Michigan State football has added Prairie View A&M to its 2024 schedule. The game will be played on Sept. 14 in East Lansing and replaces a previously scheduled game with Louisiana.

Louisiana replaced the original game versus Michigan State with a matchup against Wake Forest instead.

Prairie View A&M, located in Texas, is a program from the FCS. The Panthers went 6-6 in 2023.

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Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault leads MSU with 25 points.​

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In a battle of two potent offenses, the Michigan State women's basketball team's upset bid came up short, falling to No. 14/13 Indiana, 94-91, Thursday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

It was the most points scored by the Spartans in the series with the Hoosiers since the thrilling 111-109 overtime quadruple overtime loss in the Big Ten Tournament in 2018.

The loss snaps MSU's four-game winning streak as the Spartans now stand at 17-6 overall and 7-5 in Big Ten action. Indiana improves to 19-3 and 10-2 in league play, remaining unbeaten at home this season, now at 12-0.

Overall, five Spartans reached double figures in the loss, led by graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault, who scored 25 points, her most in a Big Ten game this season and tied for her second-most overall this year, adding four rebounds.

Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann recorded her first double-double of the season, tying her career high with 10 assists and adding 19 points. Graduate guard Moira Joiner scored 14 points, while sophomore guard Theryn Hallock added 13 points off the bench. Graduate guard/forward Tory Ozment also added 11 points off the bench.

Indiana was led by a triple-double from Chloe Moore-McNeil with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

Both teams came bolting out of the gates shooting lights out with MSU taking an early 18-14 lead after a trey by Ozment at the 5:26 mark of the opening quarter. MSU was able to keep the Hoosiers without a field goal 2:45 to help build a 32-25 lead with less that two minutes left in the period. Both teams were hot from the start, as IU shot 71 percent in the first quarter and MSU shot 70 percent. Ayrault led all scorers with 12 points in the first 10 minutes of action.

In the second quarter, the Spartans scored the first three points of the period to open up a 35-27 lead. The Hoosiers followed that with a 7-0 run to trim the deficit to 35-34. Behind an Ayrault triple with three seconds left, MSU took a 53-43 lead into the locker room. The 53 first-half points were the most for Michigan State since scoring 57 against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 21.

Both teams started the second half slowly with over two minute scoring droughts. Mackenzie Holmes got hot in the third quarter, and Indiana used a 7-0 run to make it a 64-60 game with two minutes left in the period. Another surge by the Hoosiers tied the score briefly, before a Hagemann layup at the buzzer put MSU back on top 68-66. Indiana out-scored Michigan State 23-15 in the third period.

Sara Scalia put the Hoosiers on top 77-76 at the 6:11 mark of the fourth quarter. The Spartans weren't done fighting, using an Ozment steal and a Joiner bucket to tie the game with just over two minutes remaining. Once IU re-gained the lead on a Holmes basket with 1:12 left, they did not look back, holding off MSU's comeback and upset bid.

The Spartans continue a busy week hosting No. 5/5 Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. at the Breslin Center also on Peacock. It is Michigan State's annual Pink Game to celebrate breast cancer awareness.

Michigan State Women's Basketball Post-Game Notes: at Indiana

• Michigan State's four-game win streak was halted with Thursday's loss, which was the second-longest active streak in the Big Ten entering play on Thursday ... MSU has still won five of its last seven and 10 of the last 14 in winning 12 of its last 16 contests.

• The Spartans suffered their first loss when scoring 80+ points, as they entered Thursday's game 15-0, as well as 10-0 when scoring 90+ points.

• Thursday was also MSU's first loss when making eight or more 3-pointers, as the Spartans drained 12 triples Thursday night ... Michigan State is now 14-1 when making eight triples, as well as 10-1 when making 10 or more 3-pointers ... the 12 treys Thursday was the second game with back-to-back 10+ trey outings after 12 3-pointers in Monday's win over Minnesota, the first time in back-to-back B1G games and the second-longest overall stretch of the season behind four-straight games (12/17/23 - 12/20/23).

