EAST LANSING, Mich — #5 Michigan State (14-1) played without guard Travis Trice, while Adreian Payne and Keith Appling battled through injuries to lead the Spartans to a 72-68 overtime win Tuesday night at home against #3 Ohio State (15-1).
The Spartans led by 17, 55-38, with 8 minute to play, but Ohio State battle back to tie the game at 58 and send it to overtime. In the extra 5 minutes MSU got 3 point baskets from Appling, Payne and Kenny Kaminski. “To lose a lead like that it’s hard to feel good about and I think I’ll find some solace in the fact that my seniors were warriors and it says something about a team to lose a 17 point lead and then bounce back and win it” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.
Payne was not supposed to play with a foot injury, but ended up playing 32 minutes off the bench scoring 18 points. “I knew the team needed me so I just wanted to go out there and give it a go and try to come out with a win and make sure the team felt good about it” Payne said.
Appling was battling cramping in his left leg most of the night but still played a team-high 43 minutes and scored a game-high 20 points, non bigger than a 3 with time winding down in OT to give the Spartans a 69-66 lead. “I feel like it’s a good win regardless (of the injuries), that’s the number 3 ranked team in the country and they are ranked there for a reason, in the end we were able to find a way to fight through all the adversity and find a way to win” Appling said.
Trice missed the game with an illness and Izzo said he has not practiced in 3 days, Payne has also been unable to practice with his foot injury and said he was in a lot of pain after the game. Michigan State will host Minnesota on Saturday at 2:15 PM.
