight baskets by Mady Sissoko and Tyson Walker. Unfortunately for the Spartans, it did not create enough of a spark to hold down Purdue.
Edey scored 22 points in the second half while the rest of Purdue shot a combined 15 points. To say that Edey had a dominant second half would be an understatement.
MSU changed the tactics defensively and began double-teaming Edey, but it still did not help the cause.
For the Spartans, the bright spot was that point guard A.J. Hoggard recorded a team-high 20 points and six assists. Hoggard went to the free-throw line nine times and was successful for seven of those attempts.
Hoggard and sophomore Jaden Akins were the only Spartans who finished the game with double-digit scoring.
“He [Hoggard] did his job today,” Izzo said. “I thought we played him a little too much and he got tired.”
In Hoggard’s last game against Iowa, he went to the line once. He improved in earning some fouls while driving to the basket. Michigan State will have to significantly improve in its upcoming break to hold on to a top-four spot in the Big Ten standings.
The Spartans have six days of rest until they travel to Madison Square Garden in New York City to face Rutgers on Feb. 4. Tip-off from MSG is scheduled for noon.
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EAST LANSING – On any given Friday night in January, Munn Ice Arena is typically filled with 6,000 or more hockey fans settling in to watch the Spartans. However, on this past Friday night, the Spartans’ home rink was filled with over 100 people who are usually covering those games; student journalists.
A group of four student organizations gathered Friday night to face off in Impact’s third annual broomball match. The groups included host Impact 89FM, MSU’s student radio station, the State News, Spartan Sports Report and MSU Telecasters.
The contest has historically just been a competition between Impact and the State News but with a mismatch in manpower in recent years, the decision was made to extend an invitation to other student organizations.
The goal was to make the game more competitive as Impact has handily won every meeting. Some goals aren’t always met.
Impact dominated the game and took home its third consecutive victory, 5-2.
Sam Kurtzman, Zac Slowik and Brendan Schabath pose for the most menacing picture of the night. // Photo Credit: Delaney RogersWith a new challenge in front of them, an invigorated group of Impacters were well prepared to take down their opponents. As WDBM garnered nearly 50 players on its squad, the game was billed as “Impact vs. Everybody.”
With music blaring and cheers from the bench ringing through Munn Ice Arena, Impact got off to a hot start. The game was played in five-minute shifts in which play was then stopped for substitutions. Impact scored before the first switch.
Impact’s executive board celebrates with the trophy. Left to right: Operations Manager Sam Kurtzman, Marketing Director Ashley Land, News Director Zac Slowik, Sports Director Brendan Schabath, Programming Director Mckenna Lounds, Station Manager Delaney Rogers. // Photo Credit: Adam SteinhauerOffensive zone pressure and a “boots on the ground” game plan led to an early goal for the red and black. Hockey beat reporter Ryan Radosevich showcased his skills all night for Impact. Radosevich, a former hockey player himself, proved that despite the obvious differences between broomball and traditional hockey, experience on the ice pays off.
It started early with a loose-ball collection on the near-side boards in the attacking zone. Radosevich collected himself, dangled a defender and found Impact News Director, Zac Slowik in front of the crease. After a short scramble, Slowik punched the ball into the back of the net and Impact was off and running.
It was a big night for Slowik as he finished with two goals, two assists and was +4 while on the ice.
The Impact bench cheers on their teammates on the ice. // Photo Credit: Jeremy WhitingImpact would score four unanswered goals from a flurry of players. Men’s basketball beat reporter Michael Markoch connected with Sports Director Brendan Schabath for an assist as Schabath tipped the ball just in time to find women’s basketball beat reporter Matt Merrifield for a second goal.
Schabath completed the night with two assists while contributing a +4 mark during his ice time.
Hockey beat reporter Jacob Stinson also notched a tally on the scoresheet for Impact as he netted the third goal of the night. Stinson collaborated with women’s basketball beat reporter Allie Cohen for the goal. Cohen was a star all night for Impact.
Cohen was celebrating a birthday as she took the ice Friday night. Perhaps no one, herself included, expected she would be celebrating by taking home the MVP honors for WDBM. Cohen surprised many with a standout performance for her ability to gain possession of the ball in the neutral zone and push it forward for offensive opportunities. She was constantly in the mix of Impact’s 45 total shots on goal and was an easy choice as the MVP.
Maggie Heflin, Paige Drob and Matt Anikiej brave the slippery conditions of the ice for a serious winners photo after the game.The State News put forth a quality effort in a comeback attempt in the second half of the game.
Despite minimal offensive chances due to Impact’s suffocating backline defense, MSU Telecasters sideshow producer Danny Zivian was heavily involved in any chances that did come about. He made a crisp pass to State News men’s basketball beat reporter Melanie Soverinsky who smacked the ball past goalkeeper Zach Surdenik for the team’s first goal of the game.
The squad would get one more after Spartan Sports Report director Ethan Hunter found a streaking Alex Walters for their second goal. Walters, an environment reporter for the State News, would score the final goal of the night for his team.
Some Impact team members pose for a victorious picture with the trophy. Left to Right: Nick Sanchez, Emma Frank, Adam Steinhauer, Sophie Scureman-Stoops, Sav Hamed, Ashley Land, Paige Drob.As the clock ticked ever so close to zero, Impact held a decisive 4-2 lead. Yet, the radio broadcasters were not satisfied. Specialty show host of The Vibe, Matt Anikiej, was the benefactor of a mad dash in front of the goal as he scored WDBM’s fifth and final goal of the contest. A goal that would send Impact into a frenzy of excitement and celebration as the result was imminent.
The horn sounded and a swarm of Impacters donning all-black attire gathered around the shiny gold trophy at center ice. Hugs, high fives, screams of excitement and joyous laughter were abundant in the post-game celebration.
Impact’s office team poses for a photo with the trophy. Left to Right: Sarah Laughner, Jake Rhodes, Sam Kurtzman, Matt Cruz, Adam Steinhauer, Ashley Land, Zac Slowik.The 5-2 final score mirrors the exact same score from the previous year. Three years ago (the 2020 contest was canceled due to COVID) Impact routed the State News to the tune of a 15-1 victory. The blowout inflated the odds of this year’s contest as the spread closed at 3.5 goals (Merrifield Sportsbook). With back-to-back 5-2 victories, Impact is 1-2 ATS in the last three contests.
Impact would like to thank MSU Athletics and Munn Ice Arena for the use of the facilities during the game. They would also like to thank faculty members Jon Whiting (MSU Telecasters), Chris Richert, Kim Margolis, Wesley Herold (State News), Lori Ann Dickerson and Dan Dickerson (Spartan Sports Report) for their participation in the event.
Impact can relish in the win for now, but next year’s game is already fresh on the mind of those returning to continue Impact’s dominant legacy.
The Zac(h)s! News Director Zac Slowik and Sports Broadcast Director Zach Surdenik gather on the boards for a celebratory picture after the game. // Photo Credit: Brendan SchabathGoal Scorers
Impact 89FM:
Zac Slowik (2)
Matt Merrifield (1)
Jacob Stinson (1)
Matt Anikiej (1)
State News/Spartan Sports Report/MSU Telecasters:
Melanie Soverinsky (1)
Alex Walters (1)
Playlist | Songs for sending your broomball enemies to the hospital
EAST LANSING – Michigan State escaped from the Breslin Center with a 63-61 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday evening. Despite trailing 10-0 after the first media timeout, the Spartans prevailed and improved to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in the Big Ten. Iowa couldn’t go in front after two missed game-winning three-pointers from sophomore forward Payton Sandfort.
The Spartans responded in a game they needed to have, especially due to their next opponent, which will be No. 1 Purdue in West Lafayette on Sunday.
Here are some takeaways from the Thursday night win.
Mady Sissoko showed promise
Undoubtedly, it’s been a rocky season for the junior big man. After showing some flashes against Gonzaga and Kentucky back in November, Mady Sissoko has been inconsistent for a team that needs his contributions at the center position.
Sissoko recorded his first double-double of the season, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Additionally, Sissoko came up with some big offensive rebounds when the team needed it, including a put-back dunk after a missed layup from Tyson Walker.
Sissoko has faced some of the best big men in college basketball this season, from Drew Timme, Oscar Tshiebwe, Zach Edey, and other high-level centers in the Big Ten. Sissoko’s presence will certainly be needed on the glass heading into February and March.
Malik Hall is back
When senior forward Malik Hall checked into the game at the 16:21 mark of the first half, the Breslin Center crowd gave him a loud round of applause. Once Hall got going on the floor, it looked like he was fully recovered from the stress reaction in his foot that he suffered in the 75-66 loss at Illinois.
“It is more comforting when he’s out there,” said head coach Tom Izzo. “He knows where to be, he knows what to do. I was surprised he moved as well as he did.”
Hall finished the game with 11 points while shooting 50% (4-8) from the field, along with playing a surprising 24 minutes after missing two weeks, and only practicing twice this week.
As we’ve seen, Michigan State is a better basketball team when Malik Hall is on the floor. The offense is more in-sync, there is better communication on defense, and Hall delivers that leadership they don’t get as much of without him. As the Spartans get set to hit the road against No. 1 Purdue and Rutgers, Malik Hall should still be playing significant minutes, which will give the Spartans a better chance against two of the top Big Ten teams.
The guard play was underwhelming
This Michigan State team is known for having some of the best guard play in the Big Ten, with A.J. Hoggard and Tyson Walker at the helm. While Hoggard and Walker have been impressive, they struggled against the Hawkeyes. Hoggard went 3-12 from the field, with seven points and three turnovers. Tyson Walker finished with 10 points on 4-14 shooting. The senior guard from Westbury, New York, hit the go-ahead jumper to put MSU up 61-59 with a minute to go.
