Michigan State Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for February 2019

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 02: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball while defended by Barret Benson #25 of the Northwestern Wildcats in the first half at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 5: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans outruns a diving Keyshawn Woods #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes to a loose ball in the second half on January 5, 2019 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State defeated Ohio State 86-77. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

This isn’t the same Ohio State team Michigan State faced back in early January in Columbus. The Buckeyes were red-hot at the time and ranked in the top-15, but Michigan State toughed out a win on the road, avenging last year’s loss to the Buckeyes.

Kaleb Wesson gave the Spartans fits in the first meeting but Nick Ward will get the best of him this time around, scoring 24 to the Buckeye big man’s 13. This game will favor the Spartans all night long and Michigan State’s defense will step up to hold the Buckeyes to under 40 percent shooting.

Michigan State will look like it’s about to run away with a 20-point victory in East Lansing, but Ohio State will storm back to make it a single-digit game before late free throws put the Spartans back into a comfortable lead.

Revenge is nice, but when it’s served twice to one team, it’s even better. Michigan State can now rest easy knowing it beat the Buckeyes twice after losing the only battle last year.

Prediction: Ohio State 65, Michigan State 76 (22-4, 13-2)

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