Tom Izzo tips cap to Steve Pikiell after 70-57 win over No. 23 Rutgers

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo tipped his cap to Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell following the Spartans’ 70-57 Big Ten win.

The Spartans erased an early deficit in the first half and pulled away from the No. 23 Scarlet Knights to improve to 13-6 and tie Rutgers in the Big Ten standings. But Izzo was very complimentary of Pikiell after the game, considering Michigan State was outrebounded the whole night.

However, the shooting came alive while Rutgers struggled from beyond the arc.

“He’s a hell of a lot better coach than I am because we’ve always relied on toughness and rebounding,” Izzo said on Fox Sports 1. “We got our butts kicked in that first 10 minutes. I mean, it was just one after another after another.

“I give Steve a lot of (credit), he’s done a hell of a job with the team and the program. At the same time we did bounce back after another brutal start. I don’t know why these starts hurt so bad, I’m done with pregame speeches.”

AJ Hoggard led the way with 16 points, three rebounds and seven assists. He was one of five Spartans players in double figures in the win over Rutgers.

While Izzo gave props to Pikiell after the win, he talked about his own players’ toughness and execution, particularly Jaxon Kohler. Kohler finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and one assist.

“Jaxon has been playing better and so has Carson (Cooper),” Izzo said. “Tonight, Mady (Sissoko) struggled, boy, that big guy (Cliff Omoruyi) took it to him and I give Jaxon, credit he did a heck of a job. 

“We did a pretty good job on the rebound total and they still outrebounded us, but it was a little more human. But that’s a good team, man. Don’t kid yourself that’s a really good team.”

Joey Hauser added 13 points, six rebounds and four assists while Jaden Akins added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Tyson Walker had a good game as well and put up 12 points and three rebounds.

Izzo credited Pikiell and Rutgers, which reentered the top 25 AP Poll for the first time in two years. Rutgers’ best performance came from Omoruyi, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Caleb McConnell had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists while Paul Mulcahy had 12 points, one rebound and four assists.

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Michigan State is back in action Sunday at Indiana for a 12:00 p.m. ET tipoff.