ANN ARBOR — The fear for a road team in games like this is that the home side will have one of those feel-good emotional afternoons, when 3s fall from everywhere, the crowd ignites and nothing goes write for the visitor.
The good news for MSU is that hasn’t happened. Behind Adreian Payne (12 points), Gary Harris (seven) and Travis Trice (six), the Spartans how outplayed — or at least out-shot — the Wolverines, leading 31-28 at the break.
Michigan, meanwhile, is 0-for-6 from 3. Some of that is superb MSU perimeter defense. Michigan isn’t getting many good looks from outside.
However, MSU is having trouble establishing the post with Derrick Nix, who’s been defended well and has five turnovers. U-M is bound to connect on a few more shots in the second half. MSU needs Nix to be effective to keep the game on its current path.
But, to this point, MSU has been in control, however slightly, throughout, helped by a 22-12 rebounding edge. That’s far better than the alternative for the Spartans.
More after the game.
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I can’t read this because I can’t stop laughing at the title of column!! DAMN funny!!!
Too many turnovers
This was a total screwjob but Valentine and crew!!!!!!
Once again, Appling plays a miserable game. This time, give Izzo an assist on the Trey Burke steal when we had a chance to win the game.
The refs allowed Burke to push off his defender on nearly every drive. And then turned around and called 5 charging fouls in the game against MSU. And we STILL should have won the game.
Thanks Keith, Thanks
We could have should have etc etc. bottom line, we do not have a true point guard and we get exposed in games like this. On that last steal, Keith was very causal with the ball. For us to advance beyond the first weekend in The tourney, Trice has to be on the floor. He has speed and much better handles than Appling.
The good news is that we will get a top 4 seed and we have plenty of time to tighten things up.
One last note, I thought that Dawson’s decision making today was awful.
MSU will still be a 2 or 3 seed, as long as they beat UW and NW and dont fold in the first round of the BTT