• The Michigan State starters of junior guard DeeDee Hagemann, sophomore guard Abbey Kimball junior guard/forward Jocelyn Tate, graduate guard Moira Joiner and graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault for Monday's game was MSU's 13th game in a row opening with that starting five ... Michigan State has started with that opening five in 20 total games out of the 23-game season ... MSU is now 14-6 when those five Spartans are on the court for opening tip-off.

• Michigan State had a 53-43 lead at halftime ... the Spartans are now 16-4 when leading at intermission.

• The Green & White's 53 points in the first half was their most in a Big Ten game this season and their second-most overall in the first 20 minutes of the season since 57 in first half vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21/23).

• Five Spartans tallied double-figures, as MSU is now 7-2 when five or more score in double-digits.

• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault led the Spartans with 25 points, followed by 19 points by junior guard DeeDee Hagemann, 14 points from graduate guard Moira Joiner, 13 by sophomore guard Theryn Hallock and 11 points from graduate guard/forward Tory Ozment.

• Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann registered her first double-double of her three-year collegiate career with 19 points and 10 assists ... Hagemann is the fourth different Spartan to record a double-double this season, joining two from Ayrault, and one each by Hallock and Joiner ... Thursday was MSU's first loss when a Spartan registers a double-double, as they were 4-0.

• Thursday also marked the first time that MSU suffered defeat when having a 20-point scorer, as the Spartans were 12-0 when at least one player posted 20+ points entering the game.

• Hallock and Ozment combined for 24 points as MSU's only players coming off the bench, as those two Spartans out-scored IU's four bench players, 24-5 ... MSU is now 14-4 when having more bench points than the opposition.

• Michigan State was slightly out-rebounded, 24-19, as MSU leveled its ledger at 5-5 when the opponent has more rebounds, while the Spartans are 11-1 when out-rebounding the opposition and 1-0 when rebounds are level.

• Graduate guard/forward Julia Ayrault netted a B1G season-high 25 points topping her previous B1G season-high of 20 points vs. Maryland (1/9/24) ... Ayrault's 25 points tied her second-most this season, matching 25 points vs. James Madison (11/23/23) and behind her career-best 32 points vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21/23) ... it was Ayrault's fourth 20-point outing this season, as part of her 18th double-figure scoring game this season, as MSU is now 15-3 when she posts double-digits in the scoring column.

• Thursday was also the eighth game this season that Ayrault has led MSU in scoring, taking over sole possession of the team lead, pulling away from a tie with Hagemann ... MSU is now 6-2 when Ayrault leads the team in scoring.

• Ayrault netted a career-high five 3-pointers, bettering her previous top mark of four triples vs. Coastal Carolina (12/21/23) ... the five triples was her third game in the last four with multiple triples as part of the eighth game this season with more than one 3-pointer.

• Ayrault now has 353 points this season, taking over the Spartans' scoring lead this season from Joiner, who is now at 347 points on the season.

• With the 353 points, Ayrault needs just 81 more points to equal the combined sum of her previous three seasons in a Spartan uniform, as she had a combined 434 points in the 2019-23 seasons.

• Ayrault was not credited with a block Thursday night, marking just the fourth game this season without at least one rejection ... overall, it was just the second game this season that Michigan State was not credited with a block.

• Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann posted her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 assists, posting her 15th double-figure scoring outing while her first double-digit assist total ... the 10 assists topped Hagemann's previous season-high of eight helpers, done three previous times, most recently vs. Purdue (1/24/24).

• Hagemann also matched her career-best of 10 assists, which also came on the road, at Oakland on Nov. 26, 2021, during her freshman season.

• Hagemann is the second Spartan to dish out 10+ assists this season, joining Hallock with 12 helpers vs. Central Michigan (12/17/23).

