Ryan Schreiber

State wins the tip.
NW running a little 3-2 zone to start the game is giving state trouble. they’re closing out well in the corners on the perimeter.

18:21 - NW comes out with a quarter-court trap, forces Lucas to into a travel. Interesting to see if they stay with that.

18:00 Early on, Roe is causing trouble for NW at the rim.

17:36 - State takes their 4th 3-pt attempt of the game. They are shooting really early in the clock, not looking much for the dribble

17:13 - NW gets behind State for the second time on a back door easy lay in.

15:44 - At the under 16 time out, it looks like State is finally settling into the offense. The last two possessions they’ve worked the shot clock and gotten the ball in deep. Once for an easy lay up for Kalin and then finding Roe on the block where he got fouled hard going to the middle. State is starting the figure out the spacing and moving the ball well around the perimeter.
- first subs of the game. Rowley in for NW, Green and Summers in for State.

15:30 - State get’s beat back door again.

14:59 - State is really moving the ball against the zone now. Interesting to see if NW stays with it, or switches it up.

14:12 - Pass to Crawford catches him flat footed. NW looks a little Jekyl and Hyde on offense. Some possessions there’s good movement and they’re cutting to the basket. Other times I see them standing around lookin for someone else to create.

13:30 - NW get’s the first triple of the game. Both teams have been quick on the trigger with the three early, though State has moved away from that since the TO.

13:12 - State Catches NW unprepared. Chris Allen with a sick oop to Summers.

12:19 - One of the few opportunities State has had to get out into the transition game here sends Raymar to the line for two. Very good passing, even if the spacing was poor. Green found a trailing Morgan.

12:02 - The NW fans are getting a little restless with the officiating. Two close no-calls on the last two possessions for the ‘Cats and a little quick on the whistle on the last foul that sent Raymar to the line.

12:00 - Another great alley ooop. State is starting to run a little more. Green from the top of the key found Summers.

11:42 - At the under 12 timeout, I’m pretty surprised with how NW has played it thus far. They really haven’t held the ball much on offense, opting for some quicker shots. State seems to e finding their stride, even though the game doesn’t really have much of a rhythm so far. 14-9 finds state with the biggest lead so far for either team in a game NW has yet to lead. NW has worked the ball into the post only a few times, and has really been settling for the jumper.

11:05 - Summers, with another basket, is really starting to assert himself in this game.  Nice rebound and put back.

10:20 - Northwestern is showing exactly why Izzo loves them so much: they refuse to get out hustled.

10:15 - NW takes their first lead on a 3 by Shurna.

10 - NW forces a Lucious turnover and gets an easy transition bucket. They’re starting to gain some MO

9:36 - A Roe travel after a rebound and NW is in a rhythm for the first time tonight. The crowd is into it for the first time, too

9:10 - State responds with a stop and a Chris Allen 3 from the top.

8:49 - Another stop for state and another transition bucket puts State back on top and NW takes a 30-second time out with 8:46 to go

8:46 - Rowley back in. NW has been out sized so far, so I think that’s a good move

8:20 - Another NW 3. Those have started falling. With State adjusting to the back-door stuff, that’s big for keeping this game close.

7:51 - 22-21 NW at the under 8 TO. Both teams have been pushing the pace in this game. Even when State is settling into a half court offense against the 3-2, they’ve done well to move the ball side-to-side and get quick looks inside. Whereas in recent games MSU has looked far too much for the jumper of the long or midrange variety,  they have looked to get the ball closer to the hoop. They’ve also been more aggressive on the boards, ala MSU teams past.

7:00 - NW moved the ball well in the offense and got a nice three in the corner to open up a 4 point lead, their biggest so far. (I think)

6:45 - Summers with a trip answer from the corner.

6:08 - Summers blocks a driving Juice Thompson from behind

5:55 - Then comes back with another 3 from the corner to put State back on top.

5:31 - After a blocking foul on Chris Allen, it’s pretty clear that neither team is going to quit, at least not before half. A great inbound play gives NW the lead again.

5:10 - After a Raymar Morgan turnover, the crowd shows a little life. The NW faithful have been loud at times and, despite having what might be a majority of the seats, MSU fans haven’t said much. Neither fan base really seems comfortable, which is similar to the flow of the game. A spurt for State, a spurt for the cats. Here and there a rumble from one fan base or the other.

