Wolverines fall to Spartans

Before a ruckus crowd of 13,751 at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, the Michigan Wolverines fell to the No. 9 Michigan State Spartans 54-42 in what was a pivotal Big Ten game for both teams

 

It was a game Wolverine fans had circled on their calendar for months but in the end, their in state rival continued their dominance within the state of Michigan. It’s a dominance that the Spartans have held for nearly a decade as they have won 16 of the last 19 meetings between the two teams.

 

The Spartans took an 11-10 lead halfway through the first half and never looked back. The win improved the Spartans to a7-0 on the road this season.

 

 “It speaks to the toughness of our guys,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said.

 

With the win, the Spartans now boast a 20-4, 10-2 in Big Ten play. The win also inches the Green and White one step closer to winning their first conference championship since 2001.

 

“It would get guys like you off my back,” Izzo said to a reporter regarding a conference championship. “Believe me, we have a lot of games left and some tough ones, but this was a big step.”

 

The loss drops the Wolverines to 15-10, 5-7 in the Big Ten and badly hurts their chances at a NCAA Tournament bid.

 

 The Wolverines realistically have to win five of their last six games in addition to a few games in the Big Ten Tournament to keep their slim tournament hopes alive,

 

“But it’s not over,” said Michigan guard Manny Harris. “We still have enough games to make a push.”

 

Harris was help in check by a stingy Spartans defense, led by guard Travis Walton. It was the third game in a row Michigan State held its opponent to fewer than 50 points, a feat not accomplished by the Spartans since the 1951-52 season.

 

Harris did have seven points along with three assists and seven rebounds. Forward DeShawm Sims came off the bench and led the Wolverines with 18 points and four rebounds. Forward Zack Gibson netted six points, guard Zack Novak had four and guard Laval Lucas-Perry added three points.

 

Michigan State was led offensively by guard Kevin Lucas, who has 15 points, two assists and 4 rebounds. Freshmen forward Delvon Roe has one his biggest games of the year; 14 points and ten rebounds. Other Spartan scorers were guard Durrell Summers who had eight points, center Goran Suton with six and guard Chris Allen with three.

 

The Wolverines shot a dismal 35 percent from the field, compared to 42 percent for the Spartans. This was the one and only match up between the rivals this season, unless of course they meet in the Big Ten Tournament.

 

Michigan State has six games remaining; they visit Purdue, Illinois and Indiana and welcome Wisconsin, Iowa and Purdue. The Wolverines will travel to Northwestern, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota and will host Minnesota and Purdue.