Northwestern holds on to beat No. 10 Michigan St 64-62
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Northwestern beat Michigan State at its game, crashing the offensive boards and hustling for loose balls to beat a top 10 team on the road for the time in nearly five years.
Ryan Young had 18 points and eight rebounds, starting in place of injured Pete Nance, to help the Wildcats hold off 10th-ranked Spartans 64-62 Saturday.
''We matched their physicality and toughness, which was a big key in winning,'' coach Chris Collins said.
Northwestern (9-6, 2-4 Big Ten) won after Michigan State's Malik Hall missed a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left and Marcus Bingham missed the front end of a one-and-one with seven-tenths of a second remaining.
The Spartans (14-3, 5-1) had won nine straight, their longest winning streak since the 2018-19 season.
''They played harder, better,'' coach Tom Izzo said.
How did that make the Hall of Fame coach feel, knowing he built a top-notch program by focusing on defense, rebounding and effort?
''About as poor as I have since I've taken this job.'' Izzo has had this job since the 1995-96 season. ''That's one of the things we pride ourselves on.''
Flipping the script on Michigan State allowed the Wildcats to become the first team to beat a top 10 team on the road while making just 34.8% of attempts since 2005 when Iowa State also shot poorly and still beat No. 2 Kansas.
Chase Audige had 14 points and Boo Buie scored 12 for the Wildcats, whose previous road win over a top 10 team on the road was Feb. 12, 2017, against No. 7 Wisconsin. Northwestern ended an eight-game losing streak at the Breslin Center, where its previous victory was Jan. 21, 2009.
The Wildcats had lost four straight closely contested games this season.
''This was a really important win for us after what we've been through here, feeling like we were on the doorstep in three of those four games,'' Collins said.
Nance, who averages 17 points, missed the game with an ankle injury.
Northwestern led for much of the game, going ahead by seven early in the second half and taking a 62-57 lead with 2:34 left.
Julius Marble gave the Spartans a chance to win with a career-high 18 points. Hall and Gabe Brown scored 10 points each. Freshman Max Christie was held to six points, missing 7 of 8 shots, after averaging nearly 11 points per game.
Michigan State trailed 38-33 at the half, closing with a 4:47 drought without a basket and turning it over 12 times.
The Spartans wished the second half was like the first meeting Jan. 2 at Northwestern, where they trailed by seven at halftime before scoring 47 in the second half to win 73-67.
In both halves Saturday, the Spartans struggled to take care of the basketball in what has been a season-long problem.
Michigan State had 12 turnovers in the first half and finished with 17, dooming chances of extending its winning streak that Izzo wasn't excited about because of the team's weakness.
''Disappointed? Very,'' Izzo said. ''Surprised? Not really.''
Northwestern outrebounded Michigan State 40-35, including a 17-8 edge on offense that led to 16 second-chance points.
''We really handled ourselves on the glass, which was huge,'' Collins said.
BIG PICTURE
Northwestern: Collins helped his team beat a top 10 team for the first time since knocking off the fourth-ranked Spartans at home last season.
''If there's a guy who deserves a big win other than Chris Collins, I don't know him,'' Izzo said.
Michigan State: Slow starts, along with turnovers, are testing Izzo's patience and it led to a loss. Since a win over Oakland last month in Detroit, the Spartans have failed to play well in a first half.
''We didn't come out ready to play and it caught up to us,'' Brown said.
NO NANCE
Nance was held out with an ankle injury after scoring career-high 28 points and matching his career best with 14 rebounds in a double-overtime loss to Maryland on Wednesday night.
''We had to be smart,'' Collins said. ''We can't jeopardize him and the rest of the season. Hopefully, we'll have a chance to have him Tuesday night.''
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Michigan State will fall in the poll after barely beating Minnesota earlier in the week and losing to a team at home that had won only one Big Ten game this season.
UP NEXT
Northwestern: Hosts No. 13 Wisconsin on Tuesday night.
Michigan State: Plays the Badgers on the road Friday night.
