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Michigan State at Minnesota, players to watch, prediction

January 25, 2020
<p>Senior guard Cassius Winston smiles during the game against Minnesota on Jan. 9, 2020 at the Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Golden Gophers, 74-58.</p>

Senior guard Cassius Winston smiles during the game against Minnesota on Jan. 9, 2020 at the Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Golden Gophers, 74-58.

Photo by Connor Desilets | The State News

No. 11 Michigan State men’s basketball (14-5, 6-2 Big Ten) will continue its road stint at 3 p.m. Sunday in Minnesota coming off their 67-63 loss to Indiana.

The Spartans did not return home following the loss Thursday as they look to re-establish an outright Big Ten lead. Winning 64-62 in Ann Arbor on Saturday, No. 21 Illinois remains tied for first place at 6-2 with MSU, who defeated the Illini 76-56 in the first of two meetings.

Players to Watch

Minnesota center Daniel Oturu averages 19.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game and was a lone bright spot for the Gophers in their 74-58 loss to MSU, a game in which he had 22 and 10. His presence will be interesting opposed to MSU’s medley of big men as MSU forfeited the turnover battle, 31-29, at Indiana.

Gophers guard Marcus Carr averages 16.3 points on 6.9 assists and comes off a 21-point, seven-rebound performance in a 62-59 win at OSU.

Prediction

MSU -3, O/U 141, according to vegasinsider

The conference’s top eight teams, which includes Minnesota, are 31-2 at home as of Saturday, according to the Washington Post. However, MSU comes off an upset on the former half of the road trip and has failed to drop two straight this season.

Paolo Giannandrea: MSU, 68-60

Jayna Bardahl: Minn, 70-65

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