Tom Izzo describes how shut win over Rutgers may help Spartans

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

The Spartans at the moment are 19-2 (9-1 Massive Ten), and so they're ranked No. 7 within the nation. Rutgers is now 9-12. Although this was a street sport for MSU, it ought to by no means have been shut.

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

“Consider 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 an awesome respect for,” Izzo instructed the media (h/t On3). “They usually out-coached us and out-played us 90 p.c of that sport… I hope the higher staff gained, however the higher staff didn’t win tonight, if that makes any sense. I feel we acquired a reasonably good staff, 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 may have gained it for the Scarlet Knights, nevertheless it did not go in.

Michigan State had its first lead within the sport 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 time beyond regulation interval.

As Izzo stated, it was a sport 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 time beyond regulation. If it wasn't for him, the Spartans would have been toast.

They weren't, although, and so they did sufficient to get the time beyond regulation win.

Tom Izzo is aware of that generally you simply must preserve your head above water in faculty basketball In the end, when wanting again at this 2025-26 season, that is all that may matter. This sport towards Rutgers will go down as a notch within the win column.

Extra essential for Izzo as a coach, although, is that his staff discovered a method to battle by means of a tricky night time. It is easy to be a championship-level staff when issues are going properly, 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 generally you simply have to determine methods to survive.

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