“I would say I played ok, but I didn’t play an A.J. Hoggard type of game tonight if you want me to be completely honest,” said junior guard A.J. Hoggard. “They [Iowa] did a good job of denying and covering our sets, and making us do a lot of one-on-one matchups.”
With two tough road games ahead, it is important that Michigan State continues to get reliable guard play like they’ve had all season. With how deep the Big Ten is, the Spartans will have to continue to rely on Hoggard and Walker if they want to make some noise come tournament time.
Spartans edge out Hawkeyes in another close contest, 63-61Izzo: I’m proud of the way we competed under the circumstancesJaxon Kohler sets four career highs in 70-57 win over No. 23 Rutgers
EAST LANSING – The air left the building as the ball left Payton Sandfort’s hands.
A wide-open three with the game hanging in the balance. But the Iowa sharpshooter missed and could not break Iowa’s shooting drought and Michigan State survived with a 63-61 home victory.
Any win in the Big Ten is a big one but in a game that started with a 10-0 Iowa run and an MSU scoring drought that lasted nearly five minutes, this one has to feel good.
“We’ve lost some games that we deserved to win, but tonight we may have won one that I’m not sure we deserved to win… but an ugly win is better than a pretty loss,” Izzo said.
The return of Malik Hall brought energy to the building, as the Spartan senior scored 11 points including a thunderous dunk towards the end of the first half. Hall missed the last three games and has missed 11 games in total this season after re-injuring his left foot but played 25 minutes Thursday night.
“It’s more comforting when he’s out there,” Izzo said. “He knows where to be, he knows what to do… The guy just does a lot of things. If anyone was wondering why we missed him, we missed him.”
Malik Hall celebrates after a made basket during Michigan State’s 63-61 victory over Iowa on January 26, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)Junior Ahron Ulis led the way for Iowa with a career-high 17 points but missed three free throws down the stretch as the Hawkeyes managed to score just 3 points in the final 5:21 of the game.
The win over Iowa marked the seventh time this year MSU has been in a game decided by 4 points or less. The Spartans are 5-2 in such games.
Kris Murray, the Hawkeyes’ leading scorer at 21.3 points per game, was held to just 11 points which included missing all five of his three-point attempts.
While MSU fell behind early in the game, the Spartans settled in with a couple of big shots from Tyson Walker and Joey Hauser. Both Hauser and Walker left the game at different points in the second half with injuries but returned to help the team close out the game.
“Walker showed how much he’s grown in the program,” Izzo said. “I think he did a heckuva job sucking it up which I’m not sure he would’ve done a year ago.”
Hauser’s second-half resurgence came at a big time for MSU after he left the game with an apparent knee injury. He appeared frustrated and lethargic but returned to hit back-to-back threes and give the Spartans a lift as Iowa tried to pull away.
Mady Sissoko battled with Filip Rebrača all night long in the post. Sissoko notched his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Rebrača racked up 16 points and 11 rebounds of his own.
Walker has been MSU’s closer throughout the season. When he went down in the final minutes, it looked as if the Spartans would need to go elsewhere with the game on the line. Instead, tied at 59, Walker returned to hit the go-ahead bucket. A long, contested two with 1:24 to play gave MSU a lead it would not relinquish.
The Spartans are back in action Sunday afternoon against No. 1 Purdue in West Lafayette.
Izzo: I’m proud of the way we competed under the circumstancesJaxon Kohler sets four career highs in 70-57 win over No. 23 RutgersZach Edey and No. 3 Purdue earn hard-fought win over Michigan State
EAST LANSING – No. 14 Michigan State defeated No. 3 Michigan in its home and conference opener on Sunday, Jan. 22. The Spartans closed the meet with a score of 197.200, and the Wolverines ended with a score of 196.975. MSU hasn’t been able to shake Michigan since 2007, but that changed in this meet.
The Jenison Field House was packed with fans. “I haven’t seen this since I’ve been here,” said Michigan State head coach Mike Rowe. “So that was very exciting to see that many fans in the stands, and getting up on their feet and doing the fight song and the ‘Go Green Go White.’ It was just electric.”
The Spartans started the competition off strong with the vault. Freshman Nikki Smith scored a 9.950 on her vault. “She’s technically great,” said Rowe. Michigan started with bars, and graduate student Abby Heiskell was in a three-way tie for first with freshman Olivia Zsarmani, and junior Delanie Harkness of MSU, with a score of 9.875 after the second rotation.
Going into the third rotation, MSU held a 0.150 lead over Michigan. While on the floor, Michigan was able to pull ahead by the end of the third rotation. Senior Wolverine Sierra Brooks scored a 9.950. The lowest score put up by the Wolverines on floor was a 9.825. On beam, MSU’s lowest score was a 9.825. Michigan took the lead after the third rotation with a score of 148.050 and MSU at 147.925.
MSU closed out the meet with floor, and Michigan closed out on beam. While on beam, Michigan graduate student Natalie Wojcik tied with MSU sophomore Gabrielle Stephen for first in the event with a score of 9.900. Smith’s floor routine scored a 9.900 for the Spartans, sealing the victory for MSU.
For all-around, Smith placed first with 39.525. Senior Wolverine Gabby Wilson came in second with 39.450. Then in third, Stephen with a score of 39.425.
Rowe was emotional after the meet. “Knowing the tradition of that program and where they’ve been, where they’ve come from…what they’ve done in so many years,” said Rowe. To know that we did that tonight is I’m so proud of the girls, my staff, everybody.”
The Spartans will travel to College Park for their 1 p.m. meet on Sunday, Jan. 29 against Maryland.
Spartan gymnastics travel to Big Five Meet this weekendWeekend Recap: Spartan gymnastics makes historyPreviewing No. 15 Michigan State gymnastics vs. Maryland
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State women’s basketball team (11-9, 3-6) took care of business and snapped its four-game losing streak 85-63 against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-13, 2-7) on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.
Sunday’s contest celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX and MSU alumni.
The Spartans started the game with efficient and turnover-free basketball, as the team did not commit a turnover in the first quarter. MSU had a 27-10 run in the first quarter and only committed two turnovers in the first half.
“I think part of the reason why we were efficient was because we were able to get stops and keep our pressure on them in our transition game,” said head coach Suzy Merchant. “I thought our players, whether they were subs or starters, did a good job of pushing tempo and making good decisions.”
In the second quarter, Rutgers did not record a field goal in the last 4:30. The Spartans would go into the locker room up 48-26.
Senior guard Moira Joiner led the Spartans with 9 points in the first half. Sophomore guards DeeDee Hagemann and Matilda Ekh added 7 points.
Check out the handles on @ballin_deedee35 to find Isa!! pic.twitter.com/0FIIQvwAhC
— Michigan State Women's Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) January 22, 2023
Along with the contributions from the bench, four players recorded double figures for the Spartans. Freshman guard Abbey scored 13 points and shot 50% from the field.
“She’s [Abbey Kimball] starting to get into her groove a little bit,” Merchant said. “I think her basketball timing and everything is coming back, and we’ve seen it before Christmas and into the early part of January.”
Kimball has seen increased playing time in the past month and the work on the court is showing why she’s a reliable option.
“It was hard to establish yourself when you’re coming in right when Big Ten play starts,” Kimball said. “I think that I engraved into my head and mentality that every opportunity matters. When I got in, whether it was the first quarter or the fourth quarter, I had to do what I could do with those minutes.”
The Scarlet Knights came out scoring on their first three shots to start the quarter and forced head coach Suzy Merchant to call an urgent timeout. Freshman guard Kaylene Smikle played a crucial role in trying to get the Scarlet Knights level with the Spartans.
Smikle ended the night with 27 points on 53% shooting. She had three steals to go along with her impressive individual performance.
The Spartans would respond by going on a 9-0 run to close out the third quarter and lead 63-44.
The team only shot 23% from the three-point line despite the dominating Spartan performance. Scoring in the paint was a great strength, as senior forward Taiyier Parks had a redeeming game with 14 points.
The Spartans would go on to seal the 85-63 win.
MSU will travel to Champaign and take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.
Michigan State falls in overtime to No. 10 IowaFINAL: Michigan State 55, No. 17 Michigan 70Michigan State survives late Northwestern comeback, 71-64
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan State track and field team competed on Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational in Ann Arbor. The Spartans competed against Big Ten rivals Purdue, Michigan and Ohio State in the invitational.
The women’s team finished third in the invitational with 96 points behind Ohio State (2nd place) and Michigan (1st place). The men’s team finished in last place with 64 points in the meet.
Despite a last place finish for the men’s team, the Spartans saw a strong performance by fifth year senior pole vaulter Trevor Stephenson, who finished first in the pole vault with a jump of 5.20 meters.
3️⃣ event winners from today's Simmons-Harvey Invite!
Opal Jackson – Shot Put – 15.83m
Val Pallett – Weight Throw – 18.65m
Trevor Stephenson – Pole Vault – 5.20m#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/y3XwWpgBRS— MSU Track & Field/XC (@MSU_TFXC) January 21, 2023
The Spartans also recorded top 3 finishes in the 400 meter dash and shotput. Spartan sophomore sprinter Noah Sage finished second in the 400 meter dash with a time of 48.08. In the shot put, freshman thrower Colby Morlock came in third in the shot put with a throw of 17.39 meters.
In the 4 x 400 the Spartans distance runners Noah Sage, Antonio Postell, Kendel Hammock, and Jalen Jackson finished 3rd with a time of 3:09.05.
On the women’s side, the Spartans received first place finishes from sophomore Opal Jackson in the shotput and sophomore Valadian Pallett in the weight throw. Jackson threw 18.60 meters in the shot put, while Pallett threw 18.65 meters in the weight throw.
MSU also saw strong performances in the 3000 meter run by fifth year senior distance runner Katie Osika who came in fourth place with a time of 9:33. Senior sprinter Amani Nuels finished in the second with a time of 7.45 seconds.
