B1G Sunday Recap: Spartans Win Battle In Overtime

The Battle of the state of Michigan was the only game on board today in the Big Ten, and trust me when I tell you it lived up to it's expectation as Michigan (13-9, 6-4) traveled to East Lansing to take on the Spartans of Michigan State (15-7, 6-3).

Game of the Day: Michigan at MSU

Michigan who continues to have a rough season after losing to NJIT and Eastern Michigan in back to back home games, that led to a four game season long losing streak earlier this season, now tries to answer injury concerns to top players Caris LeVert (14.9 ppg) and Derrick Walton Jr. (10.7 ppg)

Michigan State headed into the game with a 5-3 record in the conference, well below the typical Tom Izzo type of teams, but did just have a twenty point victory on the road at Rutgers.

Sunday's battle of the state game was exactly that, both teams went back and forth the entire game including 21 lead changes and nine ties, before the Spartans were able to shutout Michigan in overtime to win 76-66.

As the back and forth game heated up in the final minute, Spike Albrecht knocked down a three with 40 seconds remaining to pull Michigan within 2. Michigan then fouled Denzel Valentine who missed the one-in-one attempt.

Michigan got the rebound and Max Bielfeldt was able to tip in a rebound on his second attempt, off a Spike Albrecht missed floater with just 20 seconds remaining. The Spartans came down and were unable to connect at the buzzer and the game headed to overtime.

In overtime the game was completely different, no lead changes happened after Michigan State took the lead on a Valetine layup 16 seconds in. The Spartans closed out the overtime not allowing the Wolverines to score a single point.

The Spartans were led by Valentine's (13.9 ppg) 25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.

Spike (4.8 ppg) and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (2.3 ppg) each led Michigan with 18 points each.

Next up for the Spartans they will travel to Illinois next Saturday.

Michigan will head home and take on Iowa,who has lost their last three, on Thursday.