For the second time in two weeks, the men’s basketball team closed out a tough win at home Wednesday. On Saturday, they will try to do the same on the road.
The Spartans (13-6 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) will take on Nebraska (11-7 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) in Lincoln. MSU’s spirits are high after pulling off a competitive 66-60 victory against Penn State. In a season full of close losses, the Spartans have now closed out games against Penn State and Northwestern.
“Did we make any progress in mental toughness?” head coach Tom Izzo asked after the win. “I’m sure we did by the way we won in the end.”
Nebraska, led by 6-foot-6 junior guard Terran Petteway, will present a challenge for MSU. The Cornhuskers have a host of long guards and forwards that can disrupt MSU offensively, similar to No. 13 Maryland last Saturday in College Park.
“What’s starting to happen in the league is the league has really changed,” Izzo said. “A lot of big teams. Big teams, and we probably have our smallest guards. Pettaway can play the two at 6’6, 6’7. And then the Maryland thing. A lot of big teams right now. So we’re gonna have to play better.”
MSU will certainly need more from the guard duo of senior guard Travis Trice and junior guard Denzel Valentine, who have struggled in consecutive games since Maryland shut them down last weekend.
Izzo said the Spartans will have to get more out of their key guys.
But several players stepped up to help MSU defeat Penn State Wednesday. Sophomore forward Gavin Schilling was a bundle of energy all night, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Senior guard Branden Dawson also was solid, finishing 12 points,10 rebounds, three blocks and using his defense to force late turnovers that led to breakaway Trice layups.
“I think this is another shot in the arm where we’re finding ways to win games,” Izzo said. “Earlier in the year, we found ways to lose games. We’re going to build on this, we’re going to get a little better. And the guys that I need to play better have played better.”
According to Schilling, the late game struggles are all mental.
To pull off a win against Nebraska, the Spartans will need the same killer mentality they showed against the Nittany Lions.
“We just gotta change our mentality, come out with full energy and come out aggressive,” Schilling said.
“As long as we all come out like that we’re going to win.”
