Photo: David Banks ~ USA TODAY Sports
EVANSTON, IL, Jan. 8, 2024 ~ The Michigan State Spartans were defeated by the Northwestern Wildcats 88-74 on the road at Welsh Ryan Arena in Evanston.
The Spartans suffered their third Big Ten Conference loss by a relatively large margin. Although Michigan State opened the game very competitively, maintaining a tied score throughout the first half, the Spartans could not keep up with the Wildcat heat. With about seven minutes remaining in the first half, the Wildcats began to pull away from the Spartans, ending the half leading by 15.
From the beginning of the second half onward, the Spartans were unable to reel Northwestern back in.
Despite the trailing score, Michigan State didn’t play a bad game offensively. The Spartans shot nearly 50% from both the field and from three-point range. Michigan State’s Tyson Walker even had his second-best scoring night with 27 points. However, the Spartans didn’t come within 10 points of the Wildcats in the entire second half due to their lack of defense.
PODCAST:
Jan. 8, 2024 ~ Michigan State‘s five-game win streak was snapped on Sunday night against Northwestern. So what went wrong? Spartans Head Coach Tom Izzo joins Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, Jamie Edmonds, and Steve Courtney to talk about the team’s poor defensive showing, and a look ahead to the game facing Illinois on Thursday.
(CONTINUED) Northwestern was unable to be stopped offensively with five scorers in double digits. The Wildcats’ backcourt of Boo Buie and Ty Berry led the charge for Northwestern. Buie had 19 points and 10 assists, while Berry had a team-high of 22 points.
The Wildcats have defeated the Spartans in the team’s past three matchups. With the loss, Michigan State is just 1-3 in Big Ten Conference play.
The Spartans are on the road again in another Big Ten matchup against Illinois on Thursday. Coverage starts at 8 p.m. on 760 WJR.
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