Tom Izzo describes how shut win over Rutgers may also help Spartans

[ad_1] The Michigan State Spartans beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Tuesday evening, nevertheless it took them additional time to do it.

The Spartans are actually 19-2 (9-1 Large Ten), they usually're ranked No. 7 within the nation. Rutgers is now 9-12. Regardless that this was a highway recreation for MSU, it ought to by no means have been shut.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo clearly felt the identical means after the sport. He gave credit score to Steve Pikiell's crew within the postgame.

“Imagine it or not, it’s exhausting to be as excited as I must be as a result of I misplaced to a man that I've a fantastic respect for,” Izzo informed the media (h/t On3). “And so they out-coached us and out-played us 90 p.c of that recreation… I hope the higher crew gained, however the higher crew didn’t win tonight, if that makes any sense. I believe we acquired a reasonably good crew, however tonight they should beat us.”

It was a stinker for Michigan State, till it wasn't. The Spartans allowed junior guard Tariq Francis to go off for 23 factors, and he had a shot on the buzzer that might have gained it for the Scarlet Knights, nevertheless it did not go in.

Michigan State had its first lead within the recreation early within the first half whereas being up 9-8. They did not have the lead once more till Jaxon Kohler made two free throws 10 seconds into the additional time interval.

As Izzo stated, it was a recreation MSU ought to have most likely misplaced. Sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 27 of his career-high 29 factors within the second half and additional time. If it wasn't for him, the Spartans would have been toast.

They weren't, although, they usually did sufficient to get the additional time win.

Tom Izzo is aware of that typically you simply must maintain your head above water in school basketball Finally, when trying again at this 2025-26 season, that is all that may matter. This recreation in opposition to Rutgers will go down as a notch within the win column.

Extra essential for Izzo as a coach, although, is that his crew discovered a strategy to battle by means of a troublesome evening. It is simple to be a championship-level crew when issues are going effectively, however every season that he is been a coach — and he is been doing this for a very long time — Izzo revealed that he has discovered that typically you simply have to determine how you can survive.

“Whether or not or not it's my championship years, different years, there’s at all times a recreation or two within the season that it's important to win if you don’t play as effectively or the opponent performs very well,” Izzo stated. “And that’s the way you keep above water."