---
Follow Larry Lage at https://twitter.com/larrylage
---
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Robbie Beran vs. Marcus Bingham Jr. (Tyson Walker gains possession) | |||
19:41 | Gabe Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
19:39 | Chase Audige defensive rebound | |||
19:23 | Joey Hauser blocks Robbie Beran's two point layup | |||
19:21 | Gabe Brown defensive rebound | |||
18:59 | Max Christie misses three point jump shot | |||
18:57 | Robbie Beran defensive rebound | |||
18:38 | Chase Audige misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
18:36 | Gabe Brown defensive rebound | |||
18:31 | Robbie Beran personal foul (Joey Hauser draws the foul) | |||
18:23 | Marcus Bingham Jr. misses two point hook shot | |||
18:21 | Max Christie offensive rebound | |||
18:08 | +2 | Gabe Brown makes two point turnaround jump shot (Tyson Walker assists) | 0-2 | |
17:46 | +2 | Boo Buie makes two point floating jump shot | 2-2 | |
17:39 | Tyson Walker turnover (bad pass) (Boo Buie steals) | |||
17:33 | +2 | Ryan Young makes two point layup (Robbie Beran assists) | 4-2 | |
17:03 | Joey Hauser turnover (bad pass) (Chase Audige steals) | |||
16:40 | Ryan Young misses two point jump shot | |||
16:38 | Gabe Brown defensive rebound | |||
16:11 | Marcus Bingham Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
16:09 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
15:55 | Max Christie blocks Chase Audige's two point driving layup | |||
15:54 | Ryan Young offensive rebound | |||
15:54 | Ryan Young turnover (out of bounds) | |||
15:54 | TV timeout | |||
15:36 | +2 | Julius Marble II makes two point jump shot (A.J. Hoggard assists) | 4-4 | |
15:14 | +3 | Chase Audige makes three point jump shot (Matthew Nicholson assists) | 7-4 | |
15:06 | Max Christie misses three point jump shot | |||
15:04 | Matthew Nicholson defensive rebound | |||
14:58 | +3 | Robbie Beran makes three point pullup jump shot | 10-4 | |
14:30 | Max Christie turnover (bad pass) (Chase Audige steals) | |||
14:20 | +2 | Matthew Nicholson makes two point finger roll layup (Boo Buie assists) | 12-4 | |
14:04 | A.J. Hoggard turnover (traveling) | |||
13:53 | Boo Buie misses two point floating jump shot | |||
13:42 | Casey Simmons personal foul (Julius Marble II draws the foul) | |||
13:32 | +2 | A.J. Hoggard makes two point floating jump shot | 12-6 | |
13:13 | Ryan Young misses two point driving hook shot | |||
13:11 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
13:05 | Ryan Young personal foul (A.J. Hoggard draws the foul) | |||
13:02 | +3 | Malik Hall makes three point jump shot (A.J. Hoggard assists) | 12-9 | |
12:40 | Gabe Brown blocks Julian Roper's two point pullup jump shot | |||
12:38 | Julian Roper offensive rebound | |||
12:35 | Ryan Greer turnover (traveling) | |||
12:23 | A.J. Hoggard turnover (bad pass) (Ryan Young steals) | |||
12:14 | Brooks Barnhizer misses three point jump shot | |||
12:12 | Julian Roper offensive rebound | |||
12:14 | A.J. Hoggard personal foul (Julian Roper draws the foul) | |||
12:14 | Julian Roper misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
12:14 | Julian Roper misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
12:14 | Marcus Bingham Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:56 | Chase Audige blocks Gabe Brown's two point driving layup | |||
11:54 | Spartans offensive rebound | |||
11:54 | TV timeout | |||
11:49 | +2 | Max Christie makes two point pullup jump shot (Joey Hauser assists) | 12-11 | |
11:31 | Chase Audige misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
11:29 | Ryan Young offensive rebound | |||
11:23 | +2 | Ryan Young makes two point driving hook shot | 14-11 | |
11:12 | Marcus Bingham Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Brooks Barnhizer steals) | |||
10:57 | Ty Berry turnover (bad pass) (Gabe Brown steals) | |||
10:26 | +3 | Gabe Brown makes three point jump shot (Max Christie assists) | 14-14 | |
10:09 | Marcus Bingham Jr. shooting foul (Ryan Young draws the foul) | |||
10:09 | Ryan Young misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:09 | +1 | Ryan Young makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-14 | |
9:51 | Joey Hauser turnover (bad pass) (Boo Buie steals) | |||
9:36 | Ty Berry misses three point jump shot | |||
9:34 | Gabe Brown defensive rebound | |||
9:24 | +3 | Gabe Brown makes three point jump shot (Tyson Walker assists) | 15-17 | |
8:55 | Boo Buie misses three point step back jump shot | |||
8:52 | Spartans defensive rebound | |||
8:33 | +2 | Mady Sissoko makes two point turnaround hook shot (Joey Hauser assists) | 15-19 | |
8:27 | Mady Sissoko personal foul | |||
8:18 | +3 | Robbie Beran makes three point jump shot (Boo Buie assists) | 18-19 | |
8:09 | Tyson Walker offensive foul (Matthew Nicholson draws the foul) | |||
8:09 | Tyson Walker turnover | |||
7:57 | +3 | Chase Audige makes three point jump shot (Matthew Nicholson assists) | 21-19 | |
