Michigan State Holds Off Northwestern 84-77 In OT
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Travis Trice had 18 points and 10 assists, and Michigan State outlasted Northwestern 84-77 in overtime Sunday.
The extra session was finally kind to the Spartans, who had lost their first three overtime games this season, including a double-OT defeat against Maryland late last month. Michigan State (12-5, 3-1 Big Ten) held the Wildcats (10-6, 1-2) without a point in the overtime until the final minute.
Denzel Valentine scored 17 points for Michigan State, and Branden Dawson and Gavin Schilling added 13 each.
Bryant McIntosh led Northwestern with 18 points. Tre Demps added 17 and JerShon Cobb had 12.
The Wildcats wiped out a 14-point deficit before halftime, and they came back from 11 down late in the second half. Northwestern shot 12 of 25 from 3-point range.
Michigan State went on a 17-2 run in the second half to take a 66-55 lead, but Northwestern shot its way back into the game. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Vic Law and Demps tied it at 68, and when Demps made two free throws with 28 seconds left, the Wildcats led 72-70.
Valentine drew a foul at the other end and made both his free throws, and Demps missed from the perimeter in the final seconds of regulation.
Michigan State scored the first eight points of overtime.
The Spartans scored the game's first nine points and led 23-9 after a four-point play by Bryn Forbes. Northwestern coach Chris Collins was called for a technical foul for arguing with 9:42 left in the half, but the Wildcats eventually found their touch from the outside. They shot 7 of 12 from beyond the arc in the half, and it was tied at 40 at halftime.
A 3-pointer by Nathan Taphorn gave the Wildcats a 53-49 lead, but Dawson and Valentine helped Michigan State build another double-digit lead.
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TIP-INS
Northwestern: The Wildcats haven't won at Michigan State since 2009.
Michigan State: The Spartans were playing their third game in seven days, while Northwestern was playing its first in that span. ... Spartans coach Tom Izzo improved to 31-4 against Northwestern.
UP NEXT
Northwestern: Hosts Illinois on Wednesday night.
Michigan State: Plays at No. 11 Maryland on Saturday.
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