Michigan State Falls Short Against Wisconsin, 85-76, on Christmas Day

East Lansing, Mic. – No. 12 Michigan State took a nine-point lead early in the second half, but couldn't hang on as No. 9 Wisconsin used a late run to pull away for a 85-76 win at the Breslin Center on Christmas afternoon.

Redshirt junior forward Joey Hauser (Stevens Point, Wis./Stevens Point) scored a career-high 25 points and had seven rebounds to lead MSU, while junior forward Aaron Henry (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) added 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Records
Michigan State falls to 6-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten, while Wisconsin improves to 8-1 overall and 2-0 in league play.

Recap

Michigan State led 61-57 with just over nine minutes left after a 3-pointer from Hauser, but Wisconsin went on a 10-1 run and took the lead for good, 67-62, on a jumper from Nate Reuvers with 6:19 left.
The Badgers would extend the lead to eight points, 77-69, on a layup from Jonathan Davis with 1:35 left and the Spartans would pull to within four points in the final minute, but could get no closer.
Tied at 42-all at the half, MSU used a 9-0 run over the first 3:35 of the second half and took its biggest lead, 51-42, on a pair of free throws at the 16:25 mark.
A jumper from Henry gave MSU a 53-47 lead with 15:15 to play before the Badgers tied the game on a layup from D'Mitrick Trice.
Sophomore forward Malik Hall (Aurora, Ill./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]) hit a 3-pointer at the 13:13 mark to give MSU a 56-53 lead and the Spartans led 61-57 after the 3-pointer from Hauser with 9:08 left before Wisconsin made its decisive run.
The first half was back-and-forth, with three lead changes and nine ties, the last two coming in the final 20 seconds when Wisconsin's Brad Davison and MSU junior guard Foster Loyer (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) traded 3-pointers.
Wisconsin's biggest lead was five points (7-2), while the Spartans took their biggest lead, 24-21, after Henry scored on a conventional three-point play.

Key Stats

Michigan State turned the ball over 14 times and Wisconsin out-scored the Spartans, 24-9, in points off turnovers.
The Badgers connected on 76.7 percent of their free throws (23-of-30), but hit 90.9 percent in the second half (17-of-21).
Wisconsin connected on 51.9 percent of its shots from the floor (27-of-32), including 42.1 percent of their 3-point attempts (8-of-21).

Notes

Michigan State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 83-66, but the Badgers have won the last two games.
This was Wisconsin's first win at the Breslin Center since March 2, 2004, a 68-64 overtime decision.
Joey Hauser scored a career-high 27 points to lead MSU … It was his seventh game in double figures and his second game this season with at least 20 points.
Aaron Henry scored 12 points, his seventh-straight game scoring in double figures.
Rocket Watts handed out a career-high seven assists.
The Badgers connected on 51.9 percent of their field goals, the third-straight game an opponent has connected on at least 50 percent of their shots.
Michigan State handed out 23 assists, the fifth time this season with at least 20.
The Spartans received only 13 points from its bench, a season low.

Up Next
Michigan State plays at Minnesota on Monday, Dec. 28 (9 p.m.). The game will air live on BTN.

Michigan State Falls Short Against Wisconsin, 85-76, on Christmas Day

Next Event

Team Stats

Joey Hauser

Aaron Henry

Joshua Langford

Thomas Kithier

Players Mentioned

Malik Hall

Joey Hauser

Aaron Henry

Foster Loyer

Rocket Watts

Players Mentioned

Malik Hall

Joey Hauser

Aaron Henry

Foster Loyer

Rocket Watts

Michigan State Falls Short Against Wisconsin, 85-76, on Christmas Day

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Malik Hall

Joey Hauser

Aaron Henry

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Rocket Watts

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Joey Hauser

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