Photo: Nick King ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING, MI, Dec. 5, 2023 ~ The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Michigan State Spartans 70-57 at the Breslin Center in both teams’ Big Ten season openers.
The Spartans got out to a slow start, when the team shot just 1-7 from the field about 5 minutes into the game. Spartans’ Tyson Walker shot just 2-8 from the field in the first half, the team’s leading scorer in nearly every game this season.
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December 6, 2023 ~ MSU Basketball Coach Tom Izzo addresses the media following his team’s 70/57 loss Tuesday to the Wisconsin Badgers at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. The game marked the first Big 10 matchup this season for both teams.
(CONTINUED) With MSU’s offense struggling early, the Badgers took control. Wisconsin’s’ AJ Storr and Steven Crowl combined for 23 points at half as the Spartans trailed by 11.
The Spartans flipped a switch coming out of halftime with four straight threes’ by A.J. Hoggard and Walker. Hoggard had 14 points for the game, 10 of which came from the second half. Walker had 18 points in the second half, alone shooting a much better 7-12 from the field and finished with 23 on the night. With the two players’ contributions, MSU was able to get the score within three.
The Badgers offense didn’t slow down as Storr finished the game with 22 aided by four three-pointers alongside Crowl who had 18 shooting a perfect 4-4 from deep.
MSU head men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo offered post-game comments on the teams’ loss:
“We are not tough enough right now and that’s all me, so I’ll be here all night I promise you that. Well get it fixed, so blame me not the players. That’s not to soften It up we had some guys who didn’t play very well.”
MSU looks to bounce back as they face off against another Big Ten opponent in Nebraska Dec. 10. Coverage starts at 5:30 p.m. on 760 WJR.
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