The Spartans will travel to Bloomington for the Indiana University Relays on Jan. 27 while other runners will travel to Louisville for the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Michigan State men’s basketball team traveled to Bloomington in search of its first road win since Jan. 10. In a back and forth battle that saw both teams jostling for control, Michigan State fell short on the road, losing to Indiana 82-69.
The Spartans entered Sunday’s matchup on a three-game winning streak against the Hoosiers, who were 9-1 at home entering Sunday’s matchup.
“I think the sixteen games in six days caught up with us a little bit,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “When you’re playing on the road, a couple mistakes can really change things.”
After going on a 10-0 run in the early stages of the first-half, Michigan State could not connect on a field goal opportunity within the last four minutes, and trailed 32-37 heading into the locker room at halftime.
In Assembly Hall, one of the toughest atmospheres in college basketball, the Spartans struggled to respond to Indiana’s momentum in the second half.
Izzo noted in Sunday’s postgame press conference that junior guard Tyson Walker was sick throughout most of this week, and wasn’t expected to play today.
“Tyson Walker got sick two nights ago, and didn’t practice,” Izzo said. “This morning, we didn’t think he was gonna play, so I give him a lot of credit.”
Walker went 4-7 from the field, and scored eight points.
“He played 32 minutes in this one. I apologized to him after the game. We just had no choice,” Izzo said.
The story of the game for Indiana was Trayce Jackson-Davis, who made his presence felt everywhere on the floor, recording 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and five blocks.
“I think he’s [Jackson-Davis] much better,” Izzo said. “I think he’s passing the ball so much better, and he shot much better from the line. He’s a good player.”
Jackson Davis’ five blocks today tied him for first in total career blocks in Indiana’s history.
Indiana was also bolstered by their bench, most notably guard Tamar Bates, who tied his career-high of five three-pointers.
TJD @TrayceJackson x @IndianaMBB pic.twitter.com/eAT6L3hk3I
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 22, 2023
Despite the loss, MSU received impressive performances from senior forward Joey Hauser, and junior guard Jaden Akins, who recorded 22 and 15 points, respectively.
“You have to bring it, in every aspect, especially on the road,” Akins said. “You can’t make a lot of mistakes, and you don’t have a lot of room for error. You have to be on top of your game to get road wins. It’s tough in the Big Ten.”
The Spartans are now in fifth place in the Big Ten standings after Sunday’s loss while Indiana sits right behind them in sixth place.
“I’m proud of the way we competed under the circumstances,” Izzo said.
The Spartans will head back to the Breslin Center for a matchup against Iowa on Thursday, before heading back on the road to face Purdue and Rutgers.
Zach Edey and No. 3 Purdue earn hard-fought win over Michigan StateFINAL: Michigan State 55, No. 17 Michigan 70Michigan State set for Wisconsin road test
EAST LANSING — The Michigan State men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak after defeating No. 23 Rutgers on Thursday night. MSU freshman Jaxon Kohler set four career highs and helped the Spartans earn a 70-57 win over the Scarlet Knights.
Kohler recorded career-high numbers in points (12), rebounds (11), minutes (23) and blocks (3).
“He [Kohler] rebounded the ball well,” head coach Tom Izzo said after the game. “He is good on the block and good on the ball. I think we did a better job of getting him the ball.”
A.J. Hoggard once again took control of the floor as he ended the night with a game-high 16 points and seven assists. He’s recorded 50 points in the past five games.
Just the beginning for @jaxonkohler pic.twitter.com/tn4JOsqI1g
— Michigan State on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) January 20, 2023
After another sluggish start to a game, Michigan State rallied back to earn a first-half lead over Rutgers. The Scarlett Knights led by as much as eight points early in the game. Despite struggling early in the game, Michigan State’s sharpshooters put on one of their better performances of the season.
The Spartans shot 54.5% (12-22) from three-point range and shot 47% (26-55) overall.
“We said we would get in the paint and pick out some open looks and we did,” Izzo said. “I was really pleased with getting 19 assists against a team that is so good defensively.”
Similar to the game against No. 3 Purdue on Jan. 16, the Spartans missed a heavy volume of shots until they finally started to go inside the basket in the latter part of the first half.
The eye-opening fact of the first half is that Rutgers out-rebounded Michigan State 21-11. Izzo was not thrilled by the rebound comparison.
“When they get 18 offensive boards, you usually don’t win games,” Izzo said. “We got 19 assists against a great offensive team and that’s hard to do.”
The Scarlet Knights would end the night with 42 rebounds, 18 of them being offensive boards. In comparison, the Spartans rebounded the ball six times on offense throughout the game.
Rutgers center Clifford Omoyuri played a crucial part in that.
He finished the night with 12 points and 12 rebounds, his second straight double-double. Against Ohio State on Jan. 15, Omoyuri recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds.
“We got thrown around tonight if you ask me,” Izzo said. “I love the way they [Rutgers] play.”
The positive note was that the Spartans’ shot selection improved against the Scarlet Knights compared to recent games.
“We said it was going to be a rock fight. It was a rock fight against Purdue, meaning that it was very physical,” Izzo said. “They are tough games, grinding games. We’re getting a little better.”
Sophomore Jaden Akins’ dunk midway through the second half had the Izzone on its feet. Since Malik Hall’s injury, Akins has taken a larger role in the starting lineup. He credits his increased game time to his recent changes in the way he prepares for games.
The roof at Breslin might explode after this @JadenAkins3 dunk. @MSU_Basketball x @B1GMBBall pic.twitter.com/PSug8YnQBb
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 20, 2023
“With my mental approach to things, I feel like I changed that a little bit,” Akins said. “I know I’m approaching the game the right way.”
Michigan State will move on to a road game against Indiana this weekend. The matchup against the Hoosiers on Sunday, Jan. 22 is a noon tip-off from Bloomington.
Keon Coleman will not play basketball this season, will focus on footballZach Edey and No. 3 Purdue earn hard-fought win over Michigan StateFINAL: Michigan State 55, No. 17 Michigan 70
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State women’s basketball team came out big against No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday night, but fell in a heartbreaking fashion 84-81 in overtime.
“I don’t think our effort was bad, and I thought we fought the battle,” said MSU head coach Suzy Merchant. “Our problem is down the stretch we have opportunities to seal things and we don’t hit them.”
In the first quarter, the Spartans did a good job creating a high-pressure defense to slow the Hawkeyes down, but did not shut them down completely. Both teams were aggressive and put up a fight from the first tipoff, but the shooting issues that have plagued the Spartans all season, kept them behind the Hawkeyes. The Spartans started out the night shooting 27% inside the paint and 17% outside. However, the team’s strong defense kept the margin small with the Hawkeyes only leading by five at the end of the first quarter.
MSU had a total of 10 steals, 26 defensive rebounds, and forced 20 turnovers. The Spartans’ effort on defense was crucial, holding off the aggressive Hawkeyes long enough for the Green and White to gain their footing offensively.
Junior guard Moira Joiner, who was charged with guarding Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, stepped up in a big way. Joiner stayed right on Clark, helping keep the Hawkeyes’ points down. Clark averages 26.8 points a game, and Joiner did a great job of shutting down Iowa’s star. Clark totaled 26 points, with 12 coming from free throws.
At the start of the second quarter it looked like the Hawkeyes would pull away, but after a three-pointer from freshman guard Abbey Kimball ended a two minute scoring drought, the Spartans flipped a switch and found some offensive momentum. Kimball, who has not seen much time on the court this season, tied her season high of seven points at halftime.
“She’s a shooter that comes in with a lot of confidence,” said Merchant. “She knocked some shots down that got us ahead and helped get some confidence offensively.”
MSU continued to work hard and shut down the Hawkeyes, forcing a three minute scoring drought to end the half. The Spartans left the court with enthusiasm, after a half-court buzzer beater by senior guard Kamaria McDaniel put the team up 32-31.
A few minutes into the second half, sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann left the court with an injury on her right leg. While it looked like Hagemann may have been done for the night, or even longer, she returned to the court just 20 minutes after heading into the tunnel.
The third quarter started with instant offensive momentum from MSU. Matilda Ekh sank two back-to-back shots from outside the arc. The Hawkeyes, however, were not silenced easily, and kept the margin close throughout the quarter. The lead changed 10 times throughout the 10 minutes of play. MSU remained on top heading into the fourth, leading 58-54.
In the final quarter of the game, the Spartans started off on another offensive run, but the Hawkeyes responded quickly, closing the gap and bringing the game down to the wire. In the last few minutes, senior forward Monika Czinano, one of the Hawkeyes’ top scorers with 22 points, fouled out of the game. MSU’s fouls sent Iowa to the line, bringing the score to a tie at 70 with 30 seconds left to play. Both teams got stops on defense, forcing the game to overtime.
In overtime, Michigan State’s foul trouble continued to be an issue. Clark was sent to the line three times in overtime, and gave the Hawkeyes a three point lead with 17 seconds to go. Iowa led 82-79 with 5 seconds left, but an intentional foul called on Clark sent MSU guard McDaniel to the line, and the game came down to the Spartans’ last possession. McDaniel drained both free throws, and the Spartans trailed 81-82. In the end, a foul called on Hagemann sent Iowa back to the line. Iowa senior Molly Davis sank both free throws with two seconds left, sealing an 84-81 victory for the Hawkeyes.
MSU has now lost four straight games in Big Ten play. The Spartans will look to get back into the win column on Sunday afternoon, where they’ll take on Rutgers at the Breslin Center.
FINAL: Michigan State 55, No. 17 Michigan 70MSU’s late comeback falls short in OT against WisconsinMichigan State survives late Northwestern comeback, 71-64
EAST LANSING — In a game that came down to the final seconds, the Michigan State men’s basketball team fell short against No. 3 Purdue as the Boilermakers earned a 64-63 win. Despite Tyson Walker’s 30-point performance, Purdue’s Zach Edey stole the spotlight with a career-high 32 points and the game-winning shot.
