Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from loss to No. 9 Wisconsin

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 25: Brad Davison #34 and Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers box out Marcus Bingham Jr. #30 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half of the game against at Breslin Center on December 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2 of 3

Michigan State’s Joey Hauser, left, celebrates after Julius Marble is fouled on a shot against Notre Dame during the second half on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.201128 Msu Notre Dame 075a /

2. Joey Hauser was the only one who came to play

Michigan State got decent play from guys like Joshua Langford and Julius Marble, but it seemed like Joey Hauser was the only one who really came to play for a consistent 40 minutes on Friday afternoon.

The junior forward scored a career-high 27 points and was the answer MSU needed when Wisconsin was putting together runs. He would score to stop spurts and he even helped Michigan State to a nine-point lead coming out of the locker room in the second half. That lead would quickly evaporate as Wisconsin essentially led from the 10-minute mark on.

But Hauser was solid all game and had seven rebounds and two assists to go along with his 27 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor and 3-for-3 from deep. He was also 10-for-11 at the free throw line. He only turned the ball over once and it basically sewed up the win for Wisconsin as it came with under 30 seconds left when MSU was trying to mount a comeback.

Give it up to Hauser for showing up when the rest of the team still looked asleep after the Northwestern loss like Aaron Henry, Rocket Watts and Marcus Bingham Jr.

Home/Spartans Basketball