Spartans Get 14th Straight Win, Defeat Badgers 63-60
WISCONSIN (WWJ/AP) - The Michigan State Spartans make it 14 in a row with an overtime win against the Wisconsin Badgers 63-60 on Tuesday night.
Wisconsin's Ryan Evans had an apparent game-tying 3-pointer overturned on an officials' replay review, allowing No. 10 Michigan State to hold on for the victory over No. 18 Wisconsin.
Draymond Green had 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Keith Appling added 16 points for the Spartans (14-2, 3-0 Big Ten), who have won 14 straight.
Jordan Taylor scored 28 points for the Badgers (12-4, 1-2).
Evans' apparent game-tying 3 was overturned after officials ruled he didn't get the shot off before time expired.
It was another rare home loss - and another rough shooting night - for the Badgers, who shot poorly from outside in a home loss to Iowa on Saturday.
It was only the Badgers' 14th loss, and eighth conference loss, at home under Bo Ryan.
Green hit a pair of free throws to give the Spartans a 54-52 lead in overtime, but Evans scored inside to tie the game.
After defensive stops on both ends, Brandon Wood drove the lane and passed to Derrick Nix, who scored to give the Spartans a 56-54 lead. Nix then scored again on a putback, putting Michigan State up 58-54 with 1:44 left in overtime. After a long missed 3-point attempt by Wisconsin's Ben Brust, Appling went to the line and hit one of two free throws for a 59-54 lead with 50 seconds left.
Berggren missed from 3-point range, and Green hit a pair of free throws. Taylor then hit a 3-pointer to cut the Spartans' lead to 61-57 with 22.6 seconds left. Appling hit a pair of free throws - but Taylor hit another 3-pointer with just over 10 seconds left.
Green missed two free throws before Evans desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer appeared to tie it.
The Badgers, a team that has been overly reliant on streaky outside shooting this season, shot 3 for 28 from 3-point range in the loss to the Hawkeyes. Ben Brust was 1 for 9 from 3-point range in that game.
With Wisconsin back to shooting - and once again mostly missing - 3-pointers early in the second half, Michigan State led 39-35 after Green scored inside with 9:49 left in regulation.
Green picked up his fourth foul less than a minute later.
But the Spartans were able to make a run with Green on the bench, taking a 48-43 lead on Appling's driving layup - which he hit while falling to the floor.
Taylor then tipped in a missed shot, cutting the Spartans' lead to three. Green re-entered the game with 3:35 remaining. Appling hit a driving layup but Taylor hit a jumper for the Badgers, and the Spartans led 50-47 with 2:28 left.
Wisconsin came up with a defensive stop, and Berggren scored inside to cut the lead to 1.
Berggren came up with a blocked shot on the other end, the Spartans missed a chance at a putback and the Badgers had the ball trailing by 1 with 49.2 seconds left.
Michigan State's Austin Thornton fouled Taylor on the perimeter, and Taylor hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 50. The Spartans called timeout with 16.4 seconds left.
Taylor fouled Appling and the Spartans inbounded the ball again - then called timeout again with 4.4 seconds left.
Appling missed a jumper and the game went to overtime.
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