Michigan St. walk-on Izzo nets first career points

Associated Press

Jan 14, 2024, 03:03 PM ET

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Malik Hall scored 15 points and Tyson Walker had 13 as Michigan State ended its two-game losing streak by beating Rutgers 73-55 on Sunday.

But no basket drew the roar of the home crowd more than Michigan State’s last one of the game.

With the game in hand and 54.3 seconds remaining, fifth-year walk-on senior Steven Izzo, the son of Spartans coach Tom Izzo, checked in. The 5-foot-8, 150-pound guard had never scored in 43 previous games played.

With 36 seconds left, Izzo took a pass on the right wing from Tre Holloman, dribbled to his left, crossed over between his legs and drove 6-4 Scarlet Knights guard Austin Williams right to the baseline. Izzo’s high-arching floater bounced on the rim twice and fell through while drawing a foul. After being mobbed by his teammates on the baseline, Izzo converted the free throw for the Spartans’ final points.

“I love the fact that my players were probably more excited than I was,” Tom Izzo said after the game.

Aundre Hyatt scored 14 points and Mawot Mag added 12 for Rutgers.

Following a 28-22 Michigan State halftime lead, the Scarlet Knights used the first five minutes of the second half to outscore the Spartans 12-4 and take a 34-32 lead on Williams’ layup with 15:20 remaining.

Michigan State (10-7, 2-4 Big Ten) countered 26 seconds later when Jaden Akins made a 3-pointer for a one-point lead. Mag gave Rutgers the lead with a lay-in with 14:13 left, but the advantage was short-lived as Hall threw down a dunk and followed with a three-point play to kick-start a 19-0 Michigan State outburst in a 4½-minute span.

The Spartans led 54-36 until Hyatt made two foul shots to end the Scarlet Knights’ five-minute scoring drought.

Rutgers (9-7, 1-4) hosts Nebraska on Wednesday. Michigan State hosts Minnesota on Thursday.