• The 10 assists give Hagemann 109 for the season, as she has now dished out 100+ assists in all three seasons she has played in a Spartan jersey.

• Hagemann also now has 399 assists for her career, needing just one more to become the ninth MSU women's basketball player with 400 assists, and just three more to take over the No. 8 spot on the Spartans' career assists list, currently held by Brittney Thomas (2007-11) with 401, and five more to pass Tamika Matlock (1995-97) for the No. 7 spot with 403 helpers.

• With two 3-pointers Thursday, Hagemann posted back-to-back games with multiple 3-pointers and the 10th game this season with more than one from distance.

• Graduate guard Moira Joiner added 14 points for her fifth game in a row scoring in double-digits, as her streak of scoring 10+ points was halted at 19-straight games in last month's loss at Minnesota for the first and only time this season that Joiner has been held to single-digits ... Joiner has now netted double-figures in 22 of the 23 games this season and 25 of her last 27 career games.

• Joiner made one 3-pointer to separate from a tie with Kalisha Keane (2007-11) for the No. 5 spot on MSU's career 3-pointers list, as Joiner now has sole possession with 184 treys.

• Sophomore guard Theryn Hallock tallied 13 points for her third-straight double-digit scoring game and the fourth in the last five games as part of the 11th this season.

• Hallock also swiped a team-high two steals for her second game in a row with multiple swipes and seventh game this season with more than one steal.

• Graduate guard/forward Tory Ozment posted double-figures for the 11th time this season with 11 points, including the third time in the last five games.

• Ozment drained a season-high three 3-pointers, topping her previous season-best of two triples, done three previous times, most recently vs. Creighton (11/24/23).

Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.

As the traditional signing period for the 2024 class approaches, one of the more coveted prospects still available is four-star defensive end Keona Wilhite.

Wilhite originally signed with Washington in December, but he was recently released from his National Letter of Intent with UW after head coach Kalen DeBoer took the same job at Alabama earlier this month.

The first stop for Wilhite after being released from his NLI was East Lansing. He took an official visit to Michigan State this past weekend, Jan. 19. through Jan. 21,

He was already familiar with head coach Jonathan Smith, defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa and several other of the current MSU coaches while they were previously at Oregon State. While in Corvallis, the staff heavily recruited Wilhite and the Beavers were one of the finalists for the talented edge rusher.

While it was a given he would be getting a scholarship offer from the Spartans while on the visit, it still meant a lot to Wilhite.

"It felt good," Wilhite told Spartans Illustrated about the Michigan State offer. "Especially knowing that they're a historically great school. It felt great, actually."

More on the visit, offer and Wilhite's recruitment here:

The men's tennis team is highly ranked and off to a hot start. However, sources tell me that Aristotelis Thanos will not be available for a little while as he is back in Greece representing his country in the Davis Cup. This will make things a little difficult for their upcoming matches but the Spartans should be fine in their quest for success this season.

The Michigan State football program hosted several prospects on campus last weekend for its junior day event, but a big-time surprise late addition to the group of visitors was four-star 2025 defensive back
Alex Graham.

Graham told Spartans Illustrated on that Saturday morning that he would be making the trip to East Lansing. While he had visited Michigan State previously, it was his first time back in East Lansing since Jonathan Smith took over as the program's head coach.

Michigan State's recent addition of cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin has Graham's attention, and he is certainly interested in the Spartans once again, but the competition for him is heavy. Martin and MSU re-offered Graham on Jan. 22.

"Me and Coach Martin have known each other for a long time now, and our relationship just keeps getting stronger and better," Graham explained.

More here:

The good news is that MSU's gymnastics program is attracting much more media attention than when we started covering its ascent 3 seasons ago. The bad news is that with more media come more restrictions. I'm not complaining - just saying that our coverage will have to change.

Michigan State is required to enforce its contractual obligations (TV, etc), so we'll have to read the details of the new credential and comply.

I'm guessing much less video (if any) from alternate angles, etc.

