Tom Izzo’s Cagers Start B1G Play in a Disappointing Way: A Home Double Overtime Loss to Maryland 68-66
Tom Izzo’s Cagers Start B1G Play in a Disappointing Way: A Home Double Overtime Loss to Maryland 68-66
Breslin Center
East Lansing, MI
The Michigan State University men’s basketball team opened up Big Ten play at home this afternoon verses the Maryland Terrapins. Maryland came into their first Big Ten game with a 12-1 record and ranked 12th in the nation. Michigan State came in into Big Ten play with a disappointing 9-4 record and no quality wins.
Maryland got a quick introduction into ugly Big Ten basketball but managed to walk out of Breslin today with a 68-66 double overtime win. The Spartans had their chances to pick up their first quality win but failed to put away Maryland and this loss may become extremely costly in March.
No way around it, the first half was terrible basketball by both teams. At half Maryland led 17-14, yes you read that right, 17-14. In the half the Spartans shot just 20.8 %, while Maryland kept the Spartans in the game by turning the ball over 9 times. Neither team could get anything going and as a result it may have been one of the worst displays of basketball ever at the Breslin. Thankfully things picked up in the second half.
In the second half Travis Trice put the Spartans on his back and carried the team. He finished the game as the only Spartan in double figures scoring with 26 points. Bryn Forbes, Matt Costello and Braden Dawson all finished the game with 9 points. Denzel Valentine is normally a central figure on offense but he struggled with fouls for much of the game. Having only one player in double figures in a double overtime game is an amazing stat. It is almost impossible to win a Big Ten game when only one player is scoring consistently.
Maryland countered Trice’s strong second half and overtimes by driving and going to the line. At the half Maryland had 0 foul shots, they finished the game going to the line 32 times. This was a stat that was not missed by Coach Izzo, “It was a joke; just put your head down and go. 32 free throws in the second half and over time is just mind boggling to meâ€. Continuing on the subject of foul shots Izzo added†I thought there was some flops and throw the ball up, I wasn’t really happy with that but that’s the way it is. They all worry about this touchy feely stuff, all these coaches are worried about let’s not be very physical, let’s play like it’s my 4th graders gym class. They got what they wanted, a free throw contest. I was not very happy with that, I just don t think it is very goodâ€.
Even with the problems on offense and questionable calls the Spartans had a chance to walk away with the victory as they lead 48-45 with 11 seconds remaining in the game. With 5 seconds left Maryland Senior star Dez Well hit a three to send the game into overtime. In the first overtime the Spartans lead 55-53 with 38 seconds to go. Once again Dez Wells struck with 2 foul shots to send the game into a second overtime. In the second overtime the poor half-court offense, a large rebounding disadvantage, for the game Maryland won the rebounding battle 52-36 and missed foul shots caught up with the Spartans as Maryland sealed the deal for the 68-66 road victory.
With today’s loss the Spartans fall to 9-5 and 0-1 in the Big Ten. Even with the blown chance today the Big Ten is a long season and there will be plenty more opportunities to pick up quality victories. Matter of fact, the Spartans can pick up a quality win on Monday as Indiana comes to the Breslin. Till Monday, Happy New Year and enjoy watching the Spartans in the Cotton Bowl.
