Let’s dissect the final play of Michigan State basketball’s 77-74 loss to Wisconsin in Saturday’s Big Ten tournament semifinals.
After two missed free throws by the Badgers, the Spartans found life with 6 seconds left off the rebound. Jeremy Fears Jr. raced the ball up the court, but Wisconsin’s John Tonje (32 points) reached in as Fears gathered to shoot with a few seconds left. The ball came free just inside halfcourt and the buzzer sounded.
The steal clinched victory, but Fears and the Spartans reacted in disbelief, hoping for a 3-point foul call as one would expect.
It turns out the dangerous reach-in was the correct no-call; Tonje touched all-ball.
You can watch the play below and decide for yourself:
The 5-seed Badgers (26-8) will play Sunday for the conference tournament championship against either Maryland or Michigan.
The defeat snapped an eight-game win streak for top-seeded MSU (27-6), which have seen a 1-seed chance in March Madness end with the loss. The Selection Sunday show will begin to reveal the 2025 NCAA men’s tournament bracket at 6 p.m.
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