MICHIGAN STATE GAME NOTES

https://msuspartans.com/documents/2023/3/3/Game_30_Ohio_State.pdf

OHIO STATE GAME NOTES

https://msuspartans.com/documents/2023/3/3/Ohio_State_vs._Michigan_State_3-4-23.pdf

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State’s men’s basketball team plays its final Big Ten Conference game of the regular season on Saturday, March 4, hosting Ohio State on Senior Day (ESPN, noon). Seniors Malik Hall and Tyson Walker along with graduate Jason Whitens will be recognized in a post-game ceremony.

The game will air live on ESPN with Mark Neely and Robbie Hummel calling all of the action. Network radio call can be heard on one of 38 affiliates and on the web at MSUSpartans.com, with Will Tieman handling the play-by-play and Matt Steigenga serving as the color analyst. The game can also be heard on channels 135 or 195 on SiriusXM and channel 957 on the SiriusXM app.

About the Spartans

• Michigan State has won 13 of its last 20 games and enters the game on Saturday with an 18-11 overall record, including a 10-8 mark in Big Ten play.
• The Spartans, who played one of the nation’s toughest schedules in the country to open the season, have faced the No. 1 toughest slate of opposing offenses in the country, the 14th-toughest slate of opposing defenses and rank No. 5 overall in strength of schedule, per KenPom.com.
• The Spartans are ranked No. 6 in the NET Strength of Schedule and have a combined 11 wins in Quadrant 1 & 2
• Through 29 games, senior guard Tyson Walker leads the team in scoring with 14.8 ppg, while adding 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
• Graduate forward Joey Hauser is second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with 7.0 boards per game, while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 44.8 percent from 3-point land.
• Hauser scored at least 20 points against Maryland, Ohio State and Michigan, becoming the first MSU player since Cassius Winston in 2020 to score at least 20 points in three-straight games.
• Junior guard A.J. Hoggard is third on the team with 12.2 points, fifth with 3.8 rebounds and leads the team, while ranking second in the Big Ten, with 6.1 assists per game …  Hoggard is one of four Division I players in the country averaging at least 12.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 6.0 apg.
• Sophomore guard Jaden Akins is fourth on the team with 9.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest.
• Senior forward Malik Hall is fifth on the team with 9.4 ppg and third with 4.2 rpg.
• Junior forward Mady Sissoko is averaging 5.1 points and is second on the team with 6.0 rebounds.

About Ohio State

• Ohio State enters the game on Sunday afternoon with a 13-17 overall record and a 5-14 mark in the Big Ten Conference following a 73-62 win on Wednesday night over Maryland at home.
• After nine-straight losses in Big Ten play, the Buckeyes have won their last two games, including a 72-60 win over Illinois.
• Ohio State is 1-9 away from home, including a 1-8 mark in the Big Ten, its lone conference road win coming at Northwestern (73-57) on Jan. 1.
• Freshman forward Brice Sensabaugh is eighth in the Big Ten in scoring (16.4 ppg) and ranks tied for 13th in 3-pointers made per game (1.87).

Series History

• The game on Saturday afternoon will be the 141st meeting all-time between Michigan State and Ohio State.
• MSU leads the head-to-head series, 79-61, and has won six of the last eight meetings and 12 of the last 16 overall.
• Michigan State is 48-17 in games played in East Lansing, including a 21-5 mark at the Breslin Center.
• Michigan State won the first meeting between the teams this year (see notes for more info).
• Tom Izzo is 34-18 in his career against Ohio State.

COURTESY MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS