Your Five Things For January 12th: Spartans Top Wildcats In Overtime

1. MSU Taken to Overtime by Northwestern

Yesterday afternoon, the Spartans hosted the Northwestern Wildcats at the Breslin Center.  The Spartans and Wildcats went back and forth and pushed each other to overtime where Michigan State caught fire and topped Northwestern 84-77.  The Spartans was lead by Travis Trice who tied a game high with 18 points and also had 10 assists giving him a double-double.  All 5 Michigan State starters were in double figures and as a team, they shot 50% but was 3/11 behind the arc.  For Northwestern, Bryant McIntosh has 18 points and Tre Demps had 17 points.  The Spartans next game will be this Saturday at #11 Maryland Terrapins.  Tip is scheduled for 4:00 pm.

2. Michigan Squeezes Past Minnesota

After trailing by 2 at halftime, the Michigan Wolverines basketball team topped Minnesota in Ann Arbor on Saturday 62-57.  Michigan was led by Caris LeVert and Derrick Walton Jr. as they both had 15 points.  But, the team did not shoot well, shooting 40.4% for the game and only had 2 points from the bench.  Minnesota did not shoot well either, shooting 38.8% but Andre Hollins had 18 points leading not only his team but everyone in the game.  Minnesota now falls to 0-4 in the Big Ten while Michigan improves to 3-1 in the Big Ten.  Michigan's next game will be Tuesday at Columbus to take on Ohio State.

3. Pistons Start New Streak

After losing to the hot Atlanta Hawks, the Detroit Pistons have started a new streak as they topped the Brooklyn Nets 98-93 on Saturday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills.  Brandon Jennings had a double-double scoring a game high 20 points and getting 11 assists.  Greg Monroe also had a double-double scoring 16 points and grabbing 17 points.  Joe Johnson lead the way for Brooklyn scoring 17 points.  Neither team shot well with the Pistons shooting 42.5% and the Nets shot 42%.  The Pistons next game will be in Toronto with tip slated for 7:30 as they take on the Raptors.

4. Detroit Red Wings Fall In Washington

As part of a 6 game road streak and on the road for 8 of the last 9, the Red Wings fell to Washington in Washington on Saturday night 3-1.  The Red Wings fell behind after being down 3-0 midway through the 2nd period and could not fight back only scoring 1 goal.  Jimmy Howard played only a few minutes after being taken out of the game for an injury.  Petr Mrazek was placed in the game for the injured Howard.  The Red Wings next game will be tomorrow vs Buffalo.

5. Conference Championship Games Are Set

The conference championship games are set thanks to 3 close divisional matchups.  In the AFC, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots came back vs the Baltimore Ravens winning 35-31.  The Patriots will host the Indianapolis Colts as they topped the the Denver Broncos 24-13.  In the NFC, Seattle topped the Carolina Panthers 31-17 with the Seahawks scoring 17 points in the 4th quarter.  The games will be Sunday afternoon and Sunday night with the NFC game being on in the afternoon.