EAST LANSING, Mich. – – D’Mitrk Trice had to play on the road on Christmas Day and still managed to celebrate one of his best games with his family at home.
Trice scored 29 points, the best of the season, taking No. 9 Wisconsin to an 85-76 victory over No. 12 Michigan State on Friday.
Trice’s parents, the older brother, Travis and his grandmother were among the dozens of fans in the stands. The family used to root for the Spartans when their older brother Travis played for Tom Izzo from 2011-15.
“It was great to see them and for them to travel here and us to achieve victory at Christmas, it’s a big deal,” he said. “I got myself six tickets and Coach Izzo was kind enough to give my older brother three tickets. “
Izzo acknowledged that he did not recruit D’Mitrk Trice because he did not design him to become one of the top ten players.
“I think we would have offered him a scholarship, I think he would have come,” said Izzo.
Trice is in his fifth year in Wisconsin, where he has improved enough to become a third-team All-Big Ten player last year.
“I have known him since he was little and the way he grew up is a credit to him,” said Izzo.
The Badgers (8-1, 2-0 Big Ten) won at the Breslin Center for the first time since 2004 and extended their winning streak to 10 games, dating back to last season, when they shared the conference championship with the Spartans and Maryland.
To celebrate, players spilled water on trainer Greg Gard in the locker room.
“I am very proud of the team,” said Gard. “They drenched me with water, so I had to change my mask. I’ll have to change everything before we jump on the plane. ”
Michigan State (6-2, 0-2) led by nine points at the start of the second half, before fighting at both ends of the court. Wisconsin scored 14 of the last 21 points in the final 4:03 to turn a game into an unbalanced result.
“Disappointed to get a nine point advantage and you just don’t step on their throat,” said Izzo.
Joey Hauser scored 27 points, the best of his career, but did not have much offensive help from his teammates. Aaron Henry was the only other Spartan to score double digits, but he made 5 of 13 on the field for 12 points and had seven turns.
The Badgers, meanwhile, balanced with four double-digit scorers and combined to score the most points in the program’s history in a victory over a qualified team.
Aleem Ford of Wisconsin scored 13 points, while Brad Davison and Micah Potter scored 11 each.
BIG PICTURE
Wisconsin: Trice, Ford and Davison are veterans that Gard can count on throughout the season. They make plays at both ends of the court with and without a ball.
“These kids have been playing together for four and five years,” said Izzo. “You can cheer for a team like that. You can enjoy a team like that.”
Michigan State: Turnovers have become a problem for a team that prides itself on being efficient offensively. The Spartans turned the ball 14 times and Wisconsin scored 24 points on those offers.
“We had some upsets that were stupid mistakes,” said Hauser. “That was one of the biggest deciding factors in this game.”
CLAPS BACK
The state of Michigan had fans in the stands for the first time this season, inviting family members of both teams to watch the game after the state allowed a limited number of spectators at indoor sporting events.
There were about 50 people in empty seats supporting the Spartans, while the Trice family sat in their own almost empty arena area.
SCORE NOTES
Wisconsin had its highest total against Michigan State since 1994 and scored more than any other game at Michigan State since an 86-82 victory in 1976.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The Badgers are likely to rise a little while the Spartans will lose a little in the Associated Press college basketball poll.
“They will be one of the top five teams throughout the season,” said Izzo.
NEXT
Wisconsin: receives Terrapins on Monday night, trying to extend their streak of 15 consecutive wins at home.
Michigan State: plays in Minnesota on Monday night.
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Follow Larry Lage at https://twitter.com/larrylage
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