Long break did Spartans no favor, first game back is a 67-37 loss to Rutgers
Michigan State comes out of break flat in 30-point loss to Rutgers MLive.com
How did a nearly three-week break from games affect a Michigan State team that struggled through most of late December and early January? It made it struggle even more. The Spartans had poor starts to both halves as it fell to Rutgers, 67-37, on Thursday night at the Rutgers Athletic Center.
Michigan State Falls to Rutgers in Return to Play The Only Colors
Michigan State looked like a team that had not played in three weeks. They also looked like a team that was unable to find any answers during their long layoff. The same problems that plagued the Spartans before their COVID issues, were the same problems they had tonight in a 67-37 loss to Rutgers.
Michigan State falls to Rutgers 67-37 in sloppy game following COVID pause Spartans Wire
Michigan State Basketball had not played a game since January 8’s loss to Purdue, and that is pretty much what it looked like against Rutgers on Thursday. The Spartans fell to Rutgers 67-37 on the road. This was the first win for Rutgers over MSU in program history.
Out-of-sync Michigan State trounced by Rutgers 67-37 Detroit News
Michigan State hadn’t played a game in almost three weeks when it took the court on Thursday night at Rutgers, and it showed. Whether it was spotting the Scarlet Knights 15 points to open the game, turning the ball over a season-high 19 times, getting outrebounded by nine or shooting 20% from 3-point range, the Spartans looked like they hardly touched a ball during the 20 days since they last played.
Michigan State blown away in return to action, losing to Rutgers, 67-37 Detroit Free Press
Michigan State basketball’s return to competition could not have started much worse. Rutgers scored the first 15 points in 15 minutes and dominated defensively. After 20 days off, the Spartans looked equal parts rusty and flat at both ends. Yet they clawed back to make it a one-possession game just before the half, only to emerge from the locker room plagued by the same issues — turnovers, shots getting blocked, and defensive breakdowns.