Spartans beat Badgers, wrap up Big Ten title
MADISON, Wis. — No. 2 Michigan State arrived at Wisconsin feeling a little discombobulated with so many off-court issues swirling around the program.
The Spartans are returning to East Lansing with the outright Big Ten regular-season title and more clarity about the future of star forward Miles Bridges.
Cassius Winston scored 20 points and went 6 for 6 from the 3-point line, and Bridges hit two late foul shots to hold off the Badgers for a 68-63 win on Sunday.
The Spartans (28-3, 16-2) celebrated in the locker room after clinching the top seed in this week’s Big Ten Tournament in New York. But coach Tom Izzo could sense the weariness among his players, who had some mental lapses against Wisconsin.
“I just think we’re a little mentally worn down from all the things they’ve been through,” Izzo said. “Handling the adversity that they’ve handled I think is going to make them better men for the next 60 years.”
It appears that Bridges’ short-term future is more secure after he was cleared by the NCAA following a Yahoo! Sports article on Friday that identified him as one of many players who may have received improper benefits. Michigan State didn’t get the go-ahead from the NCAA until Saturday, about an hour before the team left for Madison.
“I didn’t get anything, that’s the truth,” Bridges said. “I just want to thank the (Michigan State) compliance office and the NCAA.”
The star forward had 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting, missing all eight 3-point attempts.
Brad Davison finished with a career-high 30 points for Wisconsin (14-17, 7-11), including a 3 to get within three with 4.7 seconds left.
Dakota Mathias matched his career high with 25 points and left to a standing ovation in his final home game as the Boilermakers (26-5, 15-3) blew out the Golden Gophers (15-16, 4-14) in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Gary Clark led a 24-4 run that put the Bearcats ahead to stay early in the second half, and Cincinnati (25-4, 14-2 American) held on for a victory over Tulsa (17-11, 10-7) in Highland Heights, Kentucky. Clark and Jarron Cumberland had 17 points apiece. Michael Finke and Aaron Jordan came off the bench to combine for 34 points and lead the Fighting Illini (14-17, 4-14) past the Scarlet Knights (13-18, 3-15) in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Isaac Copeland had 17 points and the Cornhuskers (22-9, 13-5) opened a 21-point lead midway through the second half, then held off the Nittany Lions (19-10, 9-9) for a win in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Jordan Bohannon scored 25 points with seven 3s and the Hawkeyes (13-18, 4-14) held off the Wildcats (15-16, 6-12) in Iowa City, Iowa, to snap a six-game losing streak.
Women
Asia Durr scored 20 points, and the Cardinals (29-2, 15-1 ACC) claimed a share of their first regular-season conference title in 17 years with a win over the Panthers (10-19, 2-14) in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jackie Young shed a mask protecting a broken nose and scored 22 points to lead four players in double figures, and the Fighting Irish (27-2, 15-1 ACC) earned a share of the conference title with a victory over the Wolfpack (22-7, 11-5) in South Bend, Indiana.
Ruthy Hebard scored 24 points and the Ducks (27-4, 16-2 Pac-12) clinched its first conference title in 18 years with a victory over the Wildcats (6-23, 2-14) in Tucson, Arizona.
Kaila Charles had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Stephanie Jones had the go-ahead free throws and a huge block with 13.9 seconds left and the Terrapins (23-5, 12-4) held on to defeat the Cornhuskers (20-9, 11-5) in College Park, Maryland to secure the second-seed for this week’s Big Ten Tournament.
Rennia Davis had 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists and the Lady Vols (23-6, 11-5 SEC) rallied for a win over the Gamecocks (23-6, 12-4), who were playing without star center A’ja Wilson, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wilson, a national player of the year candidate, didn’t make the trip to Knoxville due to vertigo.