Walker recorded the first 30-point game for Michigan State since Cassius Winston scored 32 points against Michigan on Jan. 5, 2020.
Purdue improves to 17-1 on the season while MSU is now 12-6.
“There are not many times when I enter the locker room and thank my team for competing,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “We battled back and out-rebounded them [Purdue]. I felt like we gave everything we got, except for the beginning.”
Final from the Breslin Center. pic.twitter.com/fOdTnp3xn9
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) January 16, 2023
With just three seconds left, Edey hit the game-winner. The Spartans had one more chance to win the game with 1.8 seconds left with Walker, but his rushed attempt fell short.
Michigan State was down by as much as 13 points in the first half before guard A.J. Hoggard and Walker cut the deficit to two points before halftime. It was an unexpected lethargic start to the game for MSU.
“I thought we did a poor job early on,” Izzo said. “We wanted to move them, and we didn’t move them. Later on, we moved them and opened up some shots.”
The Spartans were without star forward Malik Hall after he left injured against Illinois on Jan. 13. It remains unclear if Malik Hall will return to the court soon.
“Malik [Hall] handled it so well, and we don’t know exactly what’s going on,” Izzo said. “A specialist just looked at it [Hall’s foot], and he had a meeting with him. Nothing looks good in the immediate future, but whether [he’s out] the full year or not, we don’t know.”
MSU’s wing play in the first chunk of the first half was not opening space for the guards to put shots up. It took until the last three minutes before halftime for Walker and Hoggard to find a scoring rhythm.
Edey recorded 17 points at halftime and foreshadowed what was to be a career performance. Although MSU center Mady Sissoko started defending the 7-foot-4 Boilermaker well at the start of the game, Edey’s size and power led him to a strong start against the Spartans.
“The last basket he [Edey] made hurt me more than anything because that was the game point for them,” Sissoko said. “It is difficult to stop him if you give [him] the angle.”
To start the second half, senior forward Joey Hauser tied the game at 27 and set the tone for the rest of the game. Michigan State took higher percentage shots and found their stride. Hoggard would end the game with 14 points and a game-high eight assists.
MSU turned the tide when Walker hit back-to-back three-pointers with 4:15 left to play. Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer, brother of former MSU guard Foster Loyer, traded three-pointers with Walker. Loyer ended the game with 17 points in 5-9 shooting.
Loyer’s ability to get to the rim late in the game made the difference for Purdue.
Purdue shot exceptionally well at the free-throw line, shooting 88%, while Michigan State shot 70% from the line.
“We’ve been through the wars before and experience helps in this kind of situation,” Hoggard said. “We’re going to build on that and continue to fight.”
With 12 seconds left on the clock, Walker notched his 30th point of the game, and the Spartans believed they had the game under their belt. The players believed it, and the fans did more.
ANOTHER @TysonWalker13 x @MSU_Basketball pic.twitter.com/HJr9fbaooO
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 16, 2023
“Tyson Walker has really grown as a man and so has A.J. [Hoggard],” Izzo said. “We can’t have bad starts. You can’t have empty possessions. We had a lot of those.”
In a packed Breslin Center, fans did their best to inspire MSU to an upset win over Purdue. The last time MSU took down a top-five team was against Purdue last February where Walker hit a game-winning three-pointer.
“We appreciate the Izzone,” Hoggard said. “They’re like our sixth man and one of the best sixth men in the country. We appreciate them for coming here every night and giving their all.”
It didn’t work out this time for MSU, but the fight was there. A fight and mental edge that was needed after losing to Illinois and losing one of their key players in Hall.
“We have a lot of basketball left,” Izzo said. “Thursday is going to be the same kind of battle.”
Michigan State returns to the hardwood on Thursday, Jan. 19 when they host Rutgers. Tip-off against Rutgers at the Breslin Center is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Michigan State set for Wisconsin road testMichigan State defeats Michigan 59-53, extends win streak to sixKeon Coleman will not play basketball this season, will focus on football
EAST LANSING – One common phrase heard from Michigan State hockey head coach Adam Nightingale is focusing on the next one – the next game, the next goal, the next shift. After a tough series loss to No. 8 Ohio State, the Spartans had only to look forward to hosting No. 5 Penn State. A five-game losing streak raised a lot of questions about the potential in the second half of the season.
This past weekend, MSU answered with a resounding sweep of the Nittany Lions with one win in overtime and another in a shootout.
Here are three takeaways from the weekend.
Danny Russel and Matt Basgall celebrate after Russel’s shootout goal during Michigan State’s tie with No. 5 Penn State on January 14, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)Jagger Joshua does it again
Jagger Joshua has not been short of surprises by any means this season. Not only is the senior left winger leading in goals after this series, but he’s also the first Spartan to reach double-digit goals on the season. He now sits at the top of the goal sheet with 11 scored through 14 games. That’s three more than his first three years at Michigan State combined.
Joshua, who is 6-foot-3, is no stranger to playing the body in front of the net, and that’s what has made him such a valuable player on offense this season.
“I think my body and the work I put in the gym makes it a little hard for the opponents to get me out of the way,” Joshua said. “It just comes down to my work ethic and using my body to my advantage.”
That physicality in front of Nittany Lions’ goaltender Liam Souliere was a crucial part of Michigan State’s offense. In game one, Souliere dropped the puck in the slot setting Joshua up to score on his own rebound. Game two saw even more production from Joshua as he scored his second hat trick of the season, the first since Michigan State hosted Long Island University on Oct. 22. That makes him the second player in college hockey to have multiple hat tricks this season.
With a tough slate of games ahead, Jagger Joshua is one player that MSU can look to for offensive production. Expect to hear his name a lot more as the season continues.
Speed kills on defense
PSU is an incredibly fast hockey team, and the Spartans found themselves in trouble on the transition from offense to defense. Dylan St. Cyr is a reliable goalie, but he isn’t a brick wall. MSU’s defensemen were too often outskated by PSU even when the Spartans had numbers. This gave the Nittany Lions easy breakaways and backdoor looks.
“I thought there were times when we were really good,” said Nightingale. “I thought there were other times where they didn’t work up the ice and set their gap and then they’ve got a ton of speed coming at them.”
The best example of this came in game two in the third period. Danny Dzhaniyev was able to beat out MSU defenseman Michael Underwood in front of the Spartans’ net. All PSU needed was one lateral pass from Ashton Calder to give Dzhaniyev a wide-open shot for the lead.
This isn’t to say MSU struggled on defense. In game two, especially, they were able to stick with their opponents for longer, limiting breakaways. However, with two top-ten matchups on the horizon, the Spartans will need their defensemen to skate with some of the best players in the country.
“Munn was electric”
The past few years haven’t been the best for MSU hockey to say the least. Last season alone, MSU managed to end the year with a 12-23-1 record, one already surpassed in Nightingale’s first season. One of the many reasons for such a sudden turnaround for this program is the energy of Munn Ice Arena. The team shows up to Munn ready to play high-quality hockey against skilled opponents, and the fans recognize the potential. In turn, the players feed off that energy like nothing else, and the cycle continues.
“Munn was electric,” said Nightingale. “It’s unbelievable.”
In December, the Spartans only notched one win against the Michigan Wolverines. That was the last game they played at Munn before returning to host the Nittany Lions over an entire month later. Coming away with an overtime win and a shootout win against a top-ten team demonstrates the importance of Munn’s atmosphere to MSU hockey.
“That’s really where Michigan State is different. This is a real hockey fan base… our guys feed off that.”
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EAST LANSING — When putting together a top forward line, most people would expect a combination of skill and experience, pairing skilled goal-scorers with veterans that know where to find them. Most wouldn’t expect two freshmen and a senior with eight goals in his first three years to mesh well.
For Michigan State, however, it’s worked beautifully.
All three stars of the Spartans’ shootout win over No. 5 Penn State play on the top forward line: Jagger Joshua the first star, Karsen Dorwart the second and Daniel Russell the third. The trio combined for three goals, three assists and two shootout goals to earn the extra point and take both games at home Saturday night.
There are a lot of reasons why that top line has been so effective. Still, one of its biggest strengths is a mutual understanding of each player’s respective roles, which Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale says allows each player to play to their potential.
“Player development is understanding who you are and what makes you great,” Nightingale said. “You combine those three together when they’re playing their best, it looks like that.”
Joshua’s role is the most clearly defined of the bunch. Before this season, he had always fit the enforcer role above anything else. While he was 6-foot-3 and an imposing player, he only had 20 points over his first 98 games, mostly relying on his physicality instead. However, when Nightingale and his staff took over in May, they saw something different.
“I didn’t spend much time analyzing Jags’ game before,” Nightingale said. “We kind of just got here and looked at what we had. I saw a big, powerful guy that wants to play a power game and that’s maybe got better hands than people give him credit for, and maybe that he thought.”
That powerful game was on full display Saturday. Joshua scored three goals — his second hat trick of the season — all within feet of goalie Liam Souliere’s crease. The first two came on nearly identical plays, where Joshua set up shop on the far post and tapped in two slick passes from Dorwart, tying the game at three apiece.
Here's the equalizer from Jagger Joshua, his second of the night. pic.twitter.com/Eoq25Y3k4b
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 15, 2023
“Ironically, that was something that was an emphasis this week in practice,” Joshua said. “Our coaching staff did a great job of pre-scouting and putting me in the right spot, and I was just lucky to have an opening out there.”
Penn State would take the lead again on a Danny Dzhaniyev goal in the third, but it wouldn’t last for long. It took 11 seconds for Joshua to tip in the equalizer, which would ultimately send the game to overtime.
Since focusing on his hands with Nightingale, Joshua’s game has clearly reached a new level. With his frame, he’s repeatedly been able to get to the front of the net and score from tight angles, and defenses have had trouble stopping him.
