In the first game since junior guard Korie Lucious’ dismissal, the No. 25 Spartans (12-8 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) struggled offensively, shooting 43.8 percent from the field without much rhythm. For their part, the Wolverines (12-9, 2-6) shot 50 percent, the third-straight MSU opponent to make at least half its shots.

“The credit goes to Michigan,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said after the game. “They played well. They made big shots. They rebounded with us.”

Without Lucious, senior guard Kalin Lucas ran the point for most of the game, scoring 27 points, two shy of his career high. Lucas’ classmate Durrell Summers scored 13, but just three came in the second half.

“Of course I have to put this team on my back,” Lucas said. “I’ve been doing it since I’ve been here. I’m definitely going to keep doing it, plus my body is starting to feel better.”

Needing another player to step up, junior forward Draymond Green had a forgettable performance. Green scored nine points but had just three rebounds and fouled out late in the game. He said it was probably more frustrating than the 2009 loss to North Carolina in the national championship.

“They completely took the middle away,” a deflated Green said with his head in his hand. “The post, everything. They just completely took it away. You have to give them some credit, great game plan.”

Despite all the struggles, the Spartans used a late 13-2 run to cut the deficit to two with possession and 1:13 remaining. But an open 3-point shot by freshman guard Keith Appling rimmed out with 58 seconds left. Then, as they had all game, the Wolverines made a clutch shot, this one a dagger 3-pointer by guard Stu Douglass with 22 seconds remaining.

“We sing the fight song after every win, and that was a pretty sweet fight song we just sang,” U-M head coach John Beilein said.
Summers finished with a double-double, leading MSU with 10 rebounds.

Without Lucious as the backup point guard, MSU used Appling and senior guard Mike Kebler at point guard at some points in the game, but the two combined for seven points, one assist and two turnovers.

“I just feel like it’s been a little bit of a turbulent week when something like that happens,” Izzo said about Lucious. “Especially when it happens (with) a guy that we all like. … There’s no question Korie wasn’t playing well, but he was a guy that I think most of the teammates liked, the staff liked. … But it had nothing to do with the loss.”

Izzo wouldn’t comment on Lucious’ future with the program, only saying he was going to help Lucious through his situation.

The Spartans opened the game on a quick 6-0 run, similar to many matchups with U-M at Breslin, but unlike most U-M teams, the Wolverines didn’t go away. Two fouls on Summers in the first nine minutes stopped any momentum the Spartans had.

Three consecutive 3-pointers from U-M guard Zack Novak gave Michigan a 20-16 with 10:30 to play in the first half. In the half, U-M made 6-of-12 3-point shots and took a 33-27 lead into halftime. Novak led the Wolverines with 19 points in the game.

Despite only playing eight minutes in the half because of the foul trouble, Summers scored 10 points. Lucas also scored 10. Both teams shot exactly 50 percent in the half, but MSU turned the ball over eight times, compared to five from U-M. After MSU lost the lead early, they never got it back. U-M, a team that had 13 rebounds in its last game against Minnesota, finished tied with MSU with 29 rebounds apiece.

Now, as the question of making the NCAA tournament comes into play, MSU will welcome Indiana to Breslin on Sunday.

“For me, since I’ve been here, I’ve been in Final Fours and national championships,” Lucas said. “So we still could do it. We’ve just got to get back on that winning track, and we’ll be fine.”