Spartans Fall To Georgia By Single Point

Aug. 30, 2015

BoxscoreSpartans Fall To Georgia By Single Point

Bryn Forbes' 40-foot attempt hits the back iron as time expires in 71-70 loss.

Michigan State trailed the Georgian Senior National Team by as many as 14 points, but rallied back within a single point and nearly captured victory when Bryn Forbes' 40-foot shot hit the back iron as time expired on Sunday at PalaTrieste in Trieste, Italy. Gavin Schilling led MSU with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Forbes added 14 for the Spartans, all in the second half.

"This trip was as good as anything I've done in my 20 years," remarked MSU head coach Tom Izzo.

"One thing we did as the tournament went on is that we played better each game and competed hard the whole time," Izzo continued. "I thought tonight, for the first time, Denzel (Valentine) and Bryn's (Forbes) legs were gone. Bryn missed so many shots, and Denzel was just beat. I beat the heck out of him for two games. (Gavin) Schilling and (Matt) Costello had a good game, and we got a lot out of (Matt) McQuaid. We had some positives that happened, and Tum Tum (Nairn, Jr.) really came around for the best game of his year so far. There were a lot of positives."

The game was the final contest in a three-day tournament featuring MSU along with the Italian, Georgian and Russian Senior National Teams. The three countries are using the tournament as a tune-up for Eurobasket 2015, which will be held in September to determine the European qualifiers for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"We played scared against the Russians," Izzo said. "We really competed for 35 minutes, in fact all 40 minutes against the Italians, which for 35 minutes we played what I thought was pretty good basketball. And for most of tonight, probably 35 minutes, we played good basketball with a couple of two-minute stretches in between. We really showed some character bouncing back from 10-points late."

For the first time in the tournament, Michigan State led at the end of the first quarter. Denzel Valentine and Matt Costello each scored six points in the quarter as MSU led 18-13 after one period. The lead could have been greater, however, except that MSU was 0-of-4 from the foul line. Georgia stormed back in the second, opening with an 8-2 run to take its first lead. The contest was a one possession game for most of the second quarter, until Georgia closed on a 9-0 run to take a 37-29 lead into the half.

For the half, MSU shot .333 from the field and missed all seven of its 3-point attempts. Schilling led MSU with 10 points in the half, while Denzel Valentine scored all eight of his points in the first half. Georgia shot .429 from the field and .400 from 3-point range. Tornike Shengelia paced the Georgians with 12 points, and Zaza Pachulia, who will play his 13^th season in the NBA, added 10.

Early in the third quarter, MSU pulled within five points at 39-34, but Georgia slowly pulled away and led 55-41 late in the quarter. Forbes gave the Spartans a momentum burst when his 3-pointer right before the end of the quarter cut the Spartan deficit to 11 points at 55-44.

A few minutes into the fourth quarter Georgia still led by 10 points at 63-53. Forbes followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to four points. Moments later, MSU trailed by just two at 65-63 with possession of the ball. Forbes had a good look at a three pointer, but was just long. Following two free throws from Shengelia, Schilling converted on a three-point play to pull within a single point at 67-66. Georgia scored the next four points to lead 71-66. Forbes was then fouled shooting a 3-pointer and made two-of-three attempts to pull within three at 71-68. The Spartan defense forced a miss and Tum Tum Nairn Jr. made a layup to cut the deficit to a single point at 71-70 in the final minute.

During Georgia's ensuing possession, Izzo signaled to the scorer's table for a pending timeout. Due to FIBA rules, timeouts can only be granted during a stoppage in play or after a made basket. The Spartans forced a miss, and Nairn got a good look in the paint. The shot was contested and it fell off the rim. MSU then tried to foul, but Georgia moved the ball, resulting in an attempted layup, but that shot also missed. The Spartans grabbed a rebound and pushed the ball up court to Forbes whose shot just inside halfcourt was just long off the back rim, resulting in a 71-70 loss for MSU.

For the game, MSU shot .424, including .286 from 3-point range. Georgia shot .429 from the field and .313 from behind the arc. The free throw line proved to be a difference maker, as MSU made just 8-of-14 attempts, while Georgia hit 18-of-23. In addition to Schilling and Forbes, Nairn was also in double figures with 10 points and a game-high nine assists. Shengelia led Georgia with 18 points, while Pachulia and Manuchar Markoishvili each scored 12. Georgia's roster also featured Jacob Pullen, a two-time 3^rd-team All-American at Kansas State in 2010 and 2011.

Michigan State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Matt Costello

Bryn Forbes

Gavin Schilling

Denzel Valentine

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