The Wisconsin Badgers couldn’t throw one in the ocean last night. The result, a 58-43 loss to the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing last night.
The Badgers (20-10, 11-6 Big Ten) trailed by 7 at halftime but scored the first points of the second half on a Jared Berggren basket. That’s when the Spartans took over. They ran off 16-straight points to go up 41-20 and the Badgers were finished.
Wisconsin shot just 29% from the field and only 17% from three-point range. They had more turnovers (17) then made baskets (15) in the second half.
It wasn’t just poor shooting though. The Badgers lost many of the 50/50 battles much of the night.
Wisconsin now resides in 5th place in the Big Ten and they’re in danger of having to play an opening round game in next week’s Big Ten Tournament. To avoid that opening round game, the Badgers must win at Penn State on Sunday and need Indiana to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday.
Keith Appling had 19 points to lead the Spartans. Ben Brust had 10 for Wisconsin in defeat.
