Michigan State 87, Minnesota 75 Post-Game Notes

Jan. 11, 2014

Recap |  Box Score |  Quotes |  USATSI Gallery  |  Photo Gallery 

• Michigan State's 15-1(4-0) record ties the best 16-game start under Tom Izzo. The Spartans only had one loss through their first 16 games with Izzo at the helm in the 2000-01 season.
• MSU won in overtime in back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 11 &15, 2011 when the Spartans defeated Wisconsin and Northwestern at home.
• The Spartans used a 15-0 run in the middle of the second half to erase Minnesota's largest lead of the game and take the lead, holding the Gophers without a point for 7:51 and 13:20 without a field goal.
• With today's victory, Michigan State has won 14-straight home games against the Gophers dating back to Feb. 14, 1998.
• Branden Dawson and Denzel Valentine paced the Spartans with 10 rebounds each leading to a 44-32 advantage on the glass.
• Matt Costello pulled down a career-high eight rebounds, including a team-high four offensive boards.
• Keith Appling shot a career-best 15-of-16 from the free-throw line.
• With today's 24-point total, it marks the team-best seventh game this season that Appling has scored 20 or more points.
• Only shooting from behind the arc, Kenny Kaminski shot 5-for-7 from 3-point range, hitting his first five, to total a career-high 15 points.
• The Spartans handed Minnesota its first true road loss of the 2013-14 season.
• MSU posted 10 blocks against the Gophers, a season-high for the Spartans.
• Minnesota's only field goal in the overtime came with 40 seconds remaining, as MSU held the Gophers to 1-of-9 in shooting in the extra period.
• Denzel Valentine led the team with four assists and tied for a team-high 10 rebounds playing in a career- and team-high 38 minutes.