| 1st | 2nd | Final | Michigan State
| 27 | 22 | 49 | | Wisconsin | 28 | 19 | 47 | | | | Stats at a Glance
| MSU | WIS | | FG Percentage | .383 | .296 | | 3-Point FG Percentage | .444 | .296 | | FT Percentage | .750 | .389 | | Offensive Rebounds | 9 | 16 | | Defensive Rebounds | 26 | 19 | | Total Rebounds | 35 | 35 | | Turnovers | 10 | 9 | | 2nd Chance Pts | 9 | 15 | | Pts Off Turnovers | 9 | 9 | | |
Jan. 22, 2013
MADISON, Wis. -- Just over a year after falling to Michigan State in heartbreaking fashion at the Kohl Center, the Badgers looked to right their wrongs against the Spartans in the first of two meetings this season.
Similar to last year, a tightly-played contest saw the game come down to the final minute of action - and almost identical to the teams' last meeting at the Kohl Center, Michigan State prevailed in the final seconds, earning the 49-47 win over Wisconsin on Tuesday night.
"You can have a guy have an off night -- we had more than one guy have an off night and it's a one-possession game," Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan said. "That's frustrating because you know you had opportunities."
| Fast Facts | | • The contest saw nine lead changes & four ties | | • UW grabbed 16 offensive rebounds | | • Badgers held MSU to a season-low 49 points | |
Senior Mike Bruesewitz was the lone Badgers player in double figures, scoring 10 points and adding seven rebounds and two steals. Jared Berggren came one point and one rebound short of tallying his second career double-double, as the senior finished with nine points and nine boards.
A defensive battle from the beginning, both teams went more than four minutes without scoring down the stretch.
Michigan State's Branden Dawson broke the drought, hitting one of two from the free throw line to put the Spartans (17-3, 6-1) up 48-44 with just over two minutes left.
Ryan Evans' 3-pointer from the wing with 17 seconds left pulled Wisconsin within one point, 48-47, and was one of two field goals for the Badgers in the final eight minutes of action.
Following a 1-for-2 effort from the foul line by Michigan State freshman Gary Harris, Wisconsin's George Marshall, who missed practice Monday due to an illness, was fouled with 3.5 seconds left. He missed the first free throw and intentionally tried to miss the second but he didn't draw iron, sealing the game for the Spartans.
"We've got to give them credit, (Michigan State) is a good defensive team," Berggren said. "At the same time, we had some shots that were questionable decisions where we could've worked it for a better look."
Wisconsin began the game on an 11-4 run and held a 19-12 lead with 9:28 remaining before the half. The Spartans outscored UW 15-8 in the final 8:30, but the Badgers clung to a one-point lead heading into intermission.
In a game that saw nine lead changes and four ties, UW saw its advantage dwindle early on in the second stanza. Poor free throw shooting would plague the Badgers down the stretch as they shot 3-for-13 (.230) in the final 20 minutes of action and would endure a five-minute scoring drought as the Spartans would emerge victorious.
"I think if we make those free throws when we got fouled inside then the points look a little bit different," Ryan added. "But it's hard to score on some of these bigs, especially when you don't have your other 6-foot-9, 6-foot-10 guy that can score.
"Frankie [Kaminsky] can score with his back to the basket and outside. You know, you miss a little of that."
Keith Appling scored 19 points and Branden Dawson added 18 to lead No. 13 Michigan State.
The Badgers return home on Saturday to take on No. 12 Minnesota. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. (CT) on the Big Ten Network.
