Michigan Loses to MSU: Close, But No Cigar

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Editor’s note: Friend of the blog, and big Michigan State enthusiast, Jake insisted on writing something after this game, so here he is weighing in with his short and sweet thoughts about No. 5 Michigan State’s slim win over unranked Michigan on Tuesday night:

It was a good rivalry game in Ann Arbor. “The 3’s didn’t fall for Michigan” has become the calling card for why John Beilein’s teams cannot consistently win. The supporting cast to Manny Harris once again could not support the Big Ten’s leading scorer in his return from a suspension.  Harris sat on the bench for the first four minutes but played the entire game thereafter, and had 16 points.

The Wolverines can be dangerous when their long range shooters on target, but that happens once in a UConn moon.  They simply need more than players like Zack Novak (7 points, 1-7 from 3) and Stu Douglas (1-5 from 3) throwing up prayers from beyond NBA range five seconds into a possession. As a team, Michigan shot 7 for 29 from 3-point range (24.1%). They would have been better off bringing an aged, portly, Jalen Rose out of the crowd.

Raymar Morgan led the Spartans balanced attack, scoring a season-high 20 points. Reigning Big Ten Player of The Year Kalin Lucas had 12 points; Durrell Summers and Super Sophomore Draymond Green each had 10. Michigan State out-rebounded the wolverines 38 – 22 despite playing true centers for a combined two minutes. Michigan State is 8 – 0 in the Big Ten for the first time in school history and has beaten Michigan 17 times in the last 20 meetings.