INDIANAPOLIS (Mar. 15, 2014) — The Michigan State Spartans led start-to-finish and defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 83-75 to advance their second Big Ten tournament championship game in three years.
The Spartans jumped all over the Badgers, starting the game with a 7-0 run and leading by as many as 21 in the first half before going into the break up 17. The 17-point difference was Wisconsin’s largest halftime deficit this season.
All five Michigan State starters reached double-figures. Adreian Payne led the Spartans with 18 points, while Branden Dawson added 14. Gary Harris and Denzel Valentine each had 12 points while Keith Appling finished with 10. Frank Kaminsky paced the Badgers with 28 points.
The Spartans win guarantees that tournament champion will be from the State of Michigan. Earlier in the day, Michigan defeated Ohio State to advance to its first Big Ten title game since the tournament’s inaugural year in 1998.
Michigan defeated Michigan State twice during the regular season. The two teams will tip-off around 3:30 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised by CBS.
