Michigan State basketball squeaked by PSU because of Frankie Fidler. Now comes real test

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1. Frankie Fidler with a big game just when MSU needed it

EAST LANSING – Every time the Spartans needed a bucket in the second half Wednesday, Frankie Fidler seemed to give it to them. Fidler, who rediscovered his mojo Sunday at Northwestern, was the difference in fending off Penn State, 90-85, at home on Wednesday night.

Fidler, who hadn’t scored in double figures in a Big Ten game yet, had 14 of his 18 points in the second half, often countering a Penn State bucket as the Nittany Lions nipped at MSU’s heels. Six of his second-half points came on his own offensive rebounds and one on a 3-pointer that gave the Spartans a 58-51 lead. That was one of his four baskets that came after Penn State had cut the deficit to six or less on the other end. Fidler, as much as anyone, never let the game get to within a position, which, given the performances and shot-making of Penn State’s Ace Baldwin Jr., D’Marco Dunn and Zach Hicks, kept this game from really coming down to the wire.

Fidler’s final tally: A season-best 18 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists.

MSU brought him in with hopes that he could do this once in a while. He delivered his first headlining performance on a night when MSU probably doesn’t win without it.

A loss to Penn State at home is the sort of defeat that can burn you in a Big Ten title chase and ding your resume when you’re hunting a favorable seed in March. As much as anything, it would’ve put a dent in all the positive vibes surrounding this MSU team.

It would be a regrettable loss, even if the Nittany Lions aren’t a bad team. That was pretty clear Wednesday, though the Spartans weren’t as sharp as they’ve been on other nights.

GAME STORY: Michigan State basketball stays perfect in Big Ten with dicey 90-85 win vs Penn State

That’s 10 straight wins by MSU — for the first time in six seasons — heading into a showdown with Illinois on Sunday. Without Fidler, who’d become MSU’s 10th man before playing 20 minutes Wednesday,…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-basketball-squeaked-psu-110942805.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2025-01-16 11:09:00

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