Another Tough Loss for Michigan State

Oklahoma gave Michigan State another reason to regret its tough schedule.

The 14th-ranked Sooners drew two charges in the final seconds to beat the fifth-ranked Spartans, 80-77, in overtime Saturday.

Oklahoma (5-0) gave Michigan State (3-3) its third loss in 12 days, all against ranked teams, and dropped the Spartans to their worst start since 1995-96, Tom Izzo’s first season as head coach.

“If we played a cupcake, our players would’ve gotten a false sense of where we are,” Izzo said.

“I’m going to play these kind of games next year and the years after -- until they fire me. The only thing I did wrong was the timing of our games.”

De’Angelo Alexander set his feet just in time to have Maurice Ager called for a charge with 2.8 seconds left. Ager’s shot, which would have given the Spartans the lead, was waved off. Johnnie Gilbert drew a charge against Chris Hill with 15 seconds left.

Izzo stomped his feet and screamed at the officials after both calls, but Michigan State got the benefit of the doubt enough to enjoy a big disparity at the free-throw line. The Spartans made 42 of 48 free-throw attempts. The Sooners made 32 of 37.

Paul Davis and Alan Anderson, who Izzo lashed out at after losing to No. 6 Duke, each scored 17 points. Kelvin Torbert, who fouled out, had 13 and Hill added 12.

Duke beat the Spartans, 72-50, Wednesday night, handing them their worst loss at home since 1997. They lost, 81-74, at top-ranked Kansas on Nov. 25.

Michigan State will play No. 9 Kentucky next week at Ford Field before an expected crowd of 75,000 and go on the road against No. 16 Syracuse and UCLA before starting its Big Ten schedule.

The Spartans, who trailed, 50-35, with 13 minutes left in regulation, got back into the game with a 14-2 run. With 6.9 seconds left, Davis forced overtime with a three-point play, tying the score at 65-65.