“I think my body and the work I put in the gym makes it a little hard for the defending opponents too, I guess, get me out of the way,” Joshua said. “I think it just comes down to my work ethic and using my body to my advantage.”
While Joshua was the star Saturday, that’s not to say that all credit falls on him. He took the time to credit both freshmen for finding him in great spots to score.
“Playing with two great players like Russell and Dorwart has helped me out tremendously,” Joshua said. “I mean, just like you saw the first two goals, that wouldn’t happen without my linemates.”
Dorwart got the primary assist on Joshua’s first two goals, making the same pass to the same spot on the ice. As the center, he takes plenty of pride in his playmaking, which he says flourishes because of the space his line creates for him.
“Those two guys are both incredible players,” Dorwart said. “They both have a lot of speed, so when they’re flying down the wall it opens up a lot of space…So I think (I’m) just getting the puck into their hands and just letting them do their thing.”
When the game reached overtime, however, the Spartans turned to three freshmen. Nightingale started a lineup of Dorwart, Russell and defenseman Matt Basgall to set the tone.
“I think it shows the belief the coaching staff has in all of us freshmen, not just me. Then, you know, playing with Russ and Bazzy there in overtime, you have confidence playing with guys like that just because, you know, they’re so good.”
With the open ice that a 3-on-3 overtime provides, teams often opt for speed and quickness with the puck, and that’s what Russell provides.
“Russ is so shifty,” Dorwart said. “Like, no one can hit him.”
While neither team scored, the group delivered with stout defense after a slash on Joshua gave Penn State the 4-on-3 advantage. Russell delivered with a strong forecheck that slowed down the most uptempo team in college hockey.
Russell’s two-way impact is hard to match. He and Dorwart are tied for the team lead in points (22), and he has the second-highest plus/minus rating of any Spartan (+11). For as shifty and agile as he is with the puck, Russell rarely stops moving away from it.
“Russ really works, you know,” Nightingale said.
While Saturday’s game would go in the record book as a tie, the shootout presented an opportunity for the Spartans to pick up an extra point in the Big Ten standings. After Tanner Kelly scored on his signature forehand-to-backhand move, Dorwart was up next.
“I can’t give away my secrets,” he said, “but, I don’t know, (I was) just trying to come in with a little speed and get a quick shot off. The ice was kind of chopped up, so I wasn’t trying to do anything too fancy.”
With a quick wrist shot and not much stickhandling, Dorwart put the Spartans up 2-0 in the shootout. Connor MacEachern would score on the Nittany Lions’ next attempt, leaving Russell with a chance to win if he scored.
The shootout winner from Daniel Russell! #V4MSU #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/cZopG5zmFz
— Munnsters (@MSUMunnsters) January 15, 2023
He fumbled the puck slightly, but he recovered and buried it. Souliere broke his stick over the crossbar, and the Spartans walked out with both the extra point and three of four wins over Penn State.
With that point, Michigan State now sits in a three-way tie for second place in the Big Ten, and it has the first line to thank for all but one goal and one shootout goal.
According to them, it all comes back to each member playing well within their respective roles.
“The biggest part is playing with two players that understand my game, and I understand theirs,” Joshua said. “We seem to gel together really well.”
Preview and predictions for No. 13 MSU hockey’s series versus No. 4 MinnesotaStinson: The response to Jagger Joshua is an embarrassment to the Big Ten, Ohio State and hockey as a wholeMSU hockey splits road series with No. 12 Notre Dame
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan State women’s basketball team dropped a Big Ten game to its rival Michigan 70-55 on Saturday afternoon at Crisler Arena. Despite a convincing start to the game, the Spartans are now 2-5 in the conference after losing their last three games.
The Spartans came into the matchup with two straight losses against Maryland and Wisconsin. Turnovers and sloppy execution from MSU wouldn’t help snap the losing streak, as the team committed 14 turnovers in the first half while shooting 35% from the field.
“We’re not a team that turns the ball over like that,” said head coach Suzy Merchant. “I don’t think it’s a turnover problem, I just think they did a really good job of staying in front of us and taking charges. We didn’t do a very good job of being solid and strong as they were.”
Final at Crisler. pic.twitter.com/CqgHWa0rGj
— Michigan State Women's Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) January 14, 2023
After starting the contest on an 8-2 run, the Spartans couldn’t build on the lead after turning the ball over nine times, including five turnovers coming from traveling violations.
In the second quarter, the Spartans only made two field goals, and the other 12 points came from the charity stripe.
Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel would lead the team with 12 points on 4-16 shooting. The rest of the team failed to reach double-digits in points.
“All we can do is learn and get better,” McDaniel said. “At the end of the day, you have to stick together. We can’t dwell on this, so we need to get back to the gym and get our shots up.”
Senior guard Moira Joiner found herself in foul trouble in the third quarter, with four fouls by the end of the quarter. She would foul out of the game midway through the fourth quarter.
If there was anything good that the Spartans took away from this loss, freshman guard Abbey Kimball took advantage of the 10 minutes played, scoring five points, including hitting a step-back jumper.
The Wolverines were led by senior guard Leigha Brown, who finished the night with 17 points.
Michigan State will be back in East Lansing on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to take on No. 12 Iowa at 7 p.m.
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EAST LANSING — Entering his fifth year, few expected Cole Krygier to contribute much on offense. With only 10 goals to his name over 122 career games, that was a fair assumption.
“I haven’t scored too many goals in my career,” Krygier said. “So this year has been a different one for me.”
Now he has eight on the season and is tied with Jagger Joshua for the team lead. Both Joshua and Krygier, who have been putting up career numbers, scored Friday night to complete the comeback against No. 5 Penn State, with the latter scoring the overtime winner.
“Jags put his work in in the weight room, in practice, and his habits are getting better, and he’s getting rewarded with it on the ice,” Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale said. “And then Cole’s had a really good year. He’s done a really good job of being a leader for our team.”
Penalty trouble doomed the Spartans for much of the game. Penn State jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of 5-on-3 goals. The Spartans would take 39 total penalty minutes. Krygier accounted for 12 of those, earning a 10-minute misconduct to pair with a holding minor for abuse of an official.
“That’s kind of how it goes sometimes,” Krygier said. “Obviously, the penalty I thought was a little soft. I just told him to put the whistle away and he didn’t like that.”
With only about a half of a period left, the clock was ticking for a comeback, and with the amount of penalties the Spartans had been taking, there wasn’t much reason for optimism. MSU, who normally dresses seven defensemen, was down to only four after both Krygier’s penalty and sophomore David Gucciardi getting ejected for a cross check. Junior Nash Nienhuis had also missed the game with an injury he sustained Dec. 27 against Ferris State.
The Nittany Lions had generated plenty of chances against the depleted blue line, but a stellar game from goalie Dylan St. Cyr — who finished with 42 saves — kept it within reach.
Dylan St. Cyr, man.
Just … Dylan St. Cyr. pic.twitter.com/qjCA0wwrj2
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 14, 2023
“Dylan’s just unbelievable,” senior forward Erik Middendorf said. “He makes those saves every day in practice, too. You just question it. Like, how is he doing this? How is he moving like that?”
After serving his misconduct, Krygier made his return to the bench and the comeback began. He assisted on a Middendorf goal that got the Spartans on the board with 11:22 left. From there on, it wasn’t always pretty, but Michigan State got the bounces it desperately needed. From Middendorf’s goal to the end of regulation, Penn State outshot the Spartans 10-5. However, Joshua tied the game after getting his own rebound, and the Spartans would skate into overtime with the momentum.
“Go out and enjoy it,” Nightingale said to his team heading into the overtime period. “You guys have gotten back in this game. Heck of a job staying with it, but we’re not done.”
Then it was Krygier’s time to shine. With the clock winding down in overtime, he would collect the puck, and fire a wrist shot from a tough angle below the face-off dot and over the near shoulder of Penn State’s Liam Souliere to secure the win.
“I just figured (Penn State forward Danny Dzhaniyev) was kind of flat footed,” Krygier said. “I just got his feet to turn and went around him. I’ve been trying to go upstairs there all year, so it was lucky to go in.”
COLE KRYGIER WINS IT IN OT! pic.twitter.com/Oe6macFEjo
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 14, 2023
“We were joking with him about sitting for 12 minutes and coming out and being the best player on the ice,” Middendorf said. “So I think it was a strategy in a way for him, coming out like that. He’s incredible for us.”
For Krygier, however, moments like these were a long time coming. While he credited Nightingale for the system that gets him more involved, Krygier knew he had spent the time to prepare himself for when the opportunity came.
“I’ve done a lot of work in the offseason,” Krygier said. “I’ve gotten stronger. I’ve been shooting a lot of pucks in the shooting room. Little things like that where you don’t think they’re going to pay off right away. But then as you go on, they start to stack, and you end up having a really good time.”
The other half of Krygier’s preparation, the mental side of the game, turned out to be as important as the physical.
“As you go through it, obviously you’ve got to handle your emotions,” he said. “I could have gotten pissed off and threw myself out of the game, but I just stayed calm and focused on it.”
Krygier’s overtime heroics led Nightingale to define Friday’s game as a “character win” for his team, highlighting their mental toughness. He noted that all of the Spartans’ remaining home games are standing room only, which he says is a result of fans noticing what they have accomplished through these culture-defining wins.
“I think Michigan State people…they’re proud people who really respect work ethic and team play,” Nightingale said. “So to see our guys get rewarded and have that energy in Munn, I thought it was awesome and honestly probably made the difference in that game.”
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EAST LANSING – Michigan State women’s basketball (10-6) returned to the Breslin Center Wednesday night to take on the Wisconsin Badgers (5-11). Despite making an 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, the Spartans fell to the Badgers 84-80.
Inconsistency was the downfall of MSU. In the first half, the Spartans shot 1-10 on 3-pointers. However, MSU turned it around in the fourth quarter, shooting 5-8 from behind the arc to help force overtime.
