Michigan Vs. Michigan State: Wolverines Stun Rival Spartans

As best said by ESPN's Dana O'Neil "the mystery that is Michigan State continues." 

1,181 days. That was how long it had been since a Michigan men's basketball or football team has beaten Michigan State. That dates back to November 3rd, 2007. 

On Thursday, that streak came to end in just two hours. With a final score of 61-57, the Michigan men's basketball team, the so-called young and "rebuilding" team beat a team that was ranked as high as two in the nation this year on the road, at the Breslin Center. 

Michigan had lost six straight games and 11 straight at the Breslin Center dating back to 1997. 

Michigan's Zack Novak shot threes from everywhere, made them, and put a dagger in Michigan State's momentum everytime they got something going. He finished with 19 points. 

With 20 seconds left, Stu Douglass made a three to essentially seal the game. It was that kind of night for the Spartans. 

Michigan State's Kalin Lucas had an outstanding night with 27 points, unfortunately for him no one else stepped up as they suffered a loss to their rival. 

The Wolverines were up by six at the half and really never looked back.

Michigan wanted this more. They played with more sense of urgency. They took the life out of the Spartans and out of the crowd, two keys for winning at the Breslin Center. 

It really doesn't add up. This is a Michigan State team that has so much talent, even with Korie Lucious gone. This was supposed to be another Final Four year for the Spartans. But, it looks like they are farther and farther away from turning it around. Tom Izzo has lost the reigns on his team. 

Michigan State has made the Breslin Center less than intimidating this year. The Breslin Center is no longer feared as it used to be. Which is proving to be costly for the Spartans. The Spartans have to be careful, they are essentially out of the Big Ten race as they are four games back with February and early March left to go, but they have a lot of ranked opponents left to play, and with the way they are playing now, the outlook is a scary one if the Spartans can't get the ship righted. 

The ranked opponent games that Michigan State has yet to play include at Wisconsin, at Ohio State, vs Illinois, at Minnesota and vs Purdue. They have a stretch of five straight games against ranked opponents in February. 

Making the NCAA Tournament is now in jeopardy for the Spartans. If they drop all of the games listed above, it is very unlikely they make it.

What was supposed to be a Final Four year for the Spartans is now a year that they are just trying to make the field, something, at the beginning of the year, no one saw coming.