Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, February 13, 2014
There were two Big Ten men's hoops games on Thursday night, and both had NCAA Tournament implications. No. 9 Michigan State cruised to an 85-70 victory over Northwestern in the early game, while No. 21 Wisconsin held off Minnesota, 78-70, in the second game of the evening.
Catch up on all the scores, stats and select in-game highlights in this post.
[ MORE: Big Ten Hoops: Mid-February Superlatives ]
WISCONSIN 78, MINNESOTA 70 | RECAP | BOX | PLAY-BY-PLAY
(AP) Frank Kaminsky scored 17 points, and No. 21 Wisconsin regained some of its frontcourt swagger in a 78-70 win Thursday night over Minnesota. Fellow forward Nigel Hayes added 15 for the Badgers, who kept Minnesota in the game following late free-throw woes.
Here's something you don't see everyday. @BadgerMBB 7-foot center Frank Kaminsky goes coast-to-coast for the dunk – http://t.co/grKrhPYxzL
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) February 14, 2014
MICHIGAN STATE 85, NORTHWESTERN 70 | RECAP | BOX | PLAY-BY-PLAY
(AP) Adreian Payne had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 9 Michigan State cruised past Northwestern 85-70 on Thursday night to stay tied atop the Big Ten. The Spartans (21-4, 10-2) are even in the standings with rival Michigan – and those two teams meet in Ann Arbor on Feb. 23.
How long is Adreian Payne's wingspan? Watch the @MSU_Basketball senior extend for this thunderous one-handed slam – http://t.co/sbhQXGR7Xm
— Michigan State on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) February 14, 2014
Dare we say Magic-esque? Denzel Valentine with a beautiful no-look pass to Adreian Payne for the slam! Watch this – http://t.co/NU0umMfpD1
— Michigan State on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) February 14, 2014