4:48: Eric Sherman and state get burned on the backdoor baseline again. Sherman commits a stupid foul for the and 1.

3:18 - The under four timeout and both teams have cooled off a little. NW has shut down State’s running a bit, and NW is a little colder from the field.

3:00 - State has gotten out to run on the last two possessions, again. A foul and an easy bucket puts state up 33-30

1:57 - The ‘Cats are starting to look for the backdoor again. Thompson gets behind the Spartans, Summers with a hard foul.

:01 - Raymar hits a contested three to close out the first half. 33-41

SECOND HALF

17:25 - Summers picking up where he left off. Gets in close for the hoop and the harm

15:48 - Morgan blocked by Rowley. This has been a sloppy start for both teams to the half.

15:38 - under 16 TO, 49-48. NW already has 6 TF and State has 4 including a Morgan offensive foul. Just a sloppy start. A first half that saw 13 fouls total, there have been 11 already this half.

15:27 - State in the Bonus for the rest of the half as Roe gets fouled hard along the baseline. Roe misses them both.

15:13 - Summers picks up his third foul and heads to the bench. Maybe the best defense against him will be keeping him there.

14:41 - Roe picks up his third. Fouls might become a bit of a problem here for the Spartans. Lucas has 2, Morgan 2, Allen 2, and NW will be shooting 1 and 1 from here on.

12:59 - Lucious with a three to give State a 13 point edge.

12:42 - Stop for State. It’s starting to feel like State is taking control, if they can push this lead a little more it will be interesting to see how NW responds.

12:12  - Nix checked in for Roe earlier, and already has 2 fouls. That’s the story so far as the teams now have 17 between them.  Mirkovic
misses both, not helping the ‘Cats cause.

11:50 - Lucas cuts with a clear lane to the basket. He’s starting to assert himself here in the second half, with 6 points matching his first half total

11:03 - After a stop by State. Lucas hits a big triple in the corner and the State fans ERUPT and Kalin is fired up. 9 points this half for the junior, and 15 for the game.

10:44 - Despite some poor rebounding, providing a second and third chance, State comes up with another stop after the ball goes out of bounds off a NW player. State’s lead is suddenly 18 and there’s a definite feeling that State, and the State fans, are taking over. Good timeout by Carmody.

10:44- Out of the timeout NW has finally switched to a man defense. I don’t know what took them so long, honestly.  The 3-2 didn’t have the effect for which they looked. Typically, state struggles with a zone, butnot tonight. After the first couple possessions, State dealt with the zone with relative ease.

10:12 - Another NW foul, and Morgan pushes the lead to 20

10:03 - Shurna gets to the basket, getting the hoop and the harm. NW needed that, now they need a stop.

9:59 - They come with the full court trap after the FT and force the Lucious turnover

9:40 - Marcotullio for three

9:30 - State with the answer… again. Green with the hoop and the harm, get’s the FT, and it’s 17 point lead again for State just when it felt that NW might grab some MO

9:06  -Crawford heaves a desperation three over 2 of his guys, and 2 of the State defenders from the top. not a great look

8:55 - Acrobatics for Kalin under the rim.

8:35 - Thompson with a triple to answer for ‘Cats. Problem is, with 8:30 left, they need stops, not just answers.

8:09 - A bone head foul by Markotullio on an easy bucket for Morgan. He got the bcket, but missed the FT. Either way, State by 18. State does NW a favor by fouling Crawford on the rebound, sending him to the line. Of course, he doesn’t do his team any favors by missing 1/2.  ‘Cats come out with the full court press and state breaks it.

7:45 - After the press, State get’s into the half court and gets a good look for the dunk by Morgan.

7:17 - After an answer by NW on a three, Chris Allen throws an alley oop from half court to Raymar Morgan. That seems to be the dagger as NW takes another timeout, and some of their fans start heading for the door.  State 74 - 56.

6:52 - Lucas drives to the basket and gets followed. He’s really been agressive here in the second half, with 19 now for the game.

4:41 - Chris Allen draws the foul and it’s a mass exodus.

4:03 - Lucious with the three, it might be official.

3:30 - Lucas with 15 in the half after a 2 from the ft line.

2:25 - Under 2 timeout, and it’s probably all scrubs, all the time when the teams come back with State up 87-63

1:52 - Highlight reel for Lucious as the scrubs try and get themselves into the box score ala Andrew Linnehan

0:00 - NW loses their second conference game in as many, State wins 91-70.