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Michigan State Basketball: Staff score predictions at Maryland

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 23, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans students look on from the stands during the first half of the Spartans' game against the Maryland Terrapins at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans students look on from the stands during the first half of the Spartans' game against the Maryland Terrapins at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State basketball travels to Maryland for a tough matchup on Saturday and our staff has weighed in on final score predictions.

Beating Maryland will not be simple. Michigan State travels to College Park on Saturday with the hope of ending all doubt about the NCAA Tournament and getting in with an emphatic win over the Terrapins, but the Spartans will have to give it their all.

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An ‘A’ game won’t get this team into Big Ten Tournament with little to no worries about the Big Dance, but an ‘A+’ game will. Michigan State needs to have a near perfect performance today to ensure victory over the 23-7 Terrapins.

Take a look at the final score predictions from the Spartan Avenue staff.

Connor Muldowney: Michigan State needs this game far more than Maryland does and you will see that early in the first half. Expect the Spartans to race out to a nice lead before the Terrapins wake up and take a halftime lead back. Melo Trimble could be the difference in this one although the trio of Josh Langford, Nick Ward and Miles Bridges will have a big game. This one will be closer than some give it credit for, but the Spartans are ultimately horrid on the road.

Final: Michigan State 67, Maryland 72

Ryan McCumber: Michigan State needs one more win to secure an NCAA Tournament berth and Maryland is a team it could do it against. Maryland has struggled mightily in the past month or so. A lot of this is likely due to big man Michael Cekovsky being out for the season with an injury. Maryland’s freshmen have also struggled lately. While that may be the case, there is no chance in my mind that they will lay down on senior day at home. I expect a close game, but Melo Trimble will have a big game and carry Maryland today.

Final: Michigan State 70, Maryland 75

Adam Zdroik: Are we supposed to expect Michigan State to win a road game simply because it needs to? No. I gave the Spartans the benefit of the doubt back in January when it lost to Ohio State, but they came out flat and lost to a depleted Indiana team the next game. There’s no reason to give them that benefit against Maryland. Damonte Dodd and Ivan Bender can cause just as many problems to Nick Ward that Maverick Morgan caused in the Illinois game. And if Illinois can hit lights out from three against MSU, then surely Maryland can with Melo Trimble, Kevin Huerter and Justin Jackson.

Final: Michigan State 72, Maryland 76

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Stephen Robb: MSU flubbed again against Illinois, however, my bold prediction is that they will beat Maryland. The Spartans seem to play best when their backs are against the wall. I’m not surprised they lost to Illinois because it was a classic trap game. They have struggled on the road, however, Tom Izzo will have his crew ready to rumble.  I anticipate that Nick Ward and Miles Bridges will turn in solid performances.

Final: Michigan State 79, Maryland 72

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