It’s safe to say no one expected Michigan State basketball to lose a close game on Friday night on the USS Abraham Lincoln in San Diego, but that’s exactly what happened.
The Spartans held a 12-point lead at one point in the second half and were in complete control, but Gonzaga fought back and took the lead with under a minute left and the Spartans were not able to draw up the game-winning bucket as time expired.
Michigan State has some dogs, but it just wasn’t enough to pull off the upset.
What’d we learn?
3. This was just a sloppy game
Sloppy doesn’t even begin to describe this game. Obviously playing outside on the water changes the elements a bit, so we expected some wind and some poor offensive play, but Michigan State and Gonzaga were turning the ball over left and right.
Michigan State finished the game with 22 fouls and 16 turnovers while shooting 40 percent from the floor and 18 percent from 3-point range. Gonzaga had 18 turnovers and 22 fouls while shooting 42 percent from the floor and 22 percent from deep. Both teams shot 64 percent from the free throw line.
No one could shoot, there were a ton of turnovers, and it felt like every player was in foul trouble. This was just a sloppy game.