Michigan State appeared to have pulled off a second consecutive upset of #6 ranked Wisconsin when senior guard Kammron Taylor nailed a three-pointer with just four seconds left as the Badgers survived a game Michigan State squad 52-50 in Madison.
MSU star Drew Neitzel -who shook off the effects of the flu - had given the Spartans the lead late in the ballgame with a jumper from the corner to give the Spartans a one point lead.
"I wasn't 100%, but I felt tons better than I did on Tuesday," Neitzel said.
State had a chance to salt the game away after a Wisconsin miss, but point guard Travis Walton's jumper missed and Wisconsin grabbed the rebound setting up Taylor's heroics. Neitzel's last second running attempt from near half-court fell short.
The Spartans were in foul trouble most of the second half and coach Tom Izzo used all his resources to keep MSU in the contest and MSU was hurt badly when freshman Raymar Morgan fouled out with just under three minutes left in the ballgame.
"This team today, between our illness and our foul troubles, played under some adverse conditions," said State coach Tom Izzo. "On one of the greater home floors in our league, we hung in there and had a shot to win it."
Despite the last second heroics, Neitzel believes MSU will make some noise in both the Big Ten and the NCAA Tournament.
"We're ready for tournament time," Neitzel said following the ballgame. "This is a tough bunch of guys. Twice this year, at Ohio State and at Wisconsin - two of the best teams in the country, - we had the ball with time running out with a shot with a chance to win. I'm proud of the guys."
MSU next gets ready for the Big Ten tournament to take place beginning Thursday at the United Center in Chicago, IL.