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Michigan State Basketball: Last-Second Three Beats Spartans In Regular Season Finale

By Colton Wesley

Feb 26, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) attempts a free throw during the first half of a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Nick Ward (44) attempts a free throw during the first half of a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Michigan State Spartans are still on the bubble after losing 63-60 in their regular-season finale to the Maryland Terrapins on the road on Saturday.

Melo Trimble‘s last-second three-pointer gave the Maryland Terrapins (24-7, 12-6) a 63-60 win over the Michigan State Spartans (18-13, 10-8) in the Spartans’ Big Ten regular-season finale on Saturday.

The Spartans and Terrapins both struggled offensively in the first half, combining to shoot 20/59 (33.9%). The lead changed nine times and neither team led by more than four in the first 20 minutes. Michigan State led 28-27 at halftime, led by Miles Bridges‘ 11 points.

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A 12-2 Maryland run gave them a 43-35 lead early in the second, but the Spartans responded with a 9-0 run to take a 46-45 lead midway through the half. The lead changed hands three more times before a Nick Ward basket tied the game at 60 with 3:11 left.

The teams combined to miss their next six field goal attempts over the next three minutes. After a Michigan State turnover by Ward with six seconds left, Melo Trimble buried a long three-pointer which put Maryland ahead with 0.8 seconds left. A final attempt to tie by Miles Bridges missed and Maryland held on for a 63-60 win.

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Ward led Michigan State with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Miles Bridges added 18 points and eight rebounds. The Spartans outrebounded Maryland 37-33, including 11 offensive boards, and took eight more field goal attempts but only shot 22/60 (36.7%) from the floor.

Trimble led the Terrapins with 16 points and Justin Jackson scored 15 off the bench. Maryland shot 22/52 (42.3%) from the floor and committed only seven turnovers.

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With the loss, the Michigan State remains on the NCAA Tournament bubble as the Big Ten tournament begins next week. The Spartans will finish no higher than fifth in the Big Ten standings and thus will not qualify for a double-bye. They will play on Thursday in the second round.

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