MSU’s “Big Three” lead Spartans over Badgers
The formula is familiar to Spartans fans. When Paul Davis, Maurice Ager, and Shannon Brown do well, MSU wins. The three combined for 64 of MSU’s 74 points Thursday night in a 74-65 win over Wisconsin. Heading into the game, there were some fans and media speculating about whether MSU was a Bubble Team to even make the NCAA Tournament. Dave Dye of the Detroit News reports that MSU’s plan heading into the game was to play as if there were no tomorrow.
“I think there was a little self-doubt,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said of his team’s approach after losing four of its last five games. “But I thought we made a commitment that we’re going to try to play and leave it on the floor.”
They left it on the floor — and more.
MSU trailed by double-digits at times during the first half but as Mark Stewart of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel points out, the Badgers weren’t able to maintain the same intensity as MSU during the second half.
Paul Davis dominated the paint. Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown did their thing on the perimeter. Point guard Drew Neitzel was nearly flawless in 36 minutes. And collectively, Michigan State clamped down on any Badger whose name wasn’t Alando Tucker.
It added up to a convincing 74-65 victory over Wisconsin on Thursday night at the Breslin Center to snap a two-game losing streak and end the Badgers’ slim chance of gaining a share of the Big Ten title.
The Spartans (20-9, 8-7 Big Ten) shot 58.3% in the second half, when they took control by scoring on six consecutive possessions during the first 4½ minutes to take a 48-36 lead. Not even 19 second-half points by Tucker could save Wisconsin, which dropped to 19-9 overall and 9-6 heading into the Big Ten finale Saturday at Iowa.