After a disappointing home loss to Minnesota, MSU head coach Tom Izzo decided to switch things up. Senior guard Travis Trice and freshman forward started in place of Forbes and senior forward Branden Dawson, respectively.

Wisconsin scored the game’s first four points and following an airball from Clark, Dawson checked in at the 16:54 mark. Wisconsin scored again before junior forward Matt Costello finally put MSU on the board with a tip-in.

The Badgers got out to an early 8-2 lead but two three-pointers from Forbes cut the lead to just 10-8 by the 12 minute mark. A three from Trice gave MSU its first lead at the 11:19 mark.

In what's become a customary occurence, sophomore forward Gavin Schilling picked up his second personal foul with 10:43 left in the half, as Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky showed his versatility. Kaminsky extended the MSU defense, knocking down back-to-back threes to put Wisconsin up 19-15.

The All-America hopeful had 11 of his team’s first 19 points and had MSU on its heels. Even redshirt junior forward Colby Wollenman was briefly given the defensive assignment.

For MSU, a period of stagnation was broken up with Forbes’ third three of the half, cutting Wisconsin’s lead to 26-20. Kaminsky continued to dominate, but Forbes did all he could to keep the Spartans in it.

Valentine didn't score his first points of the game until the 1:55 mark, when he knocked down a three.