It was that time of the year again. March basketball and the tradition of Senior Day is something special for the sport of college basketball. Michigan State would honor its three participants and take on a struggling Ohio State team that the Spartans took down by 20 points in Columbus last month. Malik Hall, Tyson Walker and Jason Whitens where Izzo's three that would partake in the ceremony Saturday. However, with today's age of the game all three are actually eligible to return to East Lansing for another season. Michigan State looking to add another game to the win column with the Minnesota game no longer on the table.
1st Half Action
Michigan State would adjust its starting lineup to meet the needs of the senior day. Starting all of three of the players listed above. This didn't impact the opening minutes for the Spartans as they forced Ohio State to burn a timeout before the first media timeout. Michigan State led (10-4) with 16:22 left when Holtman called timeout. It was a good start for Hall and Hoggard as they each scored five points on a three-point attempt and a two-point basket. Michigan State would come out on fire, and it would be the opposite for OSU. The Spartans started the game (7-11) on FGs in the first seven minutes, including three three-pointers to extend a 15-2 run into a 17-6 lead at the second media timeout with 11:53 left in the half. By the next media timeout, it was still an 11-point lead for Michigan State and were still letting it fly. At this point (5-9) from 3PT FG's and Hoggard and Hauser were a combined (3-3) from deep. Ohio State was able to get on a small run of themselves and brought the score to 25-21 later in the half but by the under four-minute timeout Michigan State would lead 30-23. Michigan State would lead after twenty minutes of action (43-34). Malik Hall would lead the charge offensively scoring a first half high of 10 points, following him was quite the half from Jaden Akins who tallied nine in the first twenty with two threes and an and-one basket. The Spartans shot 57% from the field (17-30) and from three (8-14) while the Buckeyes shot just (12-27) and (4-10) respectively.
2nd Half
The opening four minutes of the second half saw the offenses pick up where they left off in the opening half. The teams shot a combined (9-11) on field goals by the first media timeout with 15:41 remaining the score reading Michigan State 54 Ohio State 46. The game would remain at a distance as the second half progressed. Led by Tyson Walker with some added offense Michigan State's lead would be 12 points at 61-49 at the under 12-minute timeout. Sensabaugh and Thorton were the reason that Ohio State was even hanging around scoring 27 of the 49 Buckeye points at that point. Ohio State would battle back and make the score Michigan State 64 Ohio State 57 with 7:43 remaining in the game. Michigan State had a small drought ended by an Akins three. The Buckeyes just wouldn't go away and finally paid off. Ohio State goes on a 7-0 run after going down (67-57) and forced an MSU timeout with 5:31 left in the game with the score just (67-64). At the final TV timeout Michigan State led (69-64). From that point it would be back and forth and would bring us to the long concluding final minute with a (78-73) score with just :48 seconds left. Michigan State would put the finishing touches on and finish the Buckeyes and letting senior day come to a close with a victory 84-78 the final score.
Who stood out?
Michigan State has been a rollercoaster in terms of what type of game they will get from each player. But the leading core of this group fully stepped up today. Michigan State had a full five player lineup in double digits to close out the game. Led by Hoggard with 23 points, followed by double digit tallies from Hauser, Hall, Akins and Walker. It was a good sight for Michigan State but now let's look for who kept the Buckeyes alive Saturday. It was clear the two headed monster of Sensabaugh and Thorton were going to have to carry the majority of the load. That they did as both players for Holtman went for 20 plus points with totals of 20 and 21.
Closing
Michigan State improves to 19-11 and (11-8) in the Big Ten. They will have to wait for the wildness of the standings to play out before they know how and when they will meet in Chicago for the Big Ten tournament. This team needs to continue to shoot the three as these last four games have been very fun to watch. The Spartans finished 60% from three today going (12-20). We will see what is in store for this team but after Nebraska and Ohio State to close the season there is signs of hope.