I get it.

It makes sense that with more media come more rules.

It's great news that MSU gymnastics has grown (and succeeded) to the point where its popularity has garnered more media attention. Spartans Illustrated was the only media entity (that I saw) that traveled to Ann Arbor last week to report on Michigan State's historic win over UM.

Spartans Illustrated will continue to do our best to cover as many different sports at Michigan State as possible - and to do so with as much unique content as we can. Thank you all for your support; we can't do it without you.

Thanks in advance!

Michigan State has added another preferred walk-on.

2024 defensive end/edge Stone Chaney is the latest to commit to the Spartans.

More details here:

I really like this LB from Fenton--great size. I think this is an under the radar addition.

On the day of their All-American celebration, junior Max Shedon and sophomore Ozan Baris were undefeated in singles play Firday.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 EAST LANSING, MICH. – Spartans Men's Tennis improved to 6-0 on the season with two wins to start the four-match home weekend, victorious over Ball State 4-0 and over Boise State 5-3 in Friday afternoon's double header.

"It was a gritty win by the guys," Head Coach Harry Jadun said. "The scoreboard shows 5-2 but it definitely felt very close; credit to Boise State, they battled. It's a big one for the guys and we've got to more big ones on Sunday.

MSU will host another double header Sunday, taking on a talented Middle Tennessee State squad at noon and Bellarmine at 3 p.m. in the MSU Indoor Tennis Center.

Young Talent Leads MSU to Second Sweep of Season
In the front end of the double header MSU swept Ball State, 4-0, their 17th consecutive win over the Cardinals. Spartan underclassmen helped them halfway to the doubles point while two Spartan juniors and a sophomore claimed the winning singles points.

Freshman Taym Alazmeh and sophomore Ozan Baris made quick work at No. 2 doubles, winning 6-0. After Ball State pulled even, the duo of senior Graydon Lair and graduate student Ronald Hohmann clinched the doubles point with a narrow 7-6 (7-5) win in a tiebreaker.

In singles play, No. 59 ranked Max Sheldon cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win. Sophomore David Saye followed up with a 6-3, 6-3 win of his own, pushing the score to 3-0. Junior East Lansing native Josh Portnoy would clinch the match for MSU, triumphant at No. 5 singles, 6-3, 6-2.

Senior Reed Crocker played his first singles match in 364 days, last having played on Feb. 3, 2023, also against Ball State. Lair won his first set 6-1 and was in a 6-6 (4-4) tiebreak in the second set, but his match also went unfinished.

Experienced Players Give MSU 2-0 Weekend Start
It was the experienced Spartans that helped Michigan State to it's second win on the day and sixth of the season, as it beat Boise State 6-2.

In doubles, after a 6-4 win by the grad transfer duo and ITA's No. 45 Sebastien Collard and Ronald Hohmann III, senior Graydon Lair was part of the double's point clinching tiebreaker for the second time on the afternoon as he and junior Max Sheldon combined for the 7-6 [7-4] win.

Collard was again the first on the board in singles, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 and improving to 5-0 on the season. Junior Max Sheldon followed with a straight set victory of his own, moving to 4-0 in 2024 himself.

After Boise State would reclaim a point at No. 6 singles, No. 12 ranked Ronnie Hohmann III would knock off the 40th ranked Sam Sippel at No. 1 singles in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 affair to clinch the victory for MSU at 4-1. With the dual already decided, Baris and sophomore David Saye played out their third sets at No. 2 and No. 4 singles, the national No. 6 ranked Baris bouncing back to come out on top 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 while Saye fell the second tiebreak of the match to settle the score at 5-2 for MSU.

