Columbus—It's been a point of emphasis for head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans (12-7, 4-2 Big Ten) to come out of the gate with more energy and take an early lead against opponents on the road. Sunday would be a test for Izzo as MSU traveled to the Value City Arena to take on the Ohio State University Buckeyes (11-7, 1-4 Big Ten). There, the Spartans would falter to the Buckeyes, 72-67.
Early on, the drive was there.
MSU won the tipoff to start and freshman guard Joshua Langford found the basket from beyond the arc to take the early scoring advantage. Early scores from fifth-year senior Eron Harris and freshman forward Miles Bridges to take a 12-5 lead in the first four minutes of play.
The Buckeyes did not lag behind and took their first lead of the game with 12:44 left in the first half. Scoring for MSU stalled for just under four minutes while OSU went on a 9-0 run to take a 16-15 lead. In that span, the Spartans missed their next five field goal attempts before Bridges retook the lead with a fastbreak layup that came from a long pass from freshman point guard Cassius Winston.
But the Spartans stumbled again.
Another two-minute scoring lull from MSU allowed OSU to score on three consecutive 3-point field goals, two from senior forward Marc Loving to take a 27-20 lead before Bridges banked a shot from inside the key to cut OSU's lead to five.
At the end of the first half, Langford hit a triple as time expired to cut the deficit to three points, 36-33. Bridges led the floor with 12 points as the Spartans shot 48 percent with six triples.
After trailing by five in the early minutes of the second half, a layup from freshman forward Nick Ward put MSU within one and Ward would have a chance to tie the game from the free throw line.
Miss.
The Spartans would find a break, and their first lead of the second half, with 14:45 left in regulation after hitting a 3-point basket from a successful screen to take a 48-46 lead. OSU would regain the lead with a 3-point basket from JaQuan Lyle.
MSU regained a one-point advantage with 10:40 to play after Bridges hit his third 3-pointer of the game. MSU extended the lead after Ward drew a foul to put MSU into bonus. Ward made the first of a 1-and-1 to make it 52-54.
Coming out of timeout tied at 56, Ward laid one up from Nairn, but two consecutive scores from sophomore guard JaQuan Lyle gave OSU a 61-68 lead with 6:22 to play. On OSU's next possession junior forward Jae'Sean Tate found the net from behind the arc to extend OSU's lead to 64-58 with 5:51 to play.
With 3:15 to play and down by four, a foul called on McQuaid put OSU in the double-bonus. After making both free throws, the Buckeyes led by six. Bridges hit his fourth 3-pointer moments later.
With 1:06 left Bridges was called for a travel violation, turning the ball over trailing by four. Senior guard Alvin Ellis III was called for a foul and Buckeye center Trevor Thompson hit one of two free throws to make it 69-65 with 30.5 seconds left to play.
Bridges laid one up 10 seconds later and Izzo called timeout after.
Redshirt-junior Kam Williams would shoot two from the line, make one putting OSU up by four. MSU failed to score on the last possession of the game.
With the win, OSU earned its first win in Big Ten play, now 1-4 in the conference circuit.
MSU
Points: Bridges (24)
Rebounds: Bridges (9)
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Assists: Nairn Jr. (8)
OSU
Points: Lyle (22)
Rebounds: Thompson (8)
Assists: Lyle (6)
MSU will finish out the second game of a two-game road trip on Jan. 21 when the Spartans take on the Indiana University Hoosiers (12-6, 2-3 Big Ten) at Assembly Hall. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
