Rehash&Analysis: Michigan State must find answers to late-game execution problems after loss at UCLA

And just like that, Michigan State’s lead in the Big Ten standings has vanished. But first place hopes and scoreboard watching should be the least of Michigan State’s concerns after another disturbing loss on the West Coast, as the Spartans fell, 63-61 to UCLA, Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. Michigan State showed some heart and guts, but not enough smarts at crucial moments in seeing a respectable comeback fall short. The Spartans once again looked a bit rudderless in crunch-time situations, perhaps due in part to having rarely been tested by tight, late-game predicaments during the 13-game win streak that Michigan State brought to the West Coast. Well, that’s not a problem anymore. Michigan State got a good dose of late-game tests in California, and failed them both, but Tom Izzo isn’t fretting. INSIDE: Comments from Izzo, and analysis from SpartanMag.com on what has gone wrong for the Spartans in the past two losses and whether there is reason for long-term concern.