Survive and Advance…MSU Beat Wisconsin in OT 64-61

 

Izzo's frustration turned to elation after his team turned it on with 2:39 left. Photo courtesy of Mark Boomgaard.

 

Survive and Advance…MSU Beat Wisconsin in OT 64-61

 

It wasn’t pretty, but when is a MSU vs. Wisconsin game ever? The Spartans started slow. In fact a college basketball game has 40 minutes of regulation. With only 2:39 left they were down nine points and struggling.

It was with only 2:39 left Draymond Green turned from Clark Kent to Superman. He put his team on his back and refused to lose. He finished the game with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks. 

Izzo declared of his team’s fight, "I've never seen a bunch of guys get knocked down more times than we got knocked down, and in every huddle, they still thought they could win." 

The Badgers make their living being protective of the ball and playing tough defense. They had an unBadger like 11 turnovers including three in the final seconds of regulation to let the Spartans back into the game. Head Coach Bo Ryan said of those turnovers, “In the heat of the battle, they happen."

Spartan Nation had declared that this was the biggest game of the season. Something Draymond Green echoed after the game saying, “A loss here would have changed our season for sure, we had to have it.”

The Spartans improved their record to 11-5 (3-1) with a Big Ten tilt coming Saturday at the Breslin against Northwestern.