Photo: Matt Krohn ~ USA TODAY Sports
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, March 15, 2024 ~ The Purdue Boilermakers defeated the Michigan State Spartans, 67-62, in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Michigan State trailed early in this one. With no answer to Purdue’s Zach Edey, the best player in the Big Ten, the Spartans were forced to play from behind. However, the contest was still in arm’s reach for Michigan State through the game’s first 20 minutes as the Spartans only trailed by seven.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Final from the Target Center 🏀 pic.twitter.com/yG2jWuyt92
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 15, 2024
(CONTINUED) Coming out of halftime, Purdue held on to their lead. The Boilermakers eventually led by 12 at one point, their biggest lead of the day. Michigan State went on a 7-0 run with around 10 minutes left in the game, narrowing the Purdue lead to three. The game was neck-and-neck until the two-minute mark where the Spartans tied it up off a pullup jumper by Tyson Walker. Unfortunately for Michigan State, a three pointer by Boilermakers’ Fletcher Loyer alongside a layup by Edey capped off a Purdue win.
This is the second loss to Purdue this season for Michigan State. With the Big Ten Tournament over for the Spartans, they now rely on the March Madness Selection Commitee to select them in this year’s tournament. Selection Sunday is set for Sunday, March 17 at 6 p.m. on CBS.