The rivalry between the Michigan State Spartans and the Michigan Wolverines was renewed on Sunday afternoon inside the Breslin Center. The sold-out crowd were in for a great game in East Lansing, and both teams left it all on the floor.
The Michigan Wolverines, playing without leading scorer Caris LeVert due to a season-ending foot injury, overcame a five-point deficit at half-time to push the game to overtime. In the five-minute overtime period, the Wolverines went ice-cold and the Spartans were able to pull away for a much-needed conference win in front of their home crowd.
The Michigan State Spartans were able to score a win in the team’s first of two regular season meetings, 76 – 66 in overtime.
In the first four minutes of the game, the Wolverines jumped out to a quick 8 – 3 lead, thanks to four points by Muhammad-Al- Abdur-Rahkman. Michigan State would come right back and tie the game at 8-all thanks to a Branden Dawson lay-up before the first media timeout.
The Spartans would be held scoreless over the next four minutes, allowing the Wolverines to take a 7-point lead before the next media timeout.
As the first half progressed along, the Spartans would continue to chip away at the lead, and the teams would go on to trade 1-point leads several times towards the end of the half. Two three pointers from Denzel Valentine and one from Bryn Forbes game the Spartans a 29 – 22 lead before Spike Albrecht made two free throws to get the Wolverines back within 5.
After the opening 20 minutes, the Spartans held a 29 – 24 lead over the Wolverines.
In the second half, the Wolverines came out on a mission. Michigan quickly erased the Spartans’ lead, and took a five-point lead of their own with 13:19 left to play in the contest. A lay-up from Abdur-Rahkman gave the Wolverines a 45 – 40 lead, leading to a Michigan State timeout.
Michigan State would come out of the timeout and score six straight points to eliminate the Wolverines’ lead.
From there, the teams would trade baskets, and ultimately swap leads back and forth. With 1:24 remaining in the game, Forbes made a three-pointer to give the Spartans a 66 – 61 lead, and the game looked to be over.
Nobody told the Wolverines that the game was over, and they kept fighting.
Spike Albrecht made a three of his own, and Max Bielfeldt added a lay-up with just 20 seconds left to tie the game up at 66. Denzel Valentine missed a key free throw for the Spartans, and Travis Trice missed a three at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
At the end of regulation, the Wolverines and the Spartans were all tied up at 66.
In overtime, it was all Michigan State. The Wolverines couldn’t muster anything on the offensive end thanks to ferocious defense by the Spartans, and Michigan State took control of the game.
Valentine made up for his missed free throw in regulation with five points in overtime, and Matt Costello added in four points and the Spartans kept the Wolverines off the scoreboard in the extra period.
Michigan State outscored the Wolverines 10 – 0 in overtime, and cruised to the 76 – 66 win.
The rivalry games between the Wolverines and the Spartans always bring out the best in both programs, and Sunday afternoon’s game did just that. Fans were treated to another classic game between the two, and Michigan State delivered the first blow in the season series.
For the Michigan Wolverines, the loss of Caris LeVert left a hole in the offense for the team, and they would need a score-by-committee approach to replace his production. On Sunday, Spike Albrecht and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led the way for the Wolverines, scoring 18 points each in a losing effort.
On the Spartans’ side of the ball, they have several offensive threats who are capable of taking over the game at any point. When the team is healthy, they can compete with anybody. Against Michigan, Denzel Valentine was once again on triple-double alter, recording a game-high 25 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
Senior forward Branden Dawson recorded yet another double-double in conference play, adding 19 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
The loss for the Michigan Wolverines (13 – 9, 6 – 4) is another blow in what has been a less-than-stellar season so far. The Wolverines seem to be a long-shot for an NCAA Tournament berth, barring a Big Ten tournament championship or some upset wins in the regular season. Up next for the Wolverines is a date with the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday.
The win for the Michigan State Spartans (15 – 7, 6 – 3) is a big one for the program, as they stay in contention near the top of the Big Ten standings. They are now in a five-way tie for 2nd in the conference, 1.5 games back of the Wisconsin Badgers. The Spartans will look to extend their winning streak to three games when they welcome the Illinois Fighting Illini to town on Saturday.