The 2022 Armed Forces Classic took place between Michigan State and No. 2 Gonzaga on the USS Abraham Lincoln on Nov. 11. It was the first Armed Forces Classic game in three years, and first one on a ship since 2011. 

The game serves as a way to honor those who serve and is almost exclusively filled with members of the military and the team’s close family.

"You know what, give the military credit," Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo said. "They are the greatest team. It's Veterans Day. I'm so humbled that I get to play in a game like this."

While the venue was unique, it's not uncommon for Izzo's Spartans to face intense competition in the opening games of the season (No. 4 Kentucky and No. 16 Villanova are next up for Michigan State). What was different, however, was the Spartans came into this game and the season unranked, with less than stellar expectations – the Zags were favored by 11 points.

But aboard the carrier, the Spartans came out firing.

As the sun began to set on the first half of the classic, the Zags found themselves in a dogfight and facing an upset.

Junior center Mady Sissoko stepped up big for the Spartans in the first half, matching the energy and play of the Zags' veteran senior forward Drew Timme.

"Especially (in) this kind of environment, playing somewhere (like) here is gonna give me a lot of confidence and I just have to go there and to work hard," Sissoko said. "That's what I can do every night."

The Spartans closed out the first half with an alley-oop buzzer-beater from senior guard Tyson Walker to freshman guard Tre Holloman and the lead.

The second half was closer than the first, only it was the Zags who worked their way back into striking distance, as foul trouble haunted the Spartans.

Both graduate student forward Joey Hauser and Sissoko fouled out in the second half, with most of their fouls turning into opportunities at the line for Timme.

The final 20 minutes of the game were nothing short of a Drew Timme takeover.

Several of the second half foul calls were disputed by Izzo, Spartan players and the fans.

Ultimately, down 64-63, a point difference that came from the same Timme free throw that Sissoko fouled out on, the game came down to one possession and an Izzo timeout.

The broken play that followed the timeout started in the hands of Junior guard AJ Hoggard and faltered with Walker stumbling, forcing him to kick the ball to a double-covered Akins. With two seconds on the clock, Akins would take a three-point attempt for the game.

"I think everything about the night was great except the final score," Izzo said. "I'm telling you, what we wanted to do – going under ball screens, following the game plan – it was unbelievable."

Akins shot bounced off the back left side of the rim as time expired. The Spartans' upset fell just short.

Sports Editor Sam Sklar contributed to the contents of this article.