Sunday, May 19, 2024

Basketball

BASKETBALL

Halftime: Women's basketball leads Indiana 39-25

Down by three-points with seven minutes into the first half following a jumper from the key by Indiana Hoosiers guard Karlee McBride, the shots were immediately converting for the Spartans.  MSU went on a 12-0 run to record their second largest lead of the evening before going into halftime with a 39-25 lead at the Breslin Center.  Tori Jankoska, the senior guard, was 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to lead the Spartans with 19-points. She was responsible for the final four-points of the half after being fouled after converting a three-pointer.  Aerial Powers, the Detroit product, has added 16-points and Becca Mills has recorded four-points, the only three players who have garnered any points in the first 20-minutes.  The Spartans are currently shooting 37 percent from the floor (13-of-35), compared to Indiana, who has converted just 32 percent of their shots (9-of-28).  Six players have garnered stats in the points column for the Hoosiers, with Karlee McBride leading the team with six-points.

BASKETBALL

Izzo adjusting to hand-checking rules

Foul trouble crippled the men's basketball team early against No. 16 Maryland on Saturday. Senior forward Branden Dawson, sophomore forward Gavin Schilling, junior forward Branden Dawson and junior guard Denzel Valentine each picked up two in the first half, and head coach Tom Izzo was forced to turn to his bench sooner than he would have preferred.  It wasn't the first time Valentine got himself into early foul trouble this season.

BASKETBALL

Men's basketball hangs on for 66-60 win against Penn State

In a closer-than-expected contest, MSU held on for a 66-60 victory. The game started with fireworks, as junior guard Denzel Valentine lobbed the ball to senior forward Branden Dawson who finished emphatically with the slam. MSU (13-6 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) looked good early, jumping out to an 8-2 lead after Dawson netted two free throws.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Finding an identity

By Tom Izzo's own admission, this is a transition team battling injuries. Key players have stepped into new leadership roles, and while the team has been competitive, losses have piled up. Going forward in the Big Ten season, the Spartans are still seeking a signature win.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Hot shooting a key in MSU basketball's win over Oakland

Efficient shooting has been the story of the men's basketball team through ten games, and the nation’s top three-point shooting team did what it does best to storm past Oakland. As team, MSU (7-3) shot over 55 percent from the field and just under 59 percent from three-point range, making 10-of-17 threes in an 87-61 victory over the visiting Golden Grizzlies.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Bryn Forbes has been on fire offensively for MSU, but defense still a work in progress

Bryn Forbes has been on fire for the men's basketball team over the last couple weeks, but head coach Tom Izzo isn't entirely satisfied with his overall performance on the court. A few days after scoring 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the floor Wednesday against Notre Dame, Forbes scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting on Saturday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.