7:43 | Pierre Brooks misses three point jump shot | |||
7:41 | Chase Audige defensive rebound | |||
7:37 | Chase Audige turnover (bad pass) (Malik Hall steals) | |||
7:31 | Chase Audige shooting foul (Pierre Brooks draws the foul) | |||
7:32 | TV timeout | |||
7:32 | +1 | Pierre Brooks makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-20 | |
7:32 | +1 | Pierre Brooks makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-21 | |
7:23 | +3 | Boo Buie makes three point jump shot (Ryan Young assists) | 24-21 | |
6:51 | +2 | Tyson Walker makes two point driving layup | 24-23 | |
6:35 | Ryan Young offensive foul (Mady Sissoko draws the foul) | |||
6:35 | Ryan Young turnover | |||
6:20 | Max Christie misses two point jump shot | |||
6:20 | Jump ball. Malik Hall vs. Matthew Nicholson (Wildcats gains possession) | |||
6:18 | Matthew Nicholson defensive rebound | |||
5:58 | +2 | Julian Roper makes two point jump shot | 26-23 | |
5:54 | +2 | Julius Marble II makes two point layup (A.J. Hoggard assists) | 26-25 | |
5:39 | +3 | Chase Audige makes three point jump shot (Boo Buie assists) | 29-25 | |
5:30 | +3 | Malik Hall makes three point jump shot (A.J. Hoggard assists) | 29-28 | |
5:07 | Chase Audige misses three point jump shot | |||
5:05 | Matthew Nicholson offensive rebound | |||
4:59 | Gabe Brown shooting foul (Matthew Nicholson draws the foul) | |||
4:59 | Matthew Nicholson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:59 | +1 | Matthew Nicholson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-28 | |
4:48 | +2 | Julius Marble II makes two point hook shot (Gabe Brown assists) | 30-30 | |
4:37 | Julian Roper misses three point step back jump shot | |||
4:35 | Spartans defensive rebound | |||
4:35 | Julius Marble II personal foul (Matthew Nicholson draws the foul) | |||
4:35 | Matthew Nicholson personal foul (Julius Marble II draws the foul) | |||
4:35 | Jump ball. Matthew Nicholson vs. Julius Marble II (Spartans gains possession) | |||
4:20 | Spartans turnover (back court violation) | |||
4:05 | Ryan Greer misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:03 | Spartans defensive rebound | |||
3:52 | Jaden Akins turnover (bad pass) (Casey Simmons steals) | |||
3:49 | Gabe Brown shooting foul (Casey Simmons draws the foul) | |||
3:49 | TV timeout | |||
3:49 | +1 | Casey Simmons makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-30 | |
3:49 | Casey Simmons misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:49 | Mady Sissoko defensive rebound | |||
3:37 | Mady Sissoko offensive foul | |||
3:37 | Mady Sissoko turnover | |||
3:18 | Matthew Nicholson misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
3:16 | Spartans defensive rebound | |||
3:05 | A.J. Hoggard misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:03 | Julian Roper defensive rebound | |||
2:45 | Malik Hall personal foul (Matthew Nicholson draws the foul) | |||
2:45 | Matthew Nicholson misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:45 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
2:37 | Matthew Nicholson personal foul (Julius Marble II draws the foul) | |||
2:37 | +1 | Julius Marble II makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-31 | |
2:37 | +1 | Julius Marble II makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-32 | |
2:22 | +3 | Boo Buie makes three point jump shot (Chase Audige assists) | 34-32 | |
2:08 | Gabe Brown misses two point step back jump shot | |||
2:06 | Boo Buie defensive rebound | |||
1:52 | +2 | Casey Simmons makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Boo Buie assists) | 36-32 | |
1:41 | Max Christie misses three point jump shot | |||
1:39 | Robbie Beran defensive rebound | |||
1:18 | Casey Simmons misses two point driving layup | |||
1:17 | Spartans defensive rebound | |||
1:06 | Max Christie turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:53 | Robbie Beran misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:51 | Matthew Nicholson offensive rebound | |||
0:46 | +2 | Matthew Nicholson makes two point putback layup | 38-32 | |
0:43 | Matthew Nicholson shooting foul (Jaden Akins draws the foul) | |||
0:43 | +1 | Jaden Akins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-33 | |
0:43 | Jaden Akins misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:43 | Chase Audige defensive rebound | |||
0:17 | Marcus Bingham Jr. blocks Casey Simmons's three point jump shot | |||
0:15 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
0:16 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
0:10 | Chase Audige misses two point driving layup | |||
0:10 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
0:10 | Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:10 | Spartans 30 second timeout | |||
0:03 | Gabe Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Boo Buie defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |