Spartans Come Back to Beat Gophers in Overtime
December 27, 2016

Minnesota’s Jordan Murphy had 21 rebounds, but Michigan State senior Alvin Ellis sank two free-throws with 10.6 seconds left in overtime game Michigan State a 75-74 win in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Ellis had been recruited by Minnesota out of De La Salle High School in Chicago bur released from his scholarship following the firing by the Gophers of coach Tubby Smith. His current coach, Tom Izzo of the Spartans, said Ellis has been “in and out of the doghouse.” Izzo said he and the other coaches had a talk with Elllis two-and-a-half weeks ago and that he has been practicing better since then.

“He played with a purpose today,” said Izzo of Ellis, who had been averaging 4 points and 12.3 minutes per game. Against the Gophers, Ellis scored 20 points in 38 minutes.

Minnesota came into the game with a 12-1 record, its only loss at Florida State. Michigan State was 8-5. Four of the losses came against ranked teams—including number-2 Kentucky and number-5 Duke— although the Spartans also suffered a humiliating defeat at home against Northeastern December 18.

Minnesota came into the game a 6-1/2 point favorite, not an edge the Gophers are accustomed to when playing the Spartans.

Michigan State has been without freshman Miles Bridges, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, since Bridges injured his ankle November 29 in the Duke game. However, Izzo’s crack recruiting class still put three freshman in the starting lineup: forward Nick Ward and guards Joshua Langford and Winston.

The marquee matchup in the game was Ward and Reggie Lynch, who played at Edina High School and came to the Gophers after transferring from Illinois State. Lynch and his teammates prevailed early, blocking shots and dominating the rebounding as Minnesota had a 39-26 lead at halftime.

Izzo said he challenged his team in the locker room, bringing up the names of past stars, citing not just their talent but their toughness. “We were embarrassed, getting pushed around.” He said he also told Ellis he was the only player on the squad playing tough.

Minnesota coach Richard Pitino apparently thought Izzo’s talk (or rant) made a difference. “They [the Spartans] showed great toughness in the second half. In the first five minutes, we let them set the rules,” referring to Michigan State scoring the first seven points of the half.

Minnesota regrouped and had a 54-40 lead with just over 11 minutes to play. The Spartans then outscored the Gophers 15-1—with Ellis scoring the final 5 points of that run’in the next four-and-a-half minutes to tie the game 55-55.

Down the stretch, neither team had more than a three-point lead. Ward and Lynch battled, with the former prevailing. Ward scored with 4:41 lead for a 60-59 lead while also drawing a foul, Lynch’s fifth, which put him out of the game.

However, Ward missed the conversion, indicative of the Spartans’ poor shooting from the line in the game (10 of 22 for a 45.5-percent free-throw percentage). Although Ward made 9 of 14 shots from the field, he made only 4 of 13 from the line.

Pitino tried putting 6-foot-9 Eric Curry on Ward, but the 6-8 Spartan connected over Curry and the next time down the court made a nice spin around Curry for a reverse layup that gave Michigan State a 64-61 lead with three minutes left.

Pitino then put in 6-11 junior Bakary Konatè on Ward. “Bakary played some great minutes,” said Pitino, and Konatè started with a block on Ward after Curry had pulled the Gophers to within 1 point with a pair of field goals.

With the Gophers down 66-65, Nate Mason—Minnesota’s leading scorer— with to the line for a pair of free throws with 45.5 seconds left. He made the first to tie the game, but missed the second.

Mason committed a foul at the other end, originally thought to be on guard Eron Harris. However, the officiating crew of Gene Steratore, Ted Valentine, and Tom Eades went to video and determined that Mason had fouled Ward, who would shoot one-and-one.

With 28.3 seconds left, Ward missed the front end. Minnesota rebounded and worked down the clock, but freshman Amir Coffey’s shot was no good, and the team’s went to overtime, tied 66-66.

Konate outjumped Ward to get the tap in overtime, but then then turned the ball over and Langford scored to put the Spartans up 68-66. Murphy tied the game with two free throws, but halfway through the five-minute extra session, Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn hit a three-pointer.

Minnesota came by with a layup by Murphy and dunk by Konate, and the lead continued to change through the final minute.

Harris scored for a 73-72 Spartans lead, and Dupree McBrayer made two free throws to put the Gophers back up by a point with 33.8 seconds left.

With time winding down on the shot clock, Ellis drove into the lane and was fouled by Mason. Ellis made both with 10.6 seconds left. After a time out, the Gophers raced downcourt, but Mason’s off-balance runner from the lane was no good as time expired, and the Spartans escaped with a 75-74 win.

Pitino noted that both teams appeared exhausted at the end. “That type of a game,” he said. “Lots of energy.” A crowd of 11,407 got loud, a feature of Williams Arena. “When the barn is rocking, it’s so good. That’s what it was tonight.”

Izzo said the Spartans would begin preparing for its next game, at Purdue, as soon as the team gets home, but that he’d celebrate up to that point. “Until the wheels hit the ground, I’m going to enjoy the victory.

“We’re going to rock the plane.”

Gopher Holes: Izzo was asked about 96-year-old Minneapolis sports reporter Sid Hartman, who recently fell and broke his hip. Izzo said he missed seeing Hartman in the post-game press conference and, with a touch of fondness, called Hartman “an onery old cuss. “I’m not sure God wants him up there,” Izzo joked, quickly adding, “God bless him.”