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Preview: Men's hoops looks to continue winning streak against Iowa

February 6, 2018
Junior guard Matt McQuaid (20) looks to get around the defender during the game against Indiana on Feb. 3, 2018 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Spartans beat the Hoosiers 63-30 (C.J. Weiss | The State News)
Junior guard Matt McQuaid (20) looks to get around the defender during the game against Indiana on Feb. 3, 2018 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Spartans beat the Hoosiers 63-30 (C.J. Weiss | The State News)

When: Tuesday at 9 p.m.

Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa

TV / Radio: ESPN / 94.9 WMMQ-FM (Lansing)

Line: MSU -11

Tuesday could be a rare opportunity for the Hawkeyes to repeat history.

The last time Iowa hosted MSU at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Hawkeyes upset then-No. 1 MSU, 83-70 on Dec. 29, 2015. It was the program’s third win against a top-ranked team.

Though No. 4 MSU (21-3, 10-2 Big Ten) isn’t the top-ranked team, a win over the Spartans could give the struggling Hawkeyes (12-13, 3-9) a well-needed boost to get into the NCAA Tournament.

MSU has won seven of its last eight, including a close 63-60 win against Indiana at Assembly Hall on Saturday. The Spartans needed to hold the Hoosiers to a season-low 29 percent shooting from the field to stave off a late second half comeback. But despite a low shooting performance, Indiana out-rebounded MSU, 53-29.

Iowa has lost three of its last five, including an 82-58 blowout at Penn State on Saturday. Despite the struggles all season, four Iowa scorers are averaging double figure scoring. Iowa is led by forward Tyler Cook, who averages 15.3 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds.

As a team, Iowa averages 80.2 points with a +2.6 scoring margin, shoots 47.8 percent from the floor and allows opponents to shoot 45.5 percent from the field.

The Spartans, led by sophomore forward Miles Bridges — who is one of five Spartans averaging double figures and leads the team scoring 17.4 points — are holding opponents to a nation-best 35.4 percent from the floor, while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. MSU averages 83.2 points, with a +19 scoring margin.

MSU owns the all-time series 72-55 and the Spartans have won 10 of the last 12, dating back to 2011. 

Predictions: 

Casey Harrison: MSU 78, Iowa 64

Michael Duke: MSU 76, Iowa 61

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