Michigan State University
Nebraska
No. 11 Michigan State Falls to Nebraska 72-71
1/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) No. 11 Michigan State fell in the final seconds to Nebraska 72-71 on Wednesday night.
The Cornhuskers (12-8, 4-3 Big Ten) have won four straight, three on the road, this season.
''That's really big for our program,'' Shields said. ''They're a great team.''
Michigan State (17-4, 3-4) has lost three straight.
''There's blood in the water right now,'' Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. ''The sharks are coming.''
The Spartans trailed by eight late in the game, but pulled within two with 45.8 seconds to go when Eron Harris connected on a 3-pointer.
Shields made a floater over Valentine on the ensuing possession. Valentine's 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left cut the deficit to one point, but couldn't make one more shot.
Valentine finished with 24 points, six rebounds and six assists. Deyonta Davis had 13 points and seven points for the Spartans, who made just 42 percent of their shots and let Nebraska make half of it attempts.
''They deserved to win that game,'' Valentine said. TIP-INS
Nebraska: The Cornhuskers got some relatively good news at halftime when Shields was cleared to return to the game. The senior forward hurt his hip with four-plus minutes left in the first half, and had to be helped off the court as he kept weight off his right foot. Shields showed he was healthy in the second half, making a pair of go-ahead baskets in the opening minute. Midway through the second half, he had his right hip stretched on the sideline before going back in the game slightly hobbled. The next time Nebraska had the ball, he scored a three-play play on a driving layup and free throw to put Nebraska ahead 64-56 with eight-plus minutes left. Shields left the game again, briefly, to get his hip stretched before going back on the court.
Michigan State: The Spartans are struggling in part because Bryn Forbes has lost his shooting touch, especially at home. He was 1 of 8 against Nebraska and scored three points, one home game after going 0 for 5 and scoring just two points in a 17-point loss to Iowa. Forbes had a chance to pull Michigan State within a point, but missed an open 3-pointer with just less than three minutes left. Shields made a shot on the ensuing possession to give the Cornhuskers a 68-62 lead.
UP NEXT
Nebraska hosts Michigan on Saturday.
No. 11 Michigan State hosts No. 7 Maryland on Saturday night.
