Michigan State University
Texas Southern
Texas Southern Stuns Michigan State 71-64 in OT
12/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Chris Thomas scored 22 points, and Texas Southern beat No. 25 Michigan State 71-64 in overtime Saturday. The Tigers were coming off a loss to Gonzaga, but they remained poised throughout against the Spartans. Texas Southern never trailed in the extra session.
"We did know it was possible as long as we stayed as a team," Thomas said. "We've played good teams before. We knew we were getting better."
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said he didn't have his team prepared for Texas Southern.
"As you get older, you start worrying about people liking you, and I did not work my team. I felt sorry for them. I did not work them like I normally do," Izzo said. "We didn't practice as hard - too worried about my little guys getting tired. ... That was a coaching loss, and I take full responsibility for it, and I plan on rectifying it starting at 8:30 tomorrow morning."
The Spartans (8-4) were without starting forward Branden Dawson, who fractured his wrist in a win over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. Michigan State needed a free throw by Javon Bess with 6.8 seconds left in regulation just to force overtime.
The Spartans came in leading the nation at 44 percent from 3-point range, but they went 4 of 21 against the Tigers, who represented the Southwestern Athletic Conference in last season's NCAA tournament.
The Spartans led 30-25 at halftime, and after Tigers tied it early in the second, Michigan State seemed to assert itself. But after Denzel Valentine's 3-pointer gave the Spartans a 50-42 lead, Texas Southern went on an 11-2 run and took a 53-52 advantage on Jason Carter's 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining.
The Tigers were up one when Bess came up with an offensive rebound and was fouled in the final seconds of regulation. A freshman playing only his second game, Bess made one of two free throws to tie it at 55.
Texas Southern regrouped and scored the first four points of overtime. The Spartans didn't make a field goal in overtime until the final minute.
Texas Southern turned the ball over only 11 times and shot a season-best 53 percent from the field.
"It means a lot, but we're not done yet," Thomas said. "We've got to win a lot more games to get to the tournament. It doesn't stop here."
Malcolm Riley scored 20 points for Texas Southern.
Izzo made it clear the Spartans will be working hard before their next game.
"I'm going to find out what the NCAA will legally allow me to practice tomorrow, and then I'm going to probably exceed it," he said.
Michigan State's Bryn Forbes went 1 of 9 from the field, and Travis Trice was 3 of 13. Matt Costello had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The Spartans had 18 offensive rebounds, but they were outscored 36-32 in the paint.
Michigan State hosts The Citadel on Monday night.
