East Lansing — Michigan State’s Big Ten title dreams are only getting more real. But Sunday’s win that kept them alive went along like a nightmare.
Fueled by strong rebounding and hot 3-point shooting, No. 8 Michigan State beat No. 11 Wisconsin 71-62 in a game marred by frequent fouls. The victory keeps the Spartans atop the Big Ten with two games to play.
Jaden Akins scored 19 points for Michigan State (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) to lead five players with eight or more. Wisconsin’s John Blackwell (Birmingham Brother Rice) dropped 19 points for the Badgers, whose starting guard Max Klesmit sat on the bench in a walking boot the duration of the game.
BOX SCORE: No. 8 Michigan State 71, No. 11 Wisconsin 62
Sunday started off with the makings of a letdown. Star guard John Tonje and forward Steven Crowl combined to put Wisconsin (22-7, 12-6) up 10-4 at the first break. A 3 from Jase Richardson was the only make on Michigan State’s first seven shots.
The outlook only got worse as Richardson got into foul trouble, the first after getting beat off the baseline by Badgers depth player Jack Janicki and the second on a blocking foul. Richardson sat most of the first half before finishing the game with 11 points and five rebounds.
In response to Richardson’s foul, Michigan State turned to its most reliable source of energy to turn the tide: a Coen Carr dunk. And this one was one of his finest. On a lob from Tre Holloman, Carr jammed the ball behind his back and made Breslin Center explode.
Michigan State keyed a 15-4 run after Carr’s highlight, turning a nine-point deficit into a two-point lead at 11:49. Jaden Akins hit three 3-pointers in a row, the first enabled by two of nine first-half rebounds from forward Jaxon Kohler. And even when Akins missed his next 3-pointer, he boarded his own miss and nailed a long two with confidence.
Kohler finished with 16 rebounds, beating his career high of 13 against Niagara earlier this season. The Spartans outrebounded Wisconsin 51-40 in the game.
However, Wisconsin took a 34-32 lead into halftime, aided by eight free throws on 10 attempts as the Spartans fouled 10 times. Michigan State stayed close with its usual depth contributions, including a 3 from Xavier Booker and a turnaround middy from Frankie Fidler.
That lead didn’t last long in the second half. Blackwell grew it with a layup, but Michigan State answered with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes. Nolan Winter made Wisconsin’s first 3 in 14 straight misses to stop the run.
Blackwell continued to pace Wisconsin, paying a physical toll to do so. Fouled coming down the court, he smacked the hardwood with force for a foul called on the floor. He shot free throws after another foul driving to the hoop off after the inbound.
Fidler found a burst for Michigan State, scoring an elbow three and a reverse layup to put the Spartans up five. Tre Holloman drove down the court with 3.9 seconds on the shot clock for his own layup, while Richardson dumped in another for four straight makes to go up 54-50.
Fouls continued to muddle Michigan State’s play at both ends of the court, but including a pair of offensive fouls on center Szymon Zapala midway through the half. Michigan State held Wisconsin pointless before Richardson fed Cooper a dunk.
The fouls persisted, including Richardson’s third with 7:39 to play. Fidler fouled seven seconds later, his team’s 16th. Tonje hit two free throws to cut Wisconsin’s deficit to 58-54. On the next possession, Winter made it a one-point game with a three from up top. Dunks from Carr and Cooper provided ballast, but Wisconsin stayed within two points.
After Kohler converted an and-one, Michigan State put up seven straight points over the next 1:48 to pull away. Free throws iced the win.
Michigan State’s Big Ten title hunt continues Thursday at Iowa. The Spartans lead Michigan in the Big Ten standings by a game and a half. The Wolverines face Illinois later Sunday afternoon.
@ConnorEaregood
