Michigan State University
0-1,0-0Big Ten
James Madison
1-0,0-0Sun Belt
Michigan State Falls to James Madison, 79-76, in Overtime
11/6/2023 11:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 4 Michigan State came back from a 13-point deficit in the first half and took a 4-point lead late in regulation but lost in overtime to James Madison, 79-76, at the Breslin Center in the season opener for both teams on Monday night.
Graduate guard Tyson Walker scored 35 points, grabbed five rebounds and had six steals to lead the Spartans, while freshman forward Coen Carr added 14 points and six rebounds off the bench and junior guard Jaden Akins finished with four points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
Recap
- Walker hit two-straight baskets, the latter with 1:26 left in regulation to give the Spartans a 68-64 lead, but free throws from Noah Freidel with 1:06 left and a jumper from T.J. Bickerstaff with 30 seconds on the clock tied the game.
- A shot from Walker at the buzzer was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.
- In overtime, James Madison broke a 73-all tie with 56 seconds left on a layup from Terrence Edwards Jr. and, after Walker hit 1-of-2 free throws, Raekwon Horton hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to make it 78-74, sealing the win for the Dukes.
- Walker hit a layup to make it 78-76 with three seconds left, but Bickerstaff hit a free throw with two seconds left to close out the scoring.
- After falling behind 17-1 in the first five minutes of the game, and by 18 points midway through the first half, the Spartans fought back and pulled to within three points, 40-37, at intermission.
- James Madison went into the break with a 4-point lead, 37-33, after holding leads of 10 points (17-7) and 13 points (23-10) throughout the first half.
- The Dukes took the 17-7 lead on a second-chance layup from Quincy Allen at the 11:24 mark as the Spartans struggled from the floor, hitting just 3 of their first 15 shots.
- The lead grew to 23-10 at the 8:04 mark on a free throw from T.J. Bickerstaff.
- The Spartans pulled to within three points, 33-30, on a conventional three-point play from Carr with 1:05 left and went int the break trailing by four points.
Up Next
Michigan State plays its second-straight game at home on Thursday, Nov. 9, hosting Southern Indiana at the Breslin Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. on BTN, with Kevin Kugler and Robbie Hummel calling all of the action.
