Swanigan, Bridges Impress As Michigan State Loses To Purdue

Jan 24, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) reaches for a rebound over Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) during the first half at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) reaches for a rebound over Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) during the first half at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite a career high from Miles Bridges, the Michigan State Spartans were downed by Caleb Swanigan and the #20 Purdue Boilermakers on Tuesday.

The Michigan State Spartans (12-9, 4-4) lost their third straight conference game on Saturday, losing at home to the #20 Purdue Boilermakers (17-4, 6-2), 84-73.

Michigan State led throughout most of the first half, spurred by 16/27 (59.3%) shooting from the floor and 7/12 (57.5%) shooting from beyond the arc. The Spartans led by as many as eight points in the first half before the Boilermakers went on a 10-2 run to end the half and tie the game at 39.

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Purdue took its first lead of the game early in the second half, lost it, then regained it with 14:32 left in the game and never let it go again. The Spartans kept it close but never regained the lead as they could not keep up their scoring pace from the first half. The Boilermakers, on the other hand, continued their solid shooting performance and built a double-digit lead down the stretch, coming away with an 84-73 win.

Miles Bridges starred for Michigan State, scoring a team season-high and career-high 33 points and leading the Spartans with seven rebounds. No other Spartans scored in double digits. 20 of Michigan State’s 27 field goals were assisted, but the Spartans struggled from the free throw line once again, shooting 8/14 (57.1%) and prompting head coach Tom Izzo to snap his markerboard in half. (Video from ESPN)

Michigan State had no answer for former Izzo recruit Caleb Swanigan, the nation’s leading rebounder, who collected 17 boards on his own and led the Boilermakers with 25 points. Six Boilermakers, including all five starters, scored in double-digits and Purdue converted 21 of 24 free-throw attempts.  The Boilermakers shot 11/21 (52.4%) from beyond the arc.

Purdue dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Spartans 36-23, and the Spartans committed 22 fouls to the Boilermakers’ 14.

Full box score from ESPN

Next: MSU Fails To Complete Comeback At Indiana

The Spartans will host the rival Michigan Wolverines on Saturday at 1:00 on CBS.