MSU head coach Suzy Merchant wasn’t pleased with the team’s performance and said there needs to be consistency from everyone.
“The problem is we don’t have players right now that are playing full games,” Merchant said. “I’m just really disappointed in how we played the first half and how slow and through the motions that we went.”
Wisconsin freshman Serah Williams made her presence known early for the Badgers. She opened the game with 11 points in the first quarter and finished the night with a career-high 31 points and 13 rebounds. Wisconsin led the Spartans 16-13 at the end of the first.
Offensive woes continued for MSU into the second quarter as the team went 5-13 from the field, including graduate senior guard Kamaria McDaniel, who went 1-6. The Spartans leading scorer at halftime was sophomore guard Dee Dee Hagemann with five points, as MSU trailed 32-25.
With seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Badgers lead stretched to 11 points, but the Spartans answered with an 8-2 run over the next two minutes. MSU went on an 8-0 run later in the quarter, which included two clutch free throws from senior forward Taiyier Parks to tie the game at 66 with 1:43 remaining.
Parks stepped up big a minute later, going 2-2 at the line again to tie the game again at 0:43. Parks came into Wednesday night shooting 45 percent from the free throw line, but finished the game 7-8 from the line, along with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
With 23 seconds left, Parks gave MSU its first lead of the game with a layup, but the lead would only last for 14 seconds. Williams answered with a layup of her own to even the score, and send the game to overtime.
Hagemann stepped up for the Spartans in overtime with seven points, but it wasn’t enough as the Badgers pulled out an 84-80 win.
Despite the disappointing loss, senior Moira Joiner scored a season-high 20 points and played a big part in the Spartans’ comeback. Joiner scored 16 of her points in the second half, and was a perfect 6-6 from the field and 4-4 from beyond the arc.
“I’ve really been impressed with how she’s been playing on both sides of the ball,” said coach Merchant. “I wish everybody on my team played as hard as Mo Joiner.”
The Spartans will have to bounce back quickly. MSU will take on in-state rival No. 17 Michigan on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Kamaria McDaniel leads MSU in upset win over No. 4 IndianaMichigan State survives late Northwestern comeback, 71-64FINAL: Michigan State 98, Prairie View A&M 50
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State men’s basketball team extended its win streak to six games after defeating rivals Michigan on Saturday afternoon. Junior guard A.J. Hoggard propelled MSU to a 59-53 victory behind his 15 points and six assists in front of a crowded Breslin Center.
“That was a tough game to officiate, tough game to coach, tough game to watch, but a beautiful game to win,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “I thought both teams played pretty well defensively, but I’m not sure I’ve seen that many air balls by both teams.”
Both teams struggled offensively and shot a combined 36% from the floor. Some of the shots completely missed the basket, which was a rare sight for both teams.
Malik Hall scores a basket during Michigan State’s 59-53 victory over Michigan on January 7, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)Hoggard, Malik Hall and Tyson Walker combined for 44 of the 59 total points on Saturday. Hall notched his second double-digit scoring game since coming back from injury against Buffalo on Dec. 30.
“He [Hall] communicates, he talks, and he just makes it easier for the other players,” Izzo said. “He sprained his ankle and played through it.”
After trailing by a 10-point deficit for the majority of the second half, the Wolverines almost sparked a comeback led by center Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson ended with a game-high 18 points and scored 14 in the second half to try to reach the Spartans.
“We had to get back to where we are as a team,” Michigan head coach Juwan Howard said. “We tried to keep A.J. [Hoggard] off the paint, which is tough to do.”
Michigan’s Kobe Bufkin was second in scoring for the Wolverines with 14 points. The 6-foot-4 guard from Grand Rapids went 7-8 from the free-throw line and was a crucial part of Michigan’s offensive transition.
In a lackluster first half, Michigan State came out on top 27-18 heading into the break. Hall had seven points in the first half to facilitate the lead.
“I’m really proud of Malik,” Izzo said. “Since Jaden and Malik have come back, we’re looking better.”
The game started with a double technical given to Michigan’s Terrance Williams II and MSU’s Walker after a verbal exchange prompted a tech. Walker would end with 14 points and two assists.
“It was a low-scoring game,” Walker said. “They played some good defense, but some of the shots we missed. I don’t think we’ve ever hit more than one air ball and we had four today.”
Soon after, Hoggard’s second assist of the game went to center Mady Sissoko for an alley-oop that had the Breslin crowd on its feet. Hoggard finished with a game-high six assists and made difficult shots down the stretch.
“I think he’s [Hoggard] played a lot more under control,” Izzo said. “He took one bad shot.”
AJ Hoggard dribbles passed a defender during Michigan State’s 59-53 victory over Michigan on January 7, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)In terms of shot selection, Joey Hauser did not have his best offensive performance against the Wolverines, only scoring seven points on 3-13 shooting. However, Hauser recorded 10 rebounds to help the defensive effort by the Spartans and had one three-pointer.
“A year ago, that [performance] would’ve put him [Hauser] in the deep freeze,” Izzo said. “He took a little encouragement in the huddle, and he played.”
A pair of free throws were made with 0.1 seconds left by sophomore guard Jaden Akins, sealing the victory for the Spartans.
“Our defense has gotten better,” Izzo said. “That’s the encouraging part.”
The Spartans will travel to Wisconsin on Jan. 10 to face the Badgers. Tip-off from Madison is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Evanston, Ill. — The Michigan State women’s basketball team (10-5) extended its winning streak to four games after a late Northwestern comeback that fell short in a 71-64 win at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
“Anytime you can win on the road in the Big Ten, it’s a good thing,” said head coach Suzy Merchant. “They [Northwestern] can play zone so you need to be able to hit shots. I thought there were stretches where we played well and other stretches where we didn’t play well.”
Another 𝗪.#RiseUp × #SpartanStrongHER pic.twitter.com/SEVmVlBvRz
— Michigan State Women's Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) January 3, 2023
The Spartans started the contest slowly, shooting 2-7 from the field and trailing early to the Wildcats. Northwestern came out shooting 9-13 from the field. Graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel would cut into the early deficit in the first quarter with a three-pointer, making it 20-15.
Sophomore forward Matilda Ekh helped propel the Spartans’ comeback in the second quarter, shooting 5-6 from deep and recording 17 points at the half. The sophomore from Sweden recorded a season-high 21 points and posted double figures for the 10th time this season.
“We were moving her [Ekh] as much as we could so it made it hard for them to follow her on a cut every single time,” Merchant said. “We moved her around enough that I thought it caused them the inability to hone in on her.”
Senior forward Taiyier Parks continued to be a presence on the glass for the Spartans, putting up 17 points and 6 rebounds and was one the team leaders in the scoring department.
MSU hit a trio of three-pointers to extend its lead to 62-49 in the third quarter, led by junior guard Julia Ayrault hitting two threes to widen the margin.
Northwestern started the fourth quarter on fire, scoring six of the first eight points and cutting the deficit to 64-55. The Wildcats outscored the Spartans 15-9.
MSU guard Moira Joiner would put the game out of reach thanks to two late free throws to extend the Spartan lead to seven.
The Spartans will stay on the road this week as they prepare to take on Maryland on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 1 p.m.
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State women’s basketball team returned to the Breslin Center on Thursday afternoon and stunned the No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers with an 83-78 upset win.
Four Spartans reached double-digits in the win, with graduate senior Kamaria McDaniel leading the team with 24 points- her fourth 20-point game of the season. Senior forward Taiyier Parks and sophomore guard Matilda Ekh each had 18 points, and sophomore guard DeeDee Hagemann added 15 points and eight assists.
The 18 points scored by Parks tied her career-high for the second time this season.
“We’ve been close on a lot of these games,” said head coach Suzy Merchant. “We were talking about changing our mindset and thinking about when things get tight, we’re not going to play to lose, we’re going to play to win.”
The Spartans’ win resulted in the Hoosier’s first loss of the season, as Indiana dropped to 12-1 overall. This was the highest win over a ranked opponent since upsetting No. 4 Michigan, 63-57, last season on Feb. 10, 2022.
With the win, the Spartans have won three-straight games and improved to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
YESSSSS!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/6jx7eeU9oe
— Michigan State Women's Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) December 29, 2022
Along with a solid offensive performance from MSU for all four quarters, the team forced 21 turnovers against an Indiana team averaging 12 turnovers a game so far this season.
“I thought our kids did a great job of controlling the tempo, they had to play it our way, we had 28 points off turnovers and that is a team that averages 12 turnovers a game,” said Merchant. “I thought our kids were speeding them up and were playing faster than they normally do, which was important for us.”
The first half featured a 15-27 shooting performance from the Spartans, along with Indiana going 12-23 from the field. MSU would add the first four points of the second quarter and kept the Hoosiers at bay before a Sydney Parish three-pointer to stop the Indiana scoring drought. Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes would add her 14th point of the first half to make it 35-33 MSU at halftime.
Holmes would finish with 32 points and 12 rebounds.
Michigan State would go up by 11 points with under four minutes to play in the third quarter after a pair of free throws by DeeDee Hagemann.
Michigan State led the game for 35:49 of the contest, trailing for just 1:40, and there were seven ties.
The Hoosiers tied the game at 58-58 in the fourth quarter after a Holmes free throw. The tightly-contested matchup between the Spartans and the Hoosiers kept fans on their feet.
With each team trading baskets and Indiana tying the game twice, the Spartans found a way to come out of the contest with a victory, going 11-15 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
The Spartans will travel to Evanston to take on Northwestern on Jan. 2 at 8 p.m.
EAST LANSING — On Tuesday night, the Michigan State women’s basketball team used a group effort to defeat the Prairie View A&M Panthers, 98-50. The Spartan rotations off the bench once again made a huge impact, marking this their seventh game of the season where they scored more than 40 points.
“The last two games in particular the team has had more energy,” said head coach Suzy Merchant. “They realize with the loss of Elliot, they need to band together and get things done, and that is a group effort.”
