They kept it interesting. That’s about all you can ask for these days.
Losers of seven in a row and stumbling to paltry offensive outputs for the past month, the Wildcats played No. 10 Michigan State down to the wire Sunday, ultimately falling 71-61 in East Lansing. In their final regular season games, seniors Alex Marcotullio and Reggie Hearn combined to go just 7-for-20 from the field, while freshman forward Kale Abrahamson lead the way with 16 points. Conference standout Keith Appling topped all Spartans with 16.
The ‘Cats (13-18, 4-14 Big Ten) jumped out to an early 5-2 lead over MSU (24-7, 13-5) behind a three ball from Abrahamson and a hook shot from freshman center Alex Olah. Despite three early turnovers, Northwestern kept pace with one of the most physical teams in the country.
The Spartans opened things up as Appling found his touch on the outside, while junior forward Adreian Payne notched two quick dunks in the paint. Freshman swingman Denzel Valentine opened the lane and looked stellar in transition, and Michigan State intercepted consecutive passes from guards Dave Sobolewski and Tre Demps just after an 11-0 run.
The Wildcats missed eight straight shots from behind the arc, while Marcotullio and Hearn combined for just four points in the game’s first 16 minutes. MSU worked screens to free up looks on the outside, but Northwestern battled to keep things in reach. Demps drilled a deep three as halftime buzzed in to cut the deficit to just seven points.
Abrahamson found his touch early in the second, while Olah muscled his way to a few back door baskets. The Wildcats trailed by single digits for most of the half and were tied with the Spartans with 5:30 to play.
MSU then caught fire for a quick 8-0 run. With an untouched lane, Appling drove through with ease and put it down, all but sealing things at 61-53 with two minutes to play.
On Michigan State’s senior day, the only graduating Spartan, forward Derrick Nix, kissed the floor of the Jack Breslin Center to a rousing reception as time ran out. Finishing 11th in the Big Ten and ending the regular season on an eight-game skid, the Wildcats can take solace in standout performances from their freshmen. Demps, Olah and Abrahamson were three of the four ‘Cats in double figures, an encouraging sign for a team that likely adds shelved senior Drew Crawford next season.
Northwestern will give it a go in the Big Ten Tournament this week, slated against No. 6 seed Iowa Thursday night. Perhaps playing for head coach Bill Carmody’s job, the Wildcats will need to reprise their performance from Sunday after taking two double-digit drubbings against the Hawkeyes earlier this year.