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MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Despite his team's dominance in the series,
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo would just as soon not press his luck
and see Wisconsin again.
The third-ranked Spartans had to hold off a second-half rally by the Badgers (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) for a 51-47 victory Tuesday night.
|  | | Michigan State's Jason Richardson (23), Charlie Bell, center, and Matt Ishbia celebrate the Spartans' 51-47 win. |
"I thought that was the toughest team we've played all year,"
said Izzo, whose team won the first meeting 69-59 in overtime. "I
do want to take my hat off to my players. I've never seen a team
bounce back like they have.
"But give (Wisconsin) credit. They hit some shots, they came up
with all the loose balls down the stretch and the crowd was
awesome. That was an NCAA Tournament game by two NCAA Tournament
teams."
Michigan State (23-3, 12-3 Big Ten) led almost the entire game
and stretched the margin to 44-31 midway through the second half.
But Wisconsin (17-9, 8-7) went on a 14-3 run to pull within
47-45 with just under five minutes remaining. Kirk Penney, who led
the Badgers with 13 points, scored eight points during that run,
including two 3-pointers from the deep left corner that banked in.
"At first I thought I wasn't seeing it right," Wisconsin coach
Brad Soderberg said. "I watched the flight of the ball and I said,
`My God, that thing hit the glass.' Then he did it again, and they
both went in. That's when I thought we were going to win."
He should've known better.
The Badgers' rally faltered as they went scoreless for more than
four minutes. Michigan State managed just two free throws during
that time – one each by Jason Richardson and Charlie Bell – to
stretch the lead to 49-45.
Roy Boone pulled Wisconsin within 49-47 with a short jumper with
37 seconds left. David Thomas was fouled with 20 seconds left and
made both free throws for his only points of the game to give the
Spartans their final margin.
Michigan State has beaten Wisconsin six times in the past two
seasons, including a victory in the Final Four last season.
"I wouldn't mind having one more crack at them," said Andy
Kowske, one of five Badger seniors who have experienced just one
victory in 11 meetings with the Spartans over the past four years.
"I like playing them, it's fun. It's always real physical ... it's
a war out there.
"One of these times we're going to win if we play them. One
more time, maybe that's the time we can get those guys."
The Spartans moved into a first place tie in the Big Ten with
No. 5 Illinois with one game remaining. Michigan State plays host
to Michigan on Saturday, while Illinois travels to Minnesota.
Andre Hutson scored 13 points to lead the Spartans. Richardson,
who was held to two points in the first half by Wisconsin's
defensive ace Mike Kelley, finished with 11 and Bell added 10.
"Jason Richardson hit a couple of big, big shots," Izzo said.
"Kelley did not do a good job on him, he did a great job on him.
That was a big matchup because we thought maybe we could exploit it
a little bit, but it's been four years I've been watching the kid
do it and Kelley hasn't changed any. He did a great job on Jason,
but Jason hit a couple of big shots at critical times."
It is that ability to make big plays in the clutch that
Soderberg believes separates the Spartans and Badgers.
"They have guys who can make plays when the game is on the
line," Soderberg said. "I'm not trying to criticize my guys at
all, but let's call it like it is – they have some guys who can
make plays.
"How about the plays Richardson made against one of the best
defenders in the country? The guy made plays. I'm very proud of the
kids we have, but I don't know which guy in our lineup, under that
kind of stress, can make those plays.
"That, to me, is the difference. Last year they had (Morris)
Peterson and (Mateen) Cleaves, and now Richardson and Bell are
doing the same thing."
The Spartans, who have won five straight since their 77-66 loss
to Illinois, have their sights set on winning their fourth straight
Big Ten title.
"That's really my main goal," Hutson said. "That's all I've
been thinking about the past few weeks, is winning four straight
Big Ten championships."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Michigan State Clubhouse
Wisconsin Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Wisconsin's Mike Kelley and Michigan State's Jason Richardson trade 3-point baskets.
avi: 1091 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Kirk Penney uses the glass on back-to-back 3-pointers...from the corner.
avi: 1003 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Wisconsin can't connect and the Spartans fend off a Badgers comeback.
avi: 1899 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Andre Hutson talks about stepping up the intensity against Wisconsin.
wav: 423 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Coach Tom Izzo emphasizes the Spartans' defensive effort.
wav: 550 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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