Michigan State turned a highly anticipated, historic matchup into a showcase of what its proud program is capable of doing this season.
Gary Harris scored 17 points and Derrick Nix had 14 to help the eighth-ranked Spartans rout No. 4 Michigan 75-52 on Tuesday night in the rivalry's first matchup of top 10 teams.
"It was the perfect storm," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "We played about as well as we can."
The Spartans (21-4, 10-2 Big Ten) broke a first-place tie in the conference with No. 1 Indiana, which plays at Michigan State next Tuesday after the Spartans try to avoid a letdown Saturday night at Nebraska.
Michigan State's Keith Appling acknowledged he was a little bit surprised by the lopsided victory -- the school's largest since beating Michigan by 27 points in 2002 -- but shrugged off the significance of it with much of the regular season remaining.
"We just have to take it for what it is and prepare for our next game," Appling said.
The Wolverines (21-4, 8-4) have lost three of four, but the closely contested setbacks on the road against the Hoosiers and at Wisconsin were nothing like the latest when they were held to a season-low point total.
"It was an embarrassing loss," guard Trey Burke said.
Michigan State didn't trail once, led by as many as 16 points in the first half and enjoyed 30-point leads in the second. The game was so lopsided that both coaches filled the court with reserves during the final minutes.
"We probably played our best game in three years," Izzo said. "And, they probably played one of their worst."
Michigan coach John Beilein agreed.
"That was the worst we've played in a long, long time and credit Michigan State for that," he said.
Burke scored 18 points for the Wolverines and didn't get much help from his teammate offensively, or defensively.
Tim Hardaway Jr. was held scoreless until making a layup in the opening minute of the second half -- after turning down Beilein's suggestion to work on his shot during halftime warmups -- and didn't score again. Hardaway was 1 of 11 from the field and scored a season-low two points.
"They bullied us -- point blank," he said. "I've got nothing else to say."
Glen Robinson III was 1 of 4 and scored two points to match his season low.
The Wolverines, who pride themselves on taking care of the basketball, had a season-high 16 turnovers and didn't have much success getting the ball away from the turnover-prone Spartans. Michigan made fewer than 40 percent of its shots and scored one fewer point than it did in a three-point loss at Ohio State.
"We couldn't get anywhere we wanted to and when we had open looks, we didn't hit anything," Beilein said. "Somehow, we did not play with poise that we need to have to make shots."
Everything went right for Michigan State, which had just eight turnovers and made 48-plus percent of its shots.
Harris scored from the outside, making five 3-pointers, and Nix had his way on the inside as part of a balanced offense.
Appling had 11 points and Branden Dawson scored 10 before leaving the court late in the game because Michigan's Mitch McGary hit him in the face inadvertently with his right arm..
Izzo said Dawson got hit in the nose and had a cut on his lip.
"I do think he's going to be OK," Izzo said.
Matt Costello scored a season-high eight points and fellow freshman Denzel Valentine had seven points to help Michigan State win its second straight in the series after losing three in a row following a run of dominance for the Spartans.
The highly anticipated game drew Gov. Rick Snyder, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio, who mingled with Michigan football coach Brady Hoke, as they stood near ex-Wolverines football coach Lloyd Carr.
The white-clad fans in the stands were fired up before the game even started and they stayed enthusiastic, standing for much of the game, because the home team gave them plenty of reasons to cheer from start to finish.
"The crowd was just awesome," Izzo said. "It kind of reminded me of back in the day."
In the first matchup of 20-win teams in Division I basketball this season, Michigan State showed it might not be a rebuilding this season.
"I'm not sure we're as good as we played, but I'll take it," Izzo said. "It was a big win for Michigan State."
Monday, April 8 2013 8:40 PM EDT2013-04-09 00:40:32 GMT
Whether it's Michigan or Louisville players cutting down the nets after Monday's big game, they will be using a yellow and blue ladder specially made for the 75th anniversary of the NCAA tournament.
Whether it's Michigan or Louisville players cutting down the nets after Monday's big game, they will be using a yellow and blue ladder specially made for the 75th anniversary of the NCAA tournament.
Monday, April 8 2013 7:05 PM EDT2013-04-08 23:05:46 GMT
At Michigan, tailgating is usually reserved for football games, but that is not the case when the Wolverines are playing for their first basketball title in nearly 25 years.
At Michigan, tailgating is usually reserved for football games, but that is not the case when the Wolverines are playing for their first basketball title in nearly 25 years.
Monday, April 8 2013 6:41 AM EDT2013-04-08 10:41:28 GMT
Michigan head coach John Beilein says prepping for Louisville in only 24 hours is a daunting task. But his players feel ready to bring the university its first national title since 1989.
Michigan head coach John Beilein says prepping for Louisville in only 24 hours is a daunting task. But his players feel ready to bring the university its first national title since 1989.
Thursday, April 4 2013 10:05 AM EDT2013-04-04 14:05:44 GMT
When future classes look back at this Michigan basketball team, they'll see what this 'Fearless Five' did to put basketball back on the map in Ann Arbor.
When future classes look back at this Michigan basketball team, they'll see what this 'Fearless Five' did to put basketball back on the map in Ann Arbor.
Tuesday, February 19 2013 11:19 PM EST2013-02-20 04:19:18 GMT
It was Ali-Frazier, Holmes-Norton and Leonard versus Hagler all rolled into one Tuesday night in East Lansing -- the heavyweight battle between number one and number four at the Breslin.
It was Ali-Frazier, Holmes-Norton and Leonard versus Hagler all rolled into one Tuesday night in East Lansing -- the heavyweight battle between number one and number four at the Breslin.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:55 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:55:04 GMT
"We intend to build cars in North America for [the] North American market, build cars in Europe for the European market and build them in Asia for the Asian market," said Don Graunstadt.
"We intend to build cars in North America for [the] North American market, build cars in Europe for the European market and build them in Asia for the Asian market," said the CEO of North American Operations for the electric car company.
Friday, May 17 2013 10:19 PM EDT2013-05-18 02:19:58 GMT
It can creep up on you without you realizing it. One day you step on the scale and you're obese. That's what happened to a St. Clair Shores woman who never though she would lose the weight.
It can creep up on you without you realizing it. One day you step on the scale and you're obese. That's what happened to a St. Clair Shores woman who never though she would lose the weight.
Friday, May 17 2013 8:43 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:43:34 GMT
Sabrina Gianino was found dead with a cord around her neck inside a Grosse Pointe Park home early Thursday morning. The medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide.
Sabrina Gianino was found dead with a cord around her neck inside a Grosse Pointe Park home early Thursday morning. The medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:48 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:48:59 GMT
A Molotov cocktail was thrown through a kitchen window of a waterfront mansion on Whittier Street in Grosse Pointe Park around 3:20 a.m. Friday. Fortunately, someone inside put it out.
A Molotov cocktail was thrown through a kitchen window of a waterfront mansion on Whittier Street in Grosse Pointe Park around 3:20 a.m. Friday. Fortunately, someone inside put it out.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:26 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:26:25 GMT
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan urged Detroit's pastors and majority black population Friday to join him in an effort to buy neglected properties and take other steps to help revitalize the struggling city.
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan urged Detroit's pastors and majority black population Friday to join him in an effort to buy neglected properties and take other steps to help revitalize the struggling city where the movement started more than 80 years ago.
