MSU sports shine across pivotal weekend matchups – The State News

Monday, January 27, 2025
Michigan State junior forward Isaline Alexander (12) celebrates following a victory against the University of Michigan at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Jan. 25, 2025.
Michigan State University’s winter sports have been thriving throughout the first month of 2025, with only a few losses across the board this weekend.
The basketball program excelled on both the men’s and women’s sides, highlighted by the women’s team’s decisive win over the University of Michigan, marking MSU’s largest margin of victory against Michigan in Ann Arbor.
“There’s just a sense of pride that comes with so many different teams having success,” associate AD and communications Matt Larson said.
The only teams who fell to their opponents this past weekend were wrestling, who fell to Indiana and Nebraska, and men’s tennis who lost their second matchup of Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) kickoff weekend.
“Women’s tennis is building for sure and our wrestling program has been steady as well to get on the right track.” Assistant AD and Business Development and NIL Strategy Darien Harris said.
MSU women’s basketball secures 30-point victory against U of M
After their 82-61 win over Penn State, The women’s basketball team took on the Wolverines at the Crisler Center and won 88-58, marking MSU’s largest margin of triumph over Michigan in Ann Arbor.
After a back-and-forth battle and being down by four at halftime, the Spartans stormed back with a second-half surge fueled by junior guard Theryn Hallock’s 23-point performance.
MSU opened the half with a 15-point run, seizing a 44-33 lead and maintaining momentum for the rest of the game.
Hallock was supported by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault and junior forward Grace VanSlooten, who each added 18 points.
“Julia has been in that rivalry for years here and handled business like she should.” Harris said.
The team will return to East Lansing on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. to face Oregon.
Spartans Win in Madison Square Garden
Michigan State’s men’s basketball team took on Rutgers in Madison Square Garden this past Saturday and won with a score of 81-74.
The Spartans led 35-32 at halftime and maintained control in the second half. A hook shot from junior center Carson Cooper extended their lead to 47-39 with 13:34 left to play.
MSU then went on a 14-1 run, scoring nine unanswered points in five minutes and building a seven-point lead with 11:24 remaining.
Freshman guard Jase Richardson delivered a standout performance, scoring 20 points. Sophomore forward Coen Carr contributed 14 points, while senior guard Jaden Akins added 12 points to secure the victory.
“The ‘go green, go white’ chant at the end of the game definitely resonated through Madison Square Garden,” Larson said.
The Spartans will host Minnesota at the Breslin Center on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m.
MSU Gymnastics Tops Ohio State
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Continuing their momentum from a win over Michigan, the Spartans gymnastics team defeated Ohio State 196.8-195.75 on Friday in Columbus.
Senior Gabrielle Stephen’s all-around score of 39.375 earned her a share of every event title. Nikki Smith and Sage Kellerman tied for the bars title, while Makayla Tucker debuted on bars with a score of 9.800.
MSU extended its lead to 147.850-146.550 in the third rotation, with a 49.300 performance on floor. Senior Skyla Schulte and Stephen both scored 9.900s, tying with Ohio State’s Rylee Guevara for the event title.
The Spartans will compete against UCLA in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 5:30 p.m.
Spartans Sweep Gophers Series
In the first game of their two-game series against Minnesota, MSU secured a commanding 9-3 victory, their highest-scoring game in both the season and program history.
Michigan State netted four goals in both the second and third periods, securing a 9-3 win. Junior forward Isaac Howard and senior defenseman David Gucciardi both tallied two goals and another four came from faceoff wins.
After a dominating victory on Friday night, the second game of the series continued on Saturday and was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams, but the Spartans managed to win in the shootout after coming out of overtime tied 3-3 with the Gophers.
MSU’s shootout victory expanded its lead in the Big Ten standings to five points.
In the shootout, MSU secured two goals from junior forward Daniel Russell and junior forward Isaac Howard, while Minnesota’s Jimmy Snuggerud and Ryan Chesley failed to land their shots on target.
Junior forward Charlie Stramel delivered a goal and an assist while dominating the faceoff circle with a 21-4 record.
MSU will take on the Buckeyes in Columbus on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.
MSU Secures Home Opener Win against Xavier
MSU women’s tennis earned its first win of the season, defeating Xavier 4-3 in Friday’s home opener.
After losing their first doubles match, MSU rebounded as the pairs of Morais/Tsitavets and Purser/Parkins-Godwin won their matches.