Results

No. 19 Michigan State 4 (5-0), Ball State 0 (3-3)
Singles
1. Sebastien Collard (MSU) vs. Nathaniel Webster (BALLST) 4-6, 4-2, unfinished
2. #59 Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Mason Tran (BALLST) 6-3, 6-3
3. David Saye (MSU) def. Sajin Smith (BALLST) 6-3, 6-3
4. #116 Graydon Lair (MSU) vs. Eli Herran (BALLST) 6-1, 6-6 (4-4), unfinished
5. Josh Portnoy (MSU) def. Broc Fletcher (BALLST) 6-3, 6-2
6. Reed Crocker (MSU) vs. Drew Hayward (BALLST) 4-6, 4-4, unfinished

Doubles
1. Graydon Lair/Ronald Hohmann (MSUM) def. Nathaniel Webster/Mason Tran (BALLST) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Ozan Baris/Taym Alazmeh (MSUM) def. Petar Petrovic/Parrish Simmons (BALLST) 6-0
3. Eli Herran/Sajin Smith (BALLST) def. Josh Portnoy/Reed Crocker (MSUM) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,5)

No. 19 Michigan State 5 (6-0), Boise State 2 (3-2)
Singles
1. #12 Ronald Hohmann (MSU) def. #40 Sam Sippel (BSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
2. #6 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. Jip van Assendelft (BSU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
3. Sebastien Collard (MSU) def. Jan Lucca Marquardt (BSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. James Van Herzeele (BSU) def. David Saye (MSU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
5. #59 Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Jett Middleton (BSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. John Chin (BSU) def. Luke Baylis (MSU) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles
1. #45 Sebastien Collard/Ronald Hohmann (MSU) def. Sam Sippel/Jip van Assendelft (BSU) 6-4
2. Caden Moortgat/Jan Lucca Marquardt (BSU) def. Ozan Baris/Taym Alazmeh (MSU) 6-2
3. Max Sheldon/Graydon Lair (MSU) def. John Chin/Jett Middleton (BSU) 7-6 (7-4)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,5,6,1,2)

Courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Class of 2024 three-star wide receiver Jaylan Brown and three-star defensive tackle Mikeshun Beeler have officially signed with Michigan State.

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Kicker Martin Connington plans to make things around 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Connington will actually be joining as a preferred walk-on in 2024, but then will immediately go to scholarship in January of 2025 after Jonathan Kim exhausts his eligibility.

I will have quotes from all three in an article later today.

There will be more preferred walk-on additions today as well

One of the biggest storylines pertaining to Michigan State football recruiting as the traditional signing day approached was whether Jadyn Walker, a class of 2024 three-star in-state athlete/linebacker commit, would sign with the Spartans or USC.

Now that signing day (Wednesday, Feb. 7) has arrived, Walker announced his decision. He has elected to sign with USC.

More details here:

Michigan State (14-8, 6-5) is on the road at Minnesota (14-7, 5-5).

The Spartans are looking to improve on their 1-4 road record while the Golden Gophers are in search of their third straight win.

Tip off from Williams Arena will be at approximately 9 p.m. exclusively on Peacock.

Good afternoon,
What is the current status of Dimitry? I still him solid commit to Auburn. If this has been answered already - sorry for the double tap.

Wondering if anything has changed since USC's in-home.

The Michigan State football team continues to add to its 2024 roster through the preferred walk-on ranks. On Tuesday, class of 2024 in-state defensive tackle Mason Nickel announced his pledge to the Spartans as a PWO.

Nickel, out of of Herbert Henry Dow High School in Midland, Michigan, reported a preferred walk-on offer from Michigan State following a visit on Jan. 28. It did not take too long afterward for Nickel to commit to MSU.

"The main reason I chose MSU over other schools is because of the resources they have to offer (football and academic) that will help set me up for success on my current and future goals," Nickel told Spartans Illustrated.

More here:

Michigan State is adding another preferred walk-on to its roster, as 2024 tight end Charlie Baker pledged to the Spartans on Tuesday.

The moment is extra special for Baker. He attended East Lansing High School and has lived in the city his entire life.

