Sunday, December 20
Evanston, Ill.
7 PM
Michigan State University
6-1,0-1Big Ten
65
at
79
Northwestern
4-1,1-0Big Ten
1
2
F
Michigan St.
30
35
65
Northwestern
43
36
79
Michigan State Loses at Northwestern, 79-65, in Big Ten Opener
12/20/2020 10:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Evanston, Ill. – No. 4 Michigan State fell behind by 13 points at halftime and could not recover, falling to Northwestern, 79-65, in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams on Sunday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Junior forward Aaron Henry (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) led the Spartans with 11 points, two rebounds and three assists, sophomore forward Malik Hall (Aurora, Ill./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]) had 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists, while junior forward Gabe Brown (Ypsilanti, Mich./Belleville) had 10 points and five rebounds.
This is Michigan State's first loss to Northwestern since 2012. The Spartans had won the last 12 meetings between the teams.
Records
Michigan State falls to 6-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern improves to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.
Recap
Michigan State returns home to the Breslin Center for its Big Ten home opener, hosting Wisconsin on Christmas Day. Tipoff on FOX is slated for 12:30 p.m.
Up Next
Michigan State returns home to the Breslin Center for its Big Ten home opener, hosting Wisconsin on Christmas Day. Tipoff on FOX is slated for 12:30 p.m.
Junior forward Aaron Henry (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) led the Spartans with 11 points, two rebounds and three assists, sophomore forward Malik Hall (Aurora, Ill./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]) had 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists, while junior forward Gabe Brown (Ypsilanti, Mich./Belleville) had 10 points and five rebounds.
This is Michigan State's first loss to Northwestern since 2012. The Spartans had won the last 12 meetings between the teams.
Records
Michigan State falls to 6-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern improves to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.
Recap
- Michigan State took an early 4-0 lead after a jumper from Henry and a layup from junior forward Thomas Kithier (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston), but the Wildcats rattled off 11-straight points and took an 11-4 lead after a pair of free throws from Miller Kopp at the !4:59 mark.
- The Spartans never led the rest of the way.
- A jumper from graduate guard Joshua Langford (Huntsville, Ala./Madison Academy) but the lead to 20-18 and a dunk from Brown with 4:35 left made it 28-23.
- Boo Buie, who scored a game-high 30 points, hit a pair of three's and two free throws and Pete Nance scored five points as the Wildcats out-scored MSU 15-7 over the final three-plus minutes and took a 43-30 lead.
- The Spartans pulled to within 10 points, 50-40, after a basket from sophomore forward Julius Marble (Dallas, Texas/Dallas Jesuit), but Northwestern responded with an 11-0 run and took a 61-40 lead on a layup from Ryan Young with 11:57 left.
- Northwestern shot 52.9 percent (27-of-51) from the floor, including 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from 3-point land.
- Michigan State shot just 38.8 percent (27-of-61) from the floor and 25.8 percent (8-of-31) from 3-point land.
- The Spartans grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, but had 0 second-chance points.
- MSU's two leading scorers – redshirt junior forward Joey Hauser (Stevens Point, Mich./Stevens Point) and sophomore guard Rocket Watts (Detroit, Mich./SPIRE Academy [Ohio]) combined for just 10 points on 4-of-18 shooting from the floor.
- This was the first win for Northwestern in the series since Jan. 14, 2012 (81-74).
- The Spartans had won the last 12 games in the series, including five on the road.
- Michigan State leads the all-times series, 93-39, and Head Coach Tom Izzo is now 38-5 all-time against Northwestern.
- This was the second-straight game an opponent shot above 50 percent from the floor against the Spartans. It is the first time opponents have shot at least 50 percent from the floor against MSU in consecutive games since the 2014-15 season in losses at home to Minnesota (Feb. 26, 96-90) and on the road at Wisconsin (March 1, 68-61).
- This was the first time MSU had 0 second-chance points since collecting none in a 63-60 win over Indiana on Feb. 23, 2018.
- Michigan State shot a season-low 38.8 percent from the floor.
- Aaron Henry led MSU in scoring with 11 points, his sixth games in double figures this year and the 26th for his career.
- Malik Hall tied a season-high with 10 points, his second game in double figures this year and the fourth of his career.
- Gabe Brown scored 10 points off the bench, his second-straight game in double figures, the fourth this season and the 13th of his career.
- Joshua Langford's nine points give him 896 for his career at Michigan State.
Michigan State returns home to the Breslin Center for its Big Ten home opener, hosting Wisconsin on Christmas Day. Tipoff on FOX is slated for 12:30 p.m.
Up Next
Michigan State returns home to the Breslin Center for its Big Ten home opener, hosting Wisconsin on Christmas Day. Tipoff on FOX is slated for 12:30 p.m.
Team Stats
MSU
NU
FG%
.388
.529
3FG%
.258
.476
FT%
.500
.833
RB
33
32
TO
8
12
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballTom Izzo Post Game Comments | SJSU | Nov. 13 2025
Thursday, November 13
Tom Izzo Post Game Comments | ARK | Nov. 8 2025
Saturday, November 08
Tom Izzo Post Game Comments | BGSU | Oct. 23 2025
Thursday, October 23
Tom Izzo | Men's Basketball Press Conference | Oct. 16 2025
Thursday, October 16