The opening quarter was a close one as graduate guard Kamaria McDaniel led the Spartans with nine points and the Panthers were led by senior forward Kennedy Paul with eight.
Final score.#RiseUp × #SpartanStrongHER pic.twitter.com/c5ZPLUEtI6
— Michigan State Women's Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) December 21, 2022
The Panthers shot 57% from beyond the arch, while MSU only shot 25%. In just the first quarter alone, the Spartans were sent to the line 16 times, but only made 10 of those 16 attempts. The first quarter ended 26-20 for MSU.
In the second quarter, MSU outscored Prairie View 15-6, due to the Spartans’ successful full-court press. The Panthers could not get a basket and shot 2-14 from the floor.
The Panthers went from shooting 43% in the first quarter to just 14% in the second.
Michigan State was led by graduate guard Stephanie Visscher in the second quarter with five points, who would go on to set her new season-high 10 points by the time the game ended. Michigan State went into halftime with a comfortable 41-26 lead.
In the third quarter, MSU guard Matilda Ekh made four three-pointers in a row, and the Spartans went on an 18-1 run.
Both teams went 7-for-11 from the free-throw line in the third quarter. Neither the Panthers nor the Spartans capitalized on all of their free throw attempts during this game. Both teams shot under 65%. The Spartans outscored the Panthers 33-15 in the third quarter, making it 74-39 with 10 minutes left to play.
In the final stretch, Merchant let her bench shine as she went on to use every single player on the roster. The bench scored 47 points in the game, which is the third-most points scored by the bench this season.
The Spartans set a program record for most chances at the line in one game (45). Four Spartans recorded double-digits in points, and all but three players on the roster scored during the game.
The Spartans will play their next game after the holiday break on Dec. 29 when they host the Indiana Hoosiers at the Breslin Center. Tip-off against the Hoosiers is set for 3 p.m. ET.
EAST LANSING — After a loss against Ohio State last week, the Michigan State women’s basketball team returned to the Breslin Center to take on the University of Detroit Mercy. The Spartans broke their five-game losing streak and defeated the Titans 91-41 on Sunday night.
“That was a tough stretch for sure, and it’s not going to get any easier when we get going, so at least we’re going to be prepared,” MSU women’s head coach Suzy Merchant said.
Michigan State jumped out to a quick 13-2 lead inside six minutes in the first quarter, forcing the Titans to burn its first timeout.
Led by the fast-paced play by MSU guard Dee Dee Hagemann, who scored the first five points for the Spartans, MSU set the tone with an uptempo offense to complement their aggression on defense. A free throw from senior forward Tory Ozment, along with a three-pointer from sophomore guard Matilda Ekh, and a layup by Ozment extended the lead to 19-2.
The Titans struggled against the Spartans’ stifling defense. MSU threw an assortment of defensive coverages at the Titans including a full-court press and traps out of the pick-and-roll, leading to nine first-quarter turnovers for Detroit Mercy.
After a dominant opening quarter, the Spartans entered the second quarter with a commanding 26-4 lead. MSU built off of their first-quarter success, out-rebounding the Titans 15-8 in the second quarter, forcing seven more turnovers, and closing out the half with a 57-12 lead.
The third quarter provided a similar theme. The Titans struggled to gain momentum on offense, while MSU scored 20 more points, and entered the final stretch of the game with a 79-31 lead.
The Spartans’ dominance on defense led to plenty of offensive transitions, where they recorded 25 points off turnovers and 28 fastbreak points in the game.
The Spartans recorded 11 three-pointers, led by Ekh, who drilled four threes.
“I think our free-throw shooting has been a bigger problem,” head coach Suzy Merchant said, referencing the Spartans’ early-season shooting woes. “I don’t see three-point shooting being as big of an issue. You’re gonna have nights where those come and go, so you have to be able to take advantage of opportunities when you can.”
After their first unit got off to an early lead, MSU’s bench unit recorded one of its best performances of the season, recording 45 of the Spartans’ 91 points in the game.
Eight players scored more than seven points in Sunday’s game. Julia Ayrault and Ekh led the way with 13 points apiece. Additionally, sophomore forward Isaline Alexander scored 10 points and 10 rebounds, notching her first double-double.
“We’ve been getting on our fives about defensive rebounding,” Merchant said. “For us, being able to box out and really dominate the boards is something we’re looking for. She had ten boards and six of them were on the defensive end, so that’s certainly a positive.”
With the victory over the Titans, Michigan State is now 7-5 on the season. The Spartans will take on Prairie View A&M on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at the Breslin Center, before hosting Indiana on Dec. 29 in the final game of the calendar year.
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State men’s basketball team earned its seventh win of the season after defeating Brown 68-50 on Friday night. Senior Joey Hauser led the Spartans with 22 points and reached 1,000 career points in the latter half of the game against the Bears.
The Spartans improve to 7-4 on the season, while the Bears are now 6-5. The Bears were on a five-game win streak before facing MSU.
“I’m the happiest guy in America now that the 11 games of Hell are over,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “Trust me when I say we need some practice time because we probably have less than any team in the country.”
The Spartans had a slow shooting performance to start the game, only shooting 1-7 in the first four minutes. The rhythm picked up after senior guard Tyson Walker made a layup and a deep three-pointer in back-to-back possessions to extend the lead to 9-5 after six minutes.
Junior guard A.J. Hoggard, who scored a career-high 23 points in the win against Penn State on Dec. 7, scored 17 points against Brown. Hoggard shot 4-4 from the free-throw line and the entire team went 6-6.
“It’s probably one of my best free-throw shooting teams,” Izzo said. “We’re not great on nights getting to the line. We’ll have to practice that too.”
Jaden Akins dribbles toward the lane during Michigan State’s victory over Brown on December 10, 2022. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith)The Spartans finished the first half shooting 38.7% from the floor. Sophomore guard Jaden Akins showed off his range with pair of three-pointers in the first half. He ended the game with three threes and nine points.
“Jaden Akins is getting better. He’s getting healthier,” Izzo said. “I don’t expect him to be there [at 100% fitness] until Christmas.”
MSU went into halftime with a healthy 32-18 lead.
The Spartans continued their hot scoring streak in the second half, shooting 45% (15-33) and making four three-pointers. Hauser made a three-pointer from the top of the arc to open the scoring in the second half.
“We didn’t set the world on fire offensively,” Izzo said. “We’re working on our offense. That’s where we’re a little out of sync.”
Hauser received an enormous ovation from the Breslin Center crowd after he subbed off late in the game. Hauser transferred from Marquette in 2020 and has been a fan favorite for many at MSU.
Apart from his 22 points, Hauser recorded five rebounds and four assists to lead the Spartans to their seventh win of the season. Hauser scored 12 points in the win against Penn State.
“I don’t know if anyone’s ever been excited about finals week but we definitely get some time off. I think mentally and physically, we get some time off,” Hauser said. “It definitely caught me by surprise [reaching 1,000 career points].”
On the other side, Brown guard Paxson Wojcik led his team with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Wojcik’s father, Doug, is an assistant coach for Michigan State.
Wojcik played at Loyola Chicago before transferring to Brown in 2021.
MSU guards Davis Smith, Nick Sanders and Steven Izzo played in the final minutes of the game as the Spartans held a comfortable 20-point lead.
Joey Hauser drives to the lane during Michigan State’s victory over Brown on December 10, 2022. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM (Sarah Smith )After the final whistle, Michigan State players huddled over Hauser to celebrate his memorable night.
“It was a really cool moment, but definitely even more special to have my teammates surround me and congratulate me,” Hauser said.
The Spartans will return to the hardwood when they host Oakland on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Tip-off from the Breslin Center is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Spartans ‘out-toughed’ by Northwestern at home in Big Ten openerSpartans close out PKI with tight victory over PortlandNo. 12 Michigan State defeats Oregon in second game of Phil Knight Invitational
EAST LANSING – After No. 10 Ohio State opened the scoring, Michigan State was able to claim a 4-2 victory in the first game of the series. MSU’s top line of Jagger Joshua, Karsen Dorwart and Daniel Russell combined for seven total points and pushed the Spartans to the win. “When another team is better...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State took care of business at the Breslin Center against Northern Arizona on Monday Night. The Spartans defeated the Lumberjacks 73-55 in dominant fashion. Michigan State got out to a quick start in its home opener. Forwards Joey Hauser and Malik Hall hit two early threes and the Spartans jumped out...
The Michigan State women’s basketball team played its first game of the 2022-23 season against the Delaware State Hornets. The Spartans dominated the court and won 86-37, starting the season with a strong win. Four Spartans had double-digit scoring. Junior guard Gabby Elliott led the team with 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists. This...
COLUMBUS — The No. 6 Michigan State women’s soccer team suffered a defeat against No. 21 Penn State, who left Columbus with the Big Ten tournament trophy on Sunday. Penn State forward Ally Schlegel sealed the victory with an 81st-minute goal to win 3-2. “I think the experience of this past week playing three knockout...
EAST LANSING – An 89th-minute goal by No. 18 Ohio State’s Devyn Etling sent Michigan State men’s soccer out of the Big Ten tournament and abruptly ended the Spartans’ season on Friday. “We had our chances, and obviously, Ohio State had some chances,” said head coach Damon Rensing. “It was a great college soccer game,...
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Externally, football talk was secondary surrounding Michigan State leading up to its game against Illinois on Saturday. Internally, the Spartans handled their business on the field and upset No. 16 Illinois 23-15. MSU is now 4-5 on the year. “We talked about not giving in and not waving the white towel,” said...
EAST LANSING – Erik Middendorf laughed in disbelief. As the senior forward took his place at the podium following a 5-0 win over Wisconsin, staffers announced that his four-goal performance was one that had not been done by any Spartan since 1998. He didn’t have any words and all he could do was chuckle over...
