“Let’s keep it that way,” junior guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. said during the team’s media availability Monday. “I know it means a lot to the alumni, it means a lot to everybody who’s a part of Michigan State, so that’s my goal to keep it that way.”

Since their first meeting of the season on Jan. 29, both the Spartans and U-M have played one game knowing a turnaround rematch was on the horizon against its rival school.

MSU came away with a win against U-M to snap a three-game losing streak and has since beaten Nebraska back on Feb. 2, putting the Spartans in sight to win their third-consecutive game and sweep the season series against the Wolverines.

U-M, on the other hand, fell to the Ohio State University Buckeyes on Saturday, 70-66 at home and is looking to avoid its third-straight loss.

During his last six games, senior guard Derrick Walton Jr. has served as a crutch for U-M while averaging 19.6 points per game, with three consecutive 20-point outings, including a 25-point and 10-rebound performance against the Buckeyes and a 24-point and nine-rebound game against the Spartans.

MSU head coach Tom Izzo said during his weekly press conference that he has immense respect for the senior guard and keeping Walton under wraps will be an area of focus heading into the rematch.

“Walton is the key to this team if you ask me,” Izzo said. “He's really upped his game. He has done what a senior should and could do, what you hope all senior do, he's playing the best basketball of his career and we are going to have to contain him somewhat … since our game or even before has been playing at another level. He is looking to be so much more offensive. He is starting to shoot the ball from distance off of the dribble.”

Walton comes in as U-M’s leading scorer, averaging 14.0 points a game while shooting 42.4 percent from field goal range. Walton is one of four Wolverines with average scoring in double-figures, along with senior guard Zak Irvin with 13.3, junior forward DJ Wilson with 10.6 and sophomore forward Moritz Wagner with 11.6.

Each of U-M’s starting five are shooting north of 40 percent from field goal range and the Wolverines come in leading the countries in fewest turnovers per game and are also shooting a conference-best 79.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Izzo said since each of U-M’s starting lineup has the ability to hit shots from deep range, defending the perimeter will be a must, even with the team’s big men — freshman forward Nick Ward and redshirt-sophomore forward Kenny Goins, each of whom have battled to stay healthy since playing U-M.

“That is what they do, they shoot the ball well, almost as well as taking care of the ball,” Izzo said. “They are, if not the best, one of the top two or three teams in the nation at taking care of the basketball, which is kind of opposite of us. We have done a poor job of that.”

Goins broke his nose against Purdue back on Jan. 24, and Ward was hospitalized because of an illness, but Izzo assured both would be ready for Tuesday.

“I thought (Nick) had his best practice of the year yesterday,” Izzo said. “He's definitely back. He hasn't gained all the weight back. Maybe that helps him a little bit, maybe it hurts him. … Kenny wasn't as sick as Nick, it just came a day or two later, which means it was a day before the game. So, I think they're both fine. There are no issues with either one.”

Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.