After ending its longest slide of the season, Michigan State still has a chance to earn a piece of the Big Ten title. The No. 10 Spartans can achieve that feat for the fourth time in five years by getting some help, then handing visiting Northwestern an eighth straight defeat in Sunday night’s regular-season finale. Following three straight losses by a combined 13 points to Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan, Michigan State (23-7, 12-5) posted a much-needed 58-43 win over No. 22 Wisconsin at home Thursday. The Spartans pestered the Badgers into season lows for points and field-goal percentage (29.4) and a season-high 17 turnovers. The victory put the Spartans in a three-way tie for second place with the seventh-ranked Wolverines and No. 14 Buckeyes, one game behind the second-ranked Hoosiers. A Michigan State victory Sunday, combined with an Indiana loss at Michigan earlier, would produce a shared conference title for at least three teams. Coach Tom Izzo wouldn’t say he’ll be rooting for the rival Wolverines. “I’m going to pull for Michigan …
Continue Reading: Northwestern-Michigan St. Preview (The Associated Press)