In singles, Vehvilainen secured the first win with scores of 6-4 and 6-1. Tsitavets and Brahmbhatt also triumphed, while Purser, Blackford, and Morais fell short.
Spartans Secure 6-1 Victory Over West Virginia
After the battle against Xavier, the team took on West Virginia and won 6-1 in a commanding performance.
Junior Issey Purser and redshirt sophomore Oriana Parkins-Godwin opened the doubles competition with an impressive 6-1 win.
Building on their success, the pair Liisa Vehvilainen and freshman Ellie Blackford clinched the doubles point for the Spartans, defeating their West Virginia opponents 6-4 in the number one doubles match.
In singles, Amara Brahmbhatt dominated, earning her second victory of the weekend.
Additionally, redshirt sophomore Hanna Tsitavets, junior Matilde Morais, Vehvilaninen, and Purser all won their singles matches, and Blackford was the only one unable to take home a win.
MSU will host a doubleheader in East Lansing on Sunday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m. against Western and Eastern Michigan.
MSU Men’s Tennis Rolls Past Liberty
While the women’s team dominated in East Lansing, MSU men’s tennis traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, for the ITA Kickoff weekend and swept Liberty 4-0.
In doubles, the new pairing of sophomore Taym Alazmeh and freshman Mitchell Sheldon controlled the court and won 6-2.
Following a 6-4 loss by Matthew Forbes and Max Sheldon, Ozan Baris and Aristotelis Thanos secured the doubles point with a 6-4 win.
In singles, Max Sheldon claimed the first victory, followed by Thanos and freshman Vuk Radjenovic, who secured the team win.
Spartans Stumble Against No. 2 TCU
After defeating Liberty, MSU faced No. 2 TCU on Sunday but fell 4-1.
In doubles, senior Max Sheldon and freshman Matthew Forbes were the first to take the court, followed by sophomore Taym Alazmeh and freshman Danial Rakhmatullayev.
Sheldon and Forbes lost 6-2, while Alazmeh and Rakhmatullayev secured a doubles point for MSU. With the score tied, junior Ozan Baris and redshirt sophomore Aristotelis Thanos played the deciding match.
Baris and Thanos fell to TCU’s Pedro Vives and Liu Maxted in a narrow 7-6 loss, sending the match to singles.
Forbes earned MSU’s only singles win, as Sheldon, Baris, Radjenovic, Alazmeh, and Thanos all fell in their matches.
“Obviously, when games are lost, you feel that, and it doesn’t make anybody feel good,” Harris said, “but it’s a great unifier and we’re seeing that with the Michigan State ecosystem, especially this winter, where people are paying attention.”
MSU will travel to Knoxville on Friday, Jan. 31, to face Tennessee at 5 p.m.
MSU Claims Three Podium Finishes
At the Crossroads of America Invitational in Indianapolis, MSU secured three podium finishes.
Senior Elle Adrian matched her personal best of 21.39 meters in the weight throw, earning third place for MSU. Senior Noah Sage claimed second place in the men’s 400m with a time of 47.00.
Landon Cosby set a new personal best in the men’s pole vault, 5.04, and Jalen Nelson set an indoor personal best in the triple jump, hitting the 14.14m mark.
MSU will compete in a split meet, traveling to the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, and the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.
Spartans Drop Matches to Indiana and Nebraska
MSU traveled to Indianapolis on Friday to face Indiana, falling 35-3 and securing only one win in ten matches.
Redshirt freshman Clayton Jones (149 lbs) earned MSU’s lone win with an 11-9 decision over Indiana’s Aidan Torres.
MSU suffered close losses at 157, 165, and 174 pounds.
On Sunday, the team lost another match. They faced Nebraska in Jenison Field House, where they fell 38-3.
True freshman Mason Stewart earned his first career dual victory, securing a pair of takedowns and a 13-10 decision in sudden victory.
Nebraska claimed wins by decision at 165 and 174 pounds, then capped off the dual with dominant bonus-point victories at 184, 197, and heavyweight. With the loss, MSU falls to 3-5 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten duals.
MSU will host Clarion in East Lansing on Sunday, Feb. 2, at 1 p.m. for Senior Day, honoring graduating athletes.
“Michigan State has a unique culture in terms of student-athletes from other sports supporting each other,” Harris said, “It’s been going on for years, and it’s on full display now.”
After a successful weekend, MSU athletes will look to build on their momentum in upcoming competitions.
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