While he won't be on scholarship right away, Baker will have an opportunity to earn one in the future, and in the meantime, he will fulfill a lifelong dream of suiting up for Michigan State.

"I committed to MSU because ever since I was a kid growing up here, I’ve always wanted to play football as a Spartan," Baker told Spartans Illustrated. "I was born here (in Lansing) and have lived here (in East Lansing) my whole life and been going to Michigan State games since I was born."

Jonathan Smith & the Spartans have added another PWO.

Details here:

East Lansing 2025 running back Jace Clariziohas an opportunity in the future to be a hometown hero and play his college football at Michigan State. He also has a chance to create his own path elsewhere as many schools across the country are interested in the talented athlete.

Clarizio, a standout at East Lansing High School, visited Michigan State in back-to-back weekends, and was most recently on campus for MSU's junior day event this past Saturday.

After being offered a scholarship by the previous staff in the fall, Clarizio quickly earned a re-offer from the new Michigan State brass under head coach Jonathan Smith and assistant head coach/running backs coach/co-special teams coordinator Keith Bhonapha while he was on campus on Jan. 26.

Following his most recent trip to campus, Clarizio spoke to Spartans Illustrated about the MSU visit, and explained what the re-offer from a school that he has grown up in very close proximity to means to him.

"I feel like the staff is on a mission to make the program great again," Clarizio said about Michigan State.

More here:

Ideally, I would issue a more formal update with an article, but the last week has been a little crazy for me. I am continuing to update the data/stats tracker every day or two depending on the Big Ten schedule. Here is where MSU stands heading into tonight's game at Minnesota.

With the Spartans' wins over Michigan and Maryland, Michigan State sits at 6-5 in the Big Ten standings in a tie with Northwestern and a half-game ahead of Nebraska. This is essentially exactly where the math has projected the Spartans will finish for a while now. The schedule has finally eased up enough to allow the actual record to catch up to the math.

Michigan State continues to be quite unlucky (-1.27 games) but that number has improved by over half a game since mid-January. Ohio State (-2.31) and Michigan (-1.90) are now much less lucky. Northwestern's luck (+1.82) also took a hit thanks to the Wildcats' loss to Minnesota and Purdue over the past two games. Nebraska (+0.60) also picked us losses to Illinois and Maryland.

Overall, this combination of events has allowed Michigan State (11.92) to pass both Northwestern (11.16) and Nebraska (11.03) in expected wins. The Spartans are once again favored to claim the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. That said, the overall odds still say that a single bye in the BTT (56%) is slightly more likely than earning a top four seed (44%). Michigan State would be favored over both Northwestern and Nebraska on a neutral court (by about 4.5 points) but the Wildcats and especially the Huskers have much easier remaining schedules (by roughly a half game.)

The next four games, starting with tonight's game in Minneapolis, will tell us a lot about where this team will finish. The next four games (at Minnesota, versus Illinois, at Michigan and at Penn State) represent four of the five toughest games remaining (with the Purdue game being No. 1 with a bullet). That said, based on projected spreads, none of the next four games are as tough as the five Big Ten games that the Spartans lost with the exception of the home loss to Wisconsin. In this four-game span, the expected win total is just 2.65. If Michigan State can win three of the four, they are in great shape to finish at 12-8 or better. A 2-2 record would mean 11-9 might be the ceiling.

Overall, Michigan State's metrics remain very strong at No. 17 in Kenpom overall and in the top 30 of both offense and defense. As of Monday there were only 12 teams with this type of "championship resume." Michigan State is one of them. If the Spartans can win the next two... things will be looking up substantially.

Beeler chooses MSU.

Tom Izzo: “For us, it’s an incredible opportunity to go up there, to go on the road and see if we can sweep a team this year, like we did Maryland."

More on the matchup with Minnesota and the difficulty of winning on the road:

@DavidHarns is down in Ann Arbor at the Crisler Center covering the gymnastics meet between MSU and UM.

It is currently underway on Big Ten Network.