MADISON, WI – Unlike so many other times this season, Michigan State basketball was unable to dig out of a big first-half hole.
The No. 10 Spartans trailed by 17 at the half and lost for the third time in four games as MSU (20-5, 10-4 Big Ten) was unable to keep up with a deep-shooting Wisconsin team in a 92-71 loss at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Jeremy Fears Jr. picked up a double-double as he continued to dish out assists, finishing with 12, but his shooting touch went cold; the third-year sophomore made just three of 12 shots from the field en route to 14 points as MSU lost to Wisconsin (18-7, 10-4) away from home for the third straight time.
Big Ten picture for Michigan State
The loss drops the Spartans to 10-4 in league play, in fifth place, half a game back of 10-3 Purdue and Nebraska and tied with Wisconsin. The top four teams in the standings receive double-byes in the Big Ten Tournament next month in Chicago.
A half to forget
The big-bombing Badgers dominated the first half like they have against so many other Big Ten foes this season. Wisconsin hit 10 of 17 attempts beyond the arc over the first 20 minutes. Nearly half of those 3s (four, on five tries) belonged to Nick Boyd, who racked up 20 points – nearly as much as the Spartans’ entire starting five (30) – white the Badgers built a 17-point lead, the largest halftime deficit for MSU this season.
That was, in large part, due to Jaxon Kohler’s rough first half. He had six rebounds and two blocks, but went scoreless before halftime, missing two shots from the floor. Coen Carr picked up some of the slack, with 11 first-half points, but he also had just one rebound and a turnover.
Accordingly, MSU struggled in the paint, as the Badgers outscored the Spartans there, 18-4, and ruled on second-chance points 11-.
Next up for MSU
The Spartans return home to host UCLA on Tuesday (8:30 p.m., Peacock). The Bruins head to East Lansing on the second leg of a Midwest swing, as they face Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoon. MSU closes out the month with a visit from OIhio State on Feb. 22m followed by a visit to Purdue on Feb. 26.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Spartans buried beyond the arc by Wisconsin