No. 10 Spartans Beat No. 18 Badgers 63-60 In OT
CHRIS JENKINS,AP Sports Writer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The way things are going for No. 18 Wisconsin right now, it just figures that one of the few 3-pointers that actually went in didn't count.
Ryan Evans' apparent game-tying 3-pointer was disallowed after officials looked at a replay and ruled that it left his hand after time expired, allowing No. 10 Michigan State to hold on for a 63-60 overtime victory on Tuesday night.
Badgers coach Bo Ryan said he tried to sneak a peek at the replay monitor while officials were looking at it but didn't get a good look.
"I haven't broken it down yet," Ryan said. "Probably will, though."
Jordan Taylor scored 28 points for the Badgers (12-4, 1-2 Big Ten), who have lost two straight at home for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Coming off a miserable 3-point shooting performance in Saturday's loss to Iowa, Wisconsin was 5 for 22 from 3-point range against the Spartans.
Draymond Green had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Keith Appling added 16 points for the Spartans (14-2, 3-0 Big Ten). Michigan State has won 14 straight.
It seemed as though that streak might have been in doubt as the game was set to go to double-overtime on a desperation 3-pointer by Evans. But it was overturned when officials ruled he didn't get the shot off in time.
In comments distributed by Wisconsin's sports information staff, referee Pat Driscoll acknowledged that there was some confusion because a clock on a side scoreboard appeared to show 0.2 seconds left when the shot left Evans' hand, while time had expired on the clock above the backboard.
"By rule we have to go by the clock that is on the backboard," Driscoll said. "I don't know why there would be different (times) — it could be satellite, electronic, whatever — but by rule we have to go by the clock that is attached to the backboard. In our review on the monitor, the clock clearly showed zeros while the ball remained in the Wisconsin player's hands."
Driscoll said officials looked at the replay approximately seven times, also examining whether Evans' foot was on the 3-point line.
"We felt like we got it off, but the refs, they made the right call," Taylor said.
Ryan praised Evans for racing to the 3-point line and getting his shot off quickly, a situation they've run in practice.
"The presence of Ryan to get that ball and get it out there that fast, he certainly couldn't take his time to get out there," Ryan said. "He was, like, shot out of a cannon."
And had the Badgers broken out of their recent shooting slump, they might not have had to rely on a replay.
"You can't wait until the end of the game to start making shots," Ryan said.
The Badgers were coming off a 3-for-28 shooting performance against Iowa.
"We never want to get too reliant on 3s," Jared Berggren said.
Spartans coach Tom Izzo told his team beforehand that there was "no way" the Badgers would shoot that poorly from outside in two straight games — but they nearly did.
"That's not going to happen very often," Izzo said. "I don't know why, to be honest with you."
But even with Wisconsin off to a rough start in conference play, Izzo certainly isn't counting them out.
"Wisconsin's still a very good team, they're just struggling shooting the ball right now."
It was only the Badgers' 14th loss, and eighth conference loss, at home under Ryan.
"What are you going to do?" Ryan deadpanned. "Violence is out of the question."
Izzo said the game was reminiscent of recent memorable clashes between the two schools' football teams.
"I told the team at the beginning, this is a Michigan State-Wisconsin game," Izzo said. "In football and basketball, the first overtime is just the way it's supposed to be."
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