Photo: Dale Young ~ USA TODAY Sports
EAST LANSING, MI, Feb. 26, 2024 ~ The Michigan State Spartans lost a heartbreaker to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday, 60-57, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
The Spartans came out strong in this one. They were able to build up a lead and maintained it throughout the entire first half. Michigan State’s Malik Hall led the team in scoring in the first half with nine points. Hall aided the Spartans to a 10-point lead going into halftime.
PODCAST:
Feb. 26, 2024 ~ The Spartans lost a heartbreaker at the buzzer, 60-57, against Ohio State, in freshman Xavier Booker’s first start. Michigan State Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo talks with 760 WJR‘s Lloyd Jackson, Jamie Edmonds, and Steve Courtney about the team’s second straight home loss, and preparing for No. 3 Purdue on Saturday.
VIDEO:
Feb. 25, 2024 ~ Michigan State Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo addresses the media following his team’s 57-60 buzzer-beater loss against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
(CONTINUED) The Spartans maintained their lead throughout most of the second half. However, Michigan State struggled from deep. They went from shooting 4/9 from three-point range in the first half to missing all seven attempts in the second.
With about six minutes remaining in the game, the Buckeyes were able to go on a 7-0 run that got them within one point of the Spartans. With 11 seconds left, Ohio State would take their first lead of the game with a free throw, putting them up one. Immediately after, Michigan State pushed the offensive. This allowed Spartans’ Tyson Walker to get fouled, sending him to the free throw line. Walker went on to miss his first free throw and make his second, tying the game with only six seconds left.
Ohio State would have just enough time to put together a possession. In the final seconds, Buckeyes’ Dale Bonner would chuck up a three-point attempt that would cash in, crushing all the hearts and faith of the Spartans.
Michigan State suffered their second home loss in a row. Up until this point, the Spartans have been dominant at home. Michigan State looks for the win on Saturday with a game against the No. 3 ranked Purdue Boilermakers. Coverage starts at 7 p.m. on 760 WJR.
