Michigan
10-4,1-2Big Ten
Michigan State
12-3,4-0Big Ten
Wolverines Fall at No. 14 Michigan State
1/5/2020 4:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» The Wolverines had four players reach double-digit scoring.
» Franz Wagner grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
» Zavier Simpson dished out a team-high eight assists.
» Michigan will return to Crisler Center to face Purdue on Thursday (Jan. 9).
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center)
Score: #14 Michigan State 87, #12 Michigan 69
Records: U-M (10-4, 1-2 B1G), MSU (12-3, 4-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Jan. 9 -- vs. Purdue (Crisler Center), 7 p.m. (TV: FS1)
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's basketball team (No. 12 AP/No. 13 Coaches) was unable to hold off Michigan State (No. 14/16) and fell, 87-69, on Sunday (Jan. 5) at Breslin Center in a top-20 Big Ten matchup.
Four Wolverines reached double-digit scoring with Jon Teske scoring a team-high 15 points and Zavier Simpson contributing 14 points. Brandon Johns Jr. and Franz Wagner added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Simpson also produced his 14th game this season with six or more assists, dishing out eight on the day and adding five rebounds, while Wagner brought down a team-best seven boards. Defensively, Michigan forced 13 turnovers, turning them into 11 points. Michigan also grabbed 14 offensive boards that turned into 11 second-chance points.
Michigan State jumped out to a quick advantage over the Wolverines, but Michigan hit its next three shots, including an easy jumper from Teske, to cut the MSU lead to two, 15-13, with 13:51 remaining in the opening stanza.
The Wolverines remained within five until a seven-point spurt extended MSU's lead to nine, 30-21, with 7:48 left on the clock. Michigan kept itself within reach of the Spartans, as Teske nailed a three-ponter in the closing minute to head into the locker room trailing, 44-34, at halftime.
U-M and Michigan State exchanged points early in the second half, but the Spartans continued to build on their lead as time wore on.
Following a technical foul on Michigan State, Wagner made two free throws, followed by two from David DeJulius to pull U-M within 12, 67-55, with just over 11 minutes remaining. With under seven minutes left in the second half, Simpson dribbled down the lane to draw in the MSU defense then dished to an open Johns, who sank a triple to bring Michigan within eight, 71-63, coming out of the third media timeout of the half.
Despite Michigan's comeback attempts, Michigan State maintained at least an eight-point lead in the remaining minutes of the game.
Michigan will be back in action Thursday (Jan. 9) when it returns to Crisler Center to host Purdue. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on FS1.
