It was a rough week for Michigan State basketball.
The Spartans dropped the Big Ten opener on Sunday night against Northwestern, 70-63, at the Breslin Center. This was a game Michigan State was expected to win with relative ease, and with this loss the Spartans went 0-2 this week.
The opening half was both impressive and frustrating for the Spartans. Michigan State was able to use a hot outside shooting to build a lead as large as seven points two separate times, but eight turnovers by the Spartans kept the Wildcats in it. Northwestern would finish the half strong to take a narrow one-point lead, 38-37, into the break.
The Wildcats’ would never surrender their halftime lead in the second frame. Michigan State was able to get the deficit down to one point in the final minute but Northwestern finished the game with the final six points to clinch the victory.
Boo Buie of Northwestern yet again went off against the Spartans, finishing with a game-high 20 points and three assists. Buie entered this matchup averaging 12 points per game this year but as he’s done in the past had arguably his best game of the season against Michigan State.
The Spartans were led offensively by A.J Hoggard who finished the game with 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Mady Sissoko also had 12 points and Joey Hauser finished with 10 points.
Jaden Akins returned for the Spartans on Sunday evening, finishing the game with three points, one rebound and two assists. It was his first game back after missing the last four games due to injury.
Michigan State will return to the court with another conference tilt on Wednesday at Penn State. That matchup between the Spartans and Nittany Lions will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on the Big Ten Network.
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