MSU entered Sunday’s game with the nation’s best rebounding margin and continued to dominate the glass against Ohio State.
The game was closer than the 71-56 final score, but the No. 3 Spartans’ (15-1 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) endless pursuit of offensive rebounds killed the Buckeyes.
“They ended up with 46 of their 71 points that were second-chance points,” Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien said. “They just manhandled us underneath the basket for their second-chance opportunities.”
The win pushes the nation’s longest home-court winning streak to 40 games - 13 off the Big Ten record.
Of MSU’s 36 rebounds, 20 came on the offensive glass. Freshman center Zach Randolph led the Spartans with a career-high 10 rebounds, five offensive.
From the early going the game took on a defensive-minded tone.
“That was an old-fashioned Big Ten game,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “It wasn’t an easy win. Both teams did a pretty good job defensively.”
With the nation’s leading shot blocker, center Ken Johnson, the pace allowed the Buckeyes to stay close.
Johnson’s presence forced the Spartans to rely heavily on their jump shot. He finished the game with six blocks, 12 points and six rebounds.
Izzo said Johnson has really improved since coming out of high school.
“Ken Johnson was a load today,” he said. “His offensive skills have really improved in a year.”
The same was said of sophomore guard Jason Richardson, who finished with a game-high 24 points.
“He’s gone from a guy that a year ago we wouldn’t guard on the perimeter, to a guy that you absolutely have to guard,” O’Brien said. “He’s really improved his game.”
Richardson completed nine-of-13 from the field and four-of-five from beyond the three-point line. Adding to his impressive shooting performance were his four rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.
Izzo said the Buckeyes keyed on senior guard Charlie Bell, who finished with 10 points and six assists. He said that allowed Richardson to step up and find openings.
“It wasn’t like he took a lot of shots,” he said. “He just kept squaring up and hitting big shots.”
Freshman guard Marcus Taylor said having Richardson and Bell running the wings is a point guard’s dream.
“In Jason you’ve got a great athlete, runner, jump shooter and defender,” he said. “With Charlie you’ve got the same thing. I can go to either side and have a successful play.”
Taylor said the Spartans learned a lot about themselves without senior forward Andre Hutson, who is out with pneumonia. He said everyone stepped up and that will help down the road.
Izzo said Hutson isn’t expected to return until the weekend. He said even when Hutson returns he’ll need to get back into playing shape.
On Wednesday the Spartans play at Northwestern, beginning a stretch where MSU plays five of its next six games on the road.
“This is where the good teams have to find a way to survive,” Izzo said.
Eric McKinney can be reached at mckinn54@msu.edu.