EAST LANSING– Michigan State lost to No. 14 Purdue three sets to one on Friday. The Spartans started the match strongly in set one and took an early lead. MSU found holes in Purdue’s defense and took advantage of them. The Spartans looked comfortable and had great rhythm. MSU claimed set one with a kill...
Zach, Liam, Zac, and Cam talk about the 8 suspensions, preview the Illinois game and Liam brags of having the first 5-0 week in the pick’em.
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State men’s basketball team picked up an exhibition game 73-56 win over Grand Valley State at the Breslin Center on Tuesday night. Here are three takeaways from the Spartan’s exhibition game against the Lakers. Dominating guard play It was no surprise when Michigan State ran out senior Tyson Walker and...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State had its hands full in an exhibition game against Grand Valley State on Tuesday. The Spartans beat the Lakers 73-56, pulling away in the second half. “I am very disappointed and I’ll call out almost every player,” said head coach Tom Izzo after the game. Izzo couldn’t help but smile...
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State women’s soccer team advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinal after a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Sunday. Sophomore forward Jordyn Wickes’ second-half brace inspired a comeback victory for MSU at DeMartin Stadium. “We were undefeated in the regular season, but we didn’t get a chance...
EAST LANSING – On Sunday afternoon, the Michigan State Spartans faced the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals for their only exhibition game of the season, and came out on top 90-56. Junior transfer Gabby Elliot and grad transfer Kamaria McDaniel led the Spartans each with 14 points, followed by freshman Theryn Hallock with 13. Head coach...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State hockey traveled to Notre Dame for its first road series of the 2022-23 season. After a 5-0 loss on Friday, game two went down to the wire with MSU tying Notre Dame 1-1 and eventually earning a shootout win. Both goalies put up incredible performances over the weekend. Notre Dame...
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan State was dominated in the second half of its rivalry game against Michigan on Saturday and. The No. 4 Wolverines moved to 8-0 with a 29-7 victory at home. The physicality of the game continued once the clock hit zero. Video captured multiple MSU players fighting one Michigan player near...
EAST LANSING — For the third time in four seasons, the Michigan State women’s cross country team are Big Ten Champions. The No. 23 Spartans scored 78 points to secure victory on Friday in Ann Arbor, beating second-place Michigan (86 points) and third-place Wisconsin (94 points). Michigan State has recorded top-three finishes at the Big...
In this week’s episode Ryan Radosevich, Jacob Stinson and Jacob Phillips talk about the first sweep in the Nightingale era as MSU took care of business 3-1 and 8-4 against Long Island University. They also previewed the start of Big Ten action as MSU heads to South Bend to take on No. 12 Notre Dame.
EAST LANSING — The Michigan State cross-country team wrapped up its regular season with a first-place finish by the No. 23 women’s team at the EMU Fall Classic on Friday. The Spartan women placed three runners in the top 10 and seven runners in the top 20. They finished 78 points ahead of second-place Windsor...
EAST LANSING — A bevy of personal bests were set by Michigan State cross-country runners at the Nuttycombe Invite on Friday, Oct. 14. Held in Madison, Wisconsin, the Nuttycombe Invite featured elite talent on both the men’s and women’s sides. The No. 17 Spartan women finished in 18th place out of 36 teams with 530...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State’s chaotic 34-28 double-overtime victory over Wisconsin was a fitting finish to a Homecoming weekend in which the theme was “Spartans Bring the Magic.” Wide receiver Jayden Reed began the first overtime period with a passing touchdown to Keon Coleman after a reverse play. Abra. His second act consisted of coming...
EAST LANSING– Rivals Michigan State and No. 24 Michigan fought it out in the battle at Breslin Friday night. The Wolverines took the match 3-0 in front of 7,000 fans, the largest crowd in Michigan State volleyball history. At the beginning of set one, the Spartans stood their ground and challenged the Wolverines. The Spartans...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State failed to sweep their home series against No. 16 Umass Lowell, losing 3-2 on Friday night. Despite the loss, freshman defenseman Matt Basgall scored his first goal of the season. “I think it for sure gave us life and energy and all. I think it’s important that you’re never out...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State women’s soccer continued their impressive run on Thursday night with a 1-0 win over the Indiana Hoosiers at DeMartin Stadium. Thursday’s success made it five straight wins for the Spartans, making it 6-0-1 on the season in Big Ten play. Zivana Labovic’s first-half goal proved to be the game-winner. Labovic’s...
EAST LANSING- The Michigan State Spartans bested No. 16 Umass Lowell River Hawks 4-3 on Thursday evening. With his family in attendance, graduate transfer forward Miroslav Mucha from Slovakia, was able to net his first two goals as a Spartan and propel them to victory. “We’re a team that’s learning how to win and this...
East Lansing—Michigan State men’s soccer wrapped up its last non-conference game of the season on Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over the Saint Mary’s Gaels. Tuesday’s contest was Breast Cancer Awareness night, where the Spartans wore pink ribbon pins to raise awareness. The Spartans’ record is now 5-5-2 on the season, while the Gaels...
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State Spartans dropped a lopsided game to the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday night, pushing their losing streak to four games. On a day where the Spartans held their own through the first 25 minutes, the high-scoring Buckeyes amassed a 22 point lead heading into the half...
EAST LANSING – Both Michigan State soccer programs are 2-0 against Michigan this season after the women’s team defeated the Wolverines on Sunday. Forwards Jordyn Wickes and Lauren DeBeau were on the scoresheet once again and earned the Spartans a 2-0 win in front of a record-breaking DeMartin Stadium crowd for women’s soccer. “That was...
EAST LANSING– No. 11 Minnesota had a six-match winning streak over Michigan State before Sunday’s match. The Gophers ended up sweeping the Spartans and walked away with a 3-0 win, extending their win streak to seven. Right at the start of set one, freshman middle blocker Nil Okur got a kill for the Spartans after...
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Saturday’s game was a tale of two teams heading in completely opposite directions. Ohio State is a team with national championship aspirations and multiple players on its offense that will be playing on Sundays. The No. 3 ranked Buckeyes came into East Lansing and took care of business to the tune...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State hockey hosted its first game of the regular season with a bout against the Bowling Green Falcons. It proved to be a tough match with much of the action coming in the third period. After a close game, MSU lost to the Falcons 3-1. “I thought as the game went,...
EAST LANSING, MI – The 2022-2023 college hockey season has begun and with it, a whole new era of Michigan State hockey. Head Coach Adam Nightingale coached his first game for the green and white Saturday along with an entirely new coaching staff. Despite the 4-3 exhibition game loss to the United States National Team...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State University began its 2022-23 season by hosting an exhibition game against the U.S. National Team Development Program U18 at the newly renovated Munn Ice Arena. Michigan State looked to s off its new season strong under new head coach, Adam Nightingale, but the 2023 Michigan State goalie commitment, Trey Augustine,...
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Michigan State loses to Maryland 27-13 and extends its losing streak to three games. The Spartans have gotten accustomed to playing from behind early and often recently. Maryland won the toss and elected to receive and put pressure on the MSU defense right away. Terrapin quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa led Maryland on...
East Lansing, Mich. – For the first time since 2017, Michigan State men’s soccer took home the Big Bear Trophy after a 2-0 win over the Michigan Wolverines, on a rainy night at DeMartin Stadium. Tuesday night’s victory was complemented by a sell-out crowd of 3,047 in attendance- the largest of the season. “The Red...
EAST LANSING, Mich.– After a scoreless draw against Iowa on Thursday night, Michigan State women’s soccer was able to revive its offense with a 3-1 win against the Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday afternoon at DeMartin Stadium. Sunday’s result improved the Spartan’s record to 7-1-3 on the season, while Purdue fell to 3-7-0 and 0-3 in...
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State Spartans dropped their Big Ten opener to the Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday night.In a game where the Spartans were outmatched, outgained and outplayed, MSU added a late touchdown to avoid being shut out at home, falling to Minnesota 34-7. Here are three takeaways from Michigan State’s Big Ten...
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The 2022 season was not supposed to begin this way for the Spartans. Michigan State entered the year as a top-25 team in the nation with aspirations of a double-digit win season and even a Big Ten championship. After three weeks, however, MSU had dropped out of the AP top-25 and...
EAST LANSING – On a crisp, cool night in East Lansing, Michigan State women’s soccer recorded its seventh shutout of the season, led by senior goalkeeper Lauren Kozal, in a scoreless draw against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday night at DeMartin Stadium. Thursday’s result puts the Spartans at 6-1-3, while the Hawkeyes go to 3-4-3...
EAST LANSING — The Michigan State women’s cross country team finished first at the 41st annual Spartan Invitational, while the Spartan men took third on a hot and humid Friday afternoon. The Michigan State women scored 19 points in the big win over second-place Grand Valley State (71 points) and third-place SUNY Geneseo (171 points),...
SEATTLE, WA- The Michigan State Spartans took the road for the first time this season to face their toughest test, by far, of 2022 in the Washington Huskies. Unfortunately for the Spartans, it was not their finest performance as MSU struggled on defense and suffered a brutal 39-28 defeat. Here are a few of the...
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Spartans fell 2-3 in overtime Friday against No. 19 Rutgers. The game was close throughout. Rutgers midfielder Indy van Ek scored the first goal of the game early in the first quarter. The Spartans would rally back in it, and tie it up in the second quarter, as Hannah Jarvie...
EAST LANSING – Michigan State found its footing once again after being winless in its last four games. Senior forward Gianni Ferri inspired the Spartans to a 4-1 win over Chicago State University on Monday night. “Winning is the most important thing,” Ferri said. “To be able to contribute after not being in the team...
EAST LANSING — A little rain never stopped the Michigan State women’s soccer team as they were able to take down the undefeated No. 19 Colorado Buffaloes 4-2 on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans were led by graduate forward Camryn Evans who scored a hat trick in front of the home crowd. Today’s results put the...