INDIANAPOLIS — Entering the Big Ten tournament, Michigan State talked about playing a “new season.”
Free of the weight of a 3-7 close to the regular season, the Spartans are making the most of the fresh start, knocking off No. 2 Wisconsin, 69-63, on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to advance to Saturday’s semifinals against the Purdue-Penn State winner
Marcus Bingham matched a career high with 19 points while grabbing 11 rebounds to lead Michigan State (22-11) while Tyson Walker, who scored 11 points, hit back-to-back jumpers in the final two minutes while adding four late free throws to seal the Spartans’ victory.
Brad Davison scored 23 points for Wisconsin (24-7) as Michigan State beat the Badgers for the second time this season, ending the tournament run for the regular-season champion in the Big Ten. Player of the Year Johnny Davis scored 11 on 3-for-19 shooting and Chucky Hepburn added 11 for the Badgers.
It was clear early that the Spartans and Badgers weren’t going to create an offensive masterpiece, but these matchups rarely are.
Michigan State had the early advantage, taking a 14-6 lead almost midway through the first half as Julius Marble scored on a jump hook. He repeated that move minutes later but it was Michigan State’s only bucket in an 8-2 run from Wisconsin that cut the Spartans’ lead to 16-14 with six minutes left in the half.
It was back and forth from there as the teams both had a hard time getting any offensive rhythm. Davis had just four points for the Badgers and was 1 for 10 in the first half while Wisconsin was only 7 for 29 for the half. Michigan State was 7 for 21, the difference coming at the free-throw line where the Spartans were 10 for 12 and the Badgers made 8 of 14. Wisconsin also grabbed eight offensive rebounds to none for Michigan State.
The second half saw the offenses start to come to life as Wisconsin grabbed its first lead of the game when Davis scored on a layup and was fouled with 15:58 to play, giving the Badgers a 32-30 lead. The Spartans kept pace but couldn’t get the big shot to retake the lead as a Malik Hall 3-pointer bounced out with 11:10 left in the game, allowing the Badgers to maintain a 40-38 advantage.
After trading baskets, Michigan State started to come to life, ripping off a 12-2 surge that included two lob dunks from Bingham and a 3-pointer and a jumper at the elbow from Joey Hauser to give the Spartans a 52-44 lead with 6:47 to play.
Wisconsin got two straight 3-pointers from Davison as A.J. Hoggard and Hauser hit jumpers, as well, giving Michigan State a 56-50 lead with 5:28 left in the game.
Hall had a chance to make it an eight-point game but missed two free throws. Wisconsin responded by tying the score after two triples from Chucky Hepburn, the second with 1:45 to play.
Walker answered with back-to-back jumpers to give Michigan State a 62-58 lead with 56.1 seconds left in the game.
Wisconsin got within 65-63 after another Hepburn 3-pointer with 16.2 seconds to play but Walker was true at the line, going 4 for 4 over the final 15 seconds to give Michigan State the victory.
