Matt Painter reacts to Tom Izzo tying Bob Knight record for Big Ten wins

Saturday’s win was a big one for Michigan State. But for Tom Izzo, it was even bigger.

Izzo now has 662 career Big Ten victories, tying him with legendary Indiana coach Bob Knight for the most Big Ten wins in history. It’s quite an accomplishment, and Purdue coach Matt Painter — a Fort Wayne native — acknowledged it after the game.

“That’s a big deal,” Painter said, via the Lansing State Journal’s Ryan Black. “I grew up in Indiana. (Knight) was it. He was the best coach in America.”

The victory came in dramatic fashion for Michigan State. Purdue tied things up with 30 seconds left, and Tyson Walker hit a game-winning three-pointer with 1.4 seconds to play to give the Spartans a much-needed win. Izzo needs one more win to top Knight’s mark and sit alone atop the list.

He’ll have a chance to get that win in Michigan State’s next game March 1 against Michigan.

Tyson Walker’s last-second shot sends Michigan State to upset of No. 4 Purdue

Tyson Walker didn’t have a field goal in the second half of Michigan State’s game against Purdue on Saturday. That is, until 1.4 seconds left when he hit one of the biggest shots of his career.

Walker pulled up from three-point distance and drained the shot to send the Spartans past No. 4 Purdue 68-65 at the Breslin Center on Saturday. The lost snapped a three-game losing streak for Michigan State — and seriously impacted Purdue’s chances for a Big Ten title.

Michigan State saw a 10-point lead dwindle to two points by halftime, but remained in control of the game throughout the second half. Four Spartans scored in double figures to lead the effort on offense, but the story was the defense. Two Boilermakers — Zach Edey and Jaden Ivey — combined for 41 of Purdue’s 65 points, and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said the goal was to take away Purdue’s three-point shot. The Spartans did just that, holding the Boilermakers to just 1-for-9 shooting from outside.

Even though Edey dominated down low, Michigan State did enough work elsewhere on defense to make up for it. It also kept the Spartans in the race for the Big Ten title — and made Purdue’s road to a title that much tougher.

The Boilermakers entered Saturday tied for first place in the standings with Wisconsin, and if they won their last three games, they’d win the conference. But after their loss to Michigan State, things get a little murkier. Wisconsin takes on Rutgers Saturday night, and the Scarlet Knights beat the Badgers two weeks ago. There’s a chance the Big Ten standings get shaken up once again.