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Michigan State leads Wisconsin, 33-31, at halftime; Hauser with 10 points

On3 imageby:Jim Comparoni•01/10/23•

JimComparoni

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A 3-pointer by Tyson Walker with :30 seconds left in the first half gave Michigan State a 33-31 lead over No. 18 Wisconsin at intermission during Tuesday’s Big Ten game which tipped off in Madison, Wis., at 7 p.m.

Joey Hauser led Michigan State in scoring at halftime with 10 points on 2-of-4 shooting. His spinning, driving 2-footer off a pump-fake gave Michigan State a 28-24 lead.

Walker had 9 point at the break, including 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range.

Jaden Akins scored 8 for Michigan State in the first half, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range. 

Freshman guard Conno Essegian came off the bench for 10 points for Wisconsin (11-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten) in the first half. 

“Our scouting report is you can’t relax on him and he has done a good job,” Michigan State assistant coach Thomas Kelley said at halftime. “It’s about being disciplined. Be the most disciplined on both ends of the court. We got a little undisciplined and gambled and that’s how they made their run.”

Both teams were hot from long range in the first half. Wisconsin was 4-of-10 from deep and Michigan State was 5-of-8 from 3-point range. 

The crafty, methodical Badgers shot 46.4 percent in the first half. Michigan State shot 47.8 percent in the first half. 

Michigan State had six turnovers in the first half, compared to four from Wisconsin. Three of MSU’s turnovers came directly out of time out situations, which are usually an area of strength for Tom Izzo teams. 

Michigan State held a 15-11 edge on the glass in the first half. 

Wisconsin is playing without leading scorer, Tyler Wahl, a 6-foot-9 power forward. He is out for a second consecutive game with an ankle injury. Wahl is averaging 13.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. 

HOW IT WENT DOWN

The Badgers took their first lead of the night at 22-21 with 7:19 left on an and-one by point guard Chucky Hepburn, off a stop-and-go dribble versus A.J. Hoggard.

Michigan State answered with a 5-0 run, punctuated by a 3-pointer from Walker from Hoggard. 

But Wisconsin regained the lead when back-up post player Markus Ilver backed Joey Hauser down into the paint and scored over him, making it 29-28 with 3:14 left in the half. 

Wisconsin took its biggest lead of the half when Wofford transfer Max Klesmit hit a short jumper in the lane over Tre Holloman, making it 31-28 with 2:40 left. 

With 1:05 left in the half, Michigan State center Mady Sissoko was hit by an elbow from Wisconsin center Steve Crowl while Crowl posted up. Officials checked the replay and ruled the contact inadvertent, without a foul. Sissoko went to the locker room with a contusion, and possibly a cut, over his right eye and missed the rest of the half.

For the first time this year, third-string center Carson Cooper is seeing more playing time than second-string center Jaxon Kohler. Cooper’s foot quickness appears to be a more favorable matchup against the Badgers’ stretch big men. Cooper played six minutes in the first half and was the choice when Sissoko went down. Kohler played four minutes. 

Michigan State is 9-1 when leading at the half.

Michigan State has won six straight games. Wisconsin has won six of its last seven. 

The winner of this game will join Purdue atop the Big Ten standings at 4-1.

EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 21: Joey Hauser #10 of the Michigan State Spartans during players introduction before a game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Breslin Center on December 21, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

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