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MSU drops to 13-7 overall with 79-77 loss to Nebraska

January 24, 2015
<p>Head coach Tom Izzo coaches senior forward/guard Branden Dawson on the sidelines Jan. 5, 2014, during the game against Indiana at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 70-50. Erin Hampton/The State News</p>

Head coach Tom Izzo coaches senior forward/guard Branden Dawson on the sidelines Jan. 5, 2014, during the game against Indiana at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 70-50. Erin Hampton/The State News

Photo by Erin Hampton | The State News

A furious rally in the final minutes wasn't enough for MSU, and the Spartans lost to Nebraska, 79-77.

The final score does not paint an accurate picture, as the Cornhuskers led almost the entire game and had the Spartans looking lost for much of the contest.

MSU freshman forward Javon Bess provided an early spark for the Spartans, scoring his team’s first five points on aggressive drives to the rim. It was one of the only positives for MSU (13-7 overall, 4-3 Big Ten), as the half quickly turned Nebraska’s way. Bess finished the game with a season-high nine points.

Despite the ejection of junior forward Walter Pitchford, Nebraska took control of the game, led by junior guards Shavon Shields and Terran Petteway.

After back-to-back threes from Petteway, Nebraska took a 26-18 lead. He and Shields eventually worked the lead up to double-digits, and it stayed that way for the rest of the half.

Sophomore forward Gavin Schilling and junior forward Matt Costello each picked up two fouls, and later junior guard Denzel Valentine and senior forward Branden Dawson joined them with two fouls, leading to a depleted frontcourt and a 14-point deficit at halftime.

The second half started with more of the same, and a Valentine drive and lob to Dawson was called off as Valentine was whistled for a charge. He headed to the bench and minutes later, Schilling picked up his third foul of the game.

Nebraska extended its lead to 44-27, but the Spartans did show a little life. Bess connected on a wide-open three-pointer, and Trice followed it up with a jumper to force a Cornhusker timeout. Trice later hit a three to trim the deficit to single digits.

The MSU run ended after ten straight points, but Trice began to find himself. He made another timely three at the 11:56 mark to cut Nebraska’s lead to just six.

Nebraska worked its lead all the way up to 15, but Valentine hit a three out of a timeout to silence the crowd momentarily.

Valentine hit a three with just over two minutes remaining, cutting the lead to single digits again. He stripped Shields bringing the ball up the court, and after a missed three, Trice finished the put back to cut Nebraska’s lead to 66-60.

MSU turned Nebraska over again, and Trice again finished with two. MSU trailed 70-64 with 1:15 left on the clock, but Nairn fouled Petteway before the ball was inbounded, and Petteway made the two ensuing free throws.

Trice hit a three with 1:03 left, and was fouled in the process. He finished the four-point play, cutting the deficit to four. The fouls and free throws continued over the last minute, but a miss from Trice and a foul from Nairn seemed to clinch things for the Cornhuskers.

Trice carried the Spartans in the final minute, and the Spartan defense stood strong as Nebraska tried to inbound the ball with 2.2 seconds left. The Cornhuskers were forced to chuck it past half court on the inbounds pass, and Forbes came up with the ball. He passed ahead to Valentine but it was too late and the final horn sounded.

Petteway scored a game-high 32 points, and Trice led MSU with 27 points. MSU tallied 24 offensive rebounds as a team (46 total) but they weren't enough as missed shots around the rim and free throws (15-of-25) piled on. MSU also had 16 turnovers, 11 of which came in the first half.

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