On Thursday, Michigan State announced that its various athletics teams will resume competition this weekend.

The news comes following a mass shooting on MSU's campus on Monday night, a tragedy that took three innocent lives — Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner — and sent five additional victims to the hospital, where they currently remain.

Following Monday night's events, MSU canceled classes for the week and suspended campus operations for 48 hours. Several athletics competitions scheduled for Wednesday were postponed, including the home men's basketball game versus Minnesota, the women's basketball game at Purdue and the men's tennis home match versus Drake. Additionally, MSU's women's gymnastics meet at Illinois scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17 was postponed.

"The safety and physical and mental well-being of our students and staff is the primary focus of Michigan State athletics," MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller said. "In consultation with mental health professionals and in conversations with our student-athletes it became apparent that a return to practice and competition is a crucial part of their recovery. Student-athletes were given an active voice in the decision to return to competition, as well as the autonomy to make their own individual choices about participation.

"Athletics can be a rallying point for a community in need of healing, a fact many of our student-athletes have mentioned to me. The opportunity to represent our entire community has never felt greater. I also recognize that everyone grieves in their own unique manner, and there are some who aren't ready to return to athletic events. Those feelings are incredibly valid, and as Coach (Tom) Izzo so eloquently stated last night, I hope that we will all focus on taking care of one another."

The gymnastics meet at Illinois remains postponed, but the following competitions will take place (information is subject to change, all times Eastern):

-The women's basketball team will host Maryland on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. as originally scheduled.

-The Michigan State versus Michigan men's basketball game will be played as scheduled on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor — a decision that was made following discussions between Michigan State Athletics Director Alan Haller and Michigan Athletics Director Warde Manuel.

-Michigan State men's tennis will not travel for originally scheduled matches at Virginia Tech and VCU. Instead, the Spartans will remain home and host Drake Saturday at 10 a.m. This is rescheduled from Wednesday's postponement.

-Michigan State hockey traveled to Madison on Wednesday to prepare for its Friday and Saturday contests against Wisconsin.

Additionally, Michigan State Athletics' press release noted the following:

"The following teams are traveling or are scheduled to travel on Thursday for their weekend road contests: softball (Elon Phoenix Invitational – Elon, N.C., Feb. 17-19), baseball (Multiple opponents – Arizona, Feb. 17-20) and women's golf (Moon Golf Invitational – Melbourne, Fla., Feb. 19-21).

On Friday, wrestling (at Central Michigan) and members of the men's and women's track and field teams (at Michigan) will travel for competition on the same day. Members of the men's and women's track and field squads are also scheduled to compete Saturday at Notre Dame."

The Michigan State women's tennis team also had matches scheduled at home versus Marshall in the MSU indoor tennis center on Friday at 3 p.m., and an away match at Columbia on Sunday at 11 a.m., but MSU Athletics later announced that those have been canceled.

Makeup dates were not yet announced for the men's basketball game versus Minnesota, women's basketball game at Purdue or women's gymnastics meet at Illinois.