MADISON - It was a story book setting - senior night at the Kohl Center and a perfect conference home record to defend.
But then the Spartans came to town.
MSU survived a late Badger surge, winning 51-47 to earn its eighth straight victory over Wisconsin.
“We’re happy to know we got one more win,” senior guard Charlie Bell said. “Destiny is in our hands.”
The No. 3 Spartans (23-3 overall, 12-3 Big Ten) are now tied with No. 5 Illinois for the conference lead.
MSU plays its last regular season game Saturday, when it hosts Michigan. That game will determine whether the Spartans will win the Big Ten Championship for a fourth-straight year - a feat never accomplished before.
With 20 seconds remaining Tuesday and the Spartans clinging to a three-point lead, senior guard David Thomas sealed the win with two free-throws.
MSU head coach Tom Izzo said Thomas didn’t play his best basketball, but added his two-point contribution was enough.
“There’s a time when you coach, and there’s a time when you don’t coach,” Izzo said.
“I wasn’t going to screw him up.”
MSU relentlessly pounded the No. 22 Badgers (17-9, 8-7) down low and out-rebounded them 31 to 22.
Senior forward Andre Hutson tied for the game high with 13 points - helping the Spartans to an 18-8 advantage of points in the paint.
Hutson said MSU knew the game was going to be a low-scoring defensive battle.
“They’re one of the best defensive teams in the league. We knew that coming in,” he said. “We just tried to lock up on defense.”
Wisconsin guard Maurice Linton opened the game by connecting on an open three-point opportunity - igniting the sell-out crowd of 17,142.
However, Bell promptly responded with a three-pointer of his own to tie the game and calm the crowd.
On their ensuing possession, the Spartans were bailed out as Bell was fouled on a three-point attempt with just two seconds remaining on the shot clock.
He made the trio of free-throws to complete MSU’s 6-0 run.
From the beginning, the game took on the typical pace of an MSU-Wisconsin game - a grueling defensive battle that drained every second of the shot clock.
Staying entrenched on the defensive end, the Badgers responded with a 4-0 run of their own, only to see the Spartans counter with a 9-0 run.
After the early punch-counter punch, neither team scored for next 2:56.
The drought ended with a jumper from Bell, who led MSU with eight first half points. He finished the game with 10 points.
“When you’ve got seniors, you go with them,” Izzo said. “My seniors stepped up for me.”
The Spartans led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but a three-pointer from Badger forward Charlie Wills cut MSU’s lead to 28-20 at halftime.
A 7-2 MSU run to start the second half gave the Spartans a 15 point lead - prompting a Wisconsin timeout at 16:45.
After the timeout, both teams traded baskets until the Badgers strung together a 14-4 run, closing MSU’s lead to two points.
Bell said the Spartans never got worried during the Badgers’ run.
“Right now we’re real confident,” he said. “When they started to come back we just maintained control and tried to make a few stops on defense.”
Izzo said the Spartans have won two tough road games in a row now and proved to him they’re ready for post-season action.
“I do want to take my hat off to my players,” he said. “I’ve never seen a team bounce back like we have the past week.”
Eric McKinney can be reached at mckinn54@msu.edu.
