Ohio State was running hot off three straight victories, including one over a top-five Kentucky team, entering Friday. Michigan State decided to pour 38 gallons of water on those flames.
That's the number of points the No. 18 Spartans (12-2, 3-0 Big Ten) scored in the paint against the Buckeyes (9-5, 1-2), establishing interior dominance with 16 second-chance points and five blocked shots in a hard-fought 69-62 victory to open full-time conference play for both teams.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| #18 MICHIGAN STATE | 37 | 32 | 69 |
| OHIO STATE | 29 | 33 | 62 |
Center Szymon Zapala, who only averaged 5.5 points per game entering the contest, collected 15 points topave the way for Michigan State. Guard Jaden Akins picked up 14 while and forward Coen Carr posted 11 points.
Guard Micah Parrish led the way in scoring for Ohio State with 13 points as star point guard Bruce Thornton trailed him with 10.
Both teams struggled with offensive efficiency in a defensive battle, shooting a combined 10-of-45 from 3-point range and turning the ball over a combined 32 times. Ohio State fell behind by as many as 14 in the second half before battling back to take the lead, only to fall short in the game's final eight minutes.
First Half
Ohio State opened just 2-of-8 from the field but was able to stifle the Spartans a bit in return, the game getting off to a slow scoring start as Michigan State led 9-5 more than 5:30 into the game.
Then Ohio State got some offense going around the rim. Guard Ques Glover finished a fastbreak layup, center Aaron Bradshaw followed a clean drive and finish with a tip-in off a Glover miss and Devin Royal swiped away a ball near midcourt that Thornton scooped up and took to the rim to cap an 8-0 run in less than 100 seconds, pushing the Buckeyes ahead for the first time at 13-9.
Michigan State took momentum back quickly, hitting its first 3-pointer of the game after an 0-for-6 start off the hand of Jalen Akins, then Zapala rattled off seven of the next eight MSU points.
Just after Akins' triple, Thornton was escorted back to Ohio State's locker room accompanied by two members of its training staff. The Spartans built on their newfound lead, getting a triple from Jeremy Fears to help push things to 29-21.
Thornton returned shortly thereafter but it was Bradshaw, Parrish and Royal who combined for a trio of layups to eat away at the Buckeyes' deficit with a 6-0 run.
But overall it was a sloppy first half for Ohio State as the Buckeyes shot 2-of-14 from downtown and turned the ball over eight times, three of those coming in the final two minutes. Michigan State closed the period on a 6-0 run to carry a 37-29 lead into halftime.
Second Half
| MICHIGAN STATE | STAT | OHIO STATE |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | POINTS | 62 |
| 24-55 (43.6%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 22-60 (36.7%) |
| 3-18 (16.7%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 7-27 (25.9%) |
| 18-22 (81.8%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 11-16 (68.8%) |
| 16 | TURNOVERS | 16 |
| 34 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 33 |
| 12 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 15 |
| 22 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 18 |
| 5 | BLOCKS | 2 |
| 5 | STEALS | 11 |
| 13 | ASSISTS | 9 |
Zapala stuck back a third-chance opportunity for Michigan State, flushed home an alley-oop and after three offensive rebounds in one possession for the Spartans, flushed home an in-bounds pass to cap six straight points and force an Ohio State timeout. Glover hit a triple to stop the bleeding but the score remained 43-32 MSU.
Trailing 47-35, Thornton collected five points in a row off a crossover pull-up midrange jumper and a trio of free throws, already more than doubling his two points of production from the first half. A fastbreak dunk by Stewart pulled Ohio State to within four for the first time since 2:28 remained in the first half, polishing off an 8-0 run to make it 47-43 Spartans with 11:59 to play.
Stewart hit another shot, guard John Mobley Jr. splashed a 3-pointer and Thornton collected another mid-range J, giving the Buckeyes a 50-49 lead for their first lead since it was 13-12. But Michigan State had an answer, getting a three-point play the old-fashioned way from guard Xavier Booker, another the new-fashioned way from guard Tre Holloman and a dunk from Booker for an 9-0 run that prompted a timeout from Jake Diebler.
Parrish retorted back, hitting a layup and a 3-pointer to cut the Spartan lead to 57-55, but MSU answered again with four quick points. Parrish made another 3-ball but an Akins layup set the score at 63-58 Michigan State with 2:33 remaining.
From there the Spartans hit enough free-throws to close out a 69-62 victory despite a 3-pointer from Mobley.
What's Next
Ohio State hits the road for another conference clash Monday against Minnesota in Williams Arena. Tipoff is at 9 p.m. on FS1.
Game Notes
- Guard Meechie Johnson Jr. remains out while attending to a personal matter for Ohio State. He's now missed four consecutive games.
- Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo will celebrate his 70th birthday later this month.
- During Michigan State’s pregame radio show, Izzo said Ryan Day stopped by the Spartans’ shootaround on Friday. Izzo said he and Day have become friends and that he reached out to Day after Ohio State’s loss to Michigan.
- Former Ohio State star center Jared Sullinger and walk-on Mark Titus were spotted in attendance.
