Prior to Bo Ryan coming to Wisconsin it seemed like the Badgers could never beat the Spartans. Since Ryan became head coach the Badgers have only tasted defeat five times at the hands of Sparty...make that six after Tuesday night. This time in crushing fashion.Early in the first half it looked as if Sparty was still having a hangover from their loss to Penn State on Saturday. Struggling shooting from the floor, and making uncharacteristic mistakes allowed Wisconsin to jump out to an early lead.
That lead would grow to as much as 12 points in the first half until the Spartans would make a rally to cut that down to just three at the intermission. But that wouldn't be the last time the Spartans would rally to cut into a lead...or erase one all together.
Wisconsin would lose the lead to the Spartans in the second half, but Bucky would rally back to retake the reigns once again. Then expand on that lead until just under three minutes remaining in regulation. When the wheels would come off for the Badgers.
Leading by nine points the Badgers would turn the ball over three times, and the Spartans would score nine unanswered points to tie the game at 63.
What had been one of the more thrilling games of the 2010-2011 season now would need overtime to be decided.
Throughout overtime neither team could quite pull away with neither team leading by more than a basket up until the final minute. That's when Michigan State star guard Kalin Lucas would take over, but at the free throw line.
In the final minute the Badgers would be unable to find anything from the floor. Neither would the Spartans, but Lucas would knock down three of the final four attempts from the charity stripe to end the game. Giving the Spartans a three point cushion, and a three point victory 64-61.
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