Michigan State's Derrick Nix (25) shoots over Michigan's Jon Horford in the first half at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sunday, March 3, 2013. (Julian H. Gonzalez/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
Trey Burke carries No. 4 Wolverines past No. 9 Spartans
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan has its revenge and Indiana has a share of its first Big Ten championship since 2002.
But not without plenty of drama.
No. 9 Michigan State trailed 52-42 with less than 4 minutes remaining Sunday at Crisler Center, and it looked like No. 4 Michigan was on its way to convincing redemption for a 75-52 loss at MSU on Feb. 12.
Gary Harris, Keith Appling and the Spartans came all the way back to tie it with a furious rally. Then Michigan's Trey Burke got the winning basket in a 58-57 triumph with 22.0 seconds left -- after stripping Appling in the open floor and soaring in for a dunk. The Spartans were trying to set up for the final shot of regulation.
On Michigan State's ensuing possession, Derrick Nix was fouled with 8.8 seconds left, but Nix missed the first and made the second. Michigan Mitch McGary then missed the front end of a one-and-one with 8.0 ticks left, and MSU's Tom Izzo called timeout with 4.9 seconds left. Harris' attempted pass to Appling was then stolen near the MSU sideline to end the Spartans' chances.
It was a huge recovery for Michigan (24-5, 11-5 Big Ten) after Wednesday's stunning loss at Penn State. It is the third loss in a row for MSU (22-7, 11-5), a first in one season for the Spartans since the 2010-11 campaign.
So 13-3 Indiana has a share of its first Big Ten banner since a four-way tie in 2002. The Hoosiers can win it outright with a home win Tuesday over Ohio State.
If they lose, a multiple-team tie will be possible when Indiana visits Michigan a week from today.
The loss drags MSU down and Michigan up into a four-way tie for second place in the Big Ten, joining Ohio State and Wisconsin -- which was stunned at home today by Purdue, 75-62, on its senior day.
Burke scored 21 points to go with eight assists and five steals for Michigan. Harris had 16 and Adreian Payne 17 for the Spartans.
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