Advertisement

1-8 team shocks Mich. State

 
Published Dec. 21, 2014

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Early in overtime, after a call went against his team, Texas Southern coach Mike Davis wandered to the end of the bench, sat down and begin joking with some Michigan State fans a few feet away.

One of the most shocking victories in school history was at stake, and Davis and his players were going to enjoy themselves.

"It's really important for them to see me loose and having fun," said Davis, no stranger to playing Big Ten competition, having coached at Indiana (2000-06). "I can get upset sometimes, and it kind of makes them nervous, and so I try to make sure that no matter what happens, I move to the next play."

Chris Thomas scored 22, and Texas Southern became the latest unheralded team to surprise a Big Ten school, beating No. 25 Michigan State 71-64 in overtime Saturday. The Tigers were coming off a 40-point loss to Gonzaga, but they remained poised throughout against the Spartans. Texas Southern never trailed in the extra session.

The Tigers (2-8) had not beaten a ranked team since a win over No. 16 Minnesota on Dec. 21, 1994.

"We did know it was possible as long as we stayed as a team," Thomas said. "We've played good teams before. We knew we were getting better."

Michigan State fans were giddy after Michigan was upset by the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Dec. 6, but now it's the Spartans (8-4) who must deal with the aftermath of an almost unthinkable defeat. It's another tough result for the Big Ten this December. Nebraska lost at home to Incarnate Word less than two weeks ago.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said he didn't have his team prepared for Texas Southern.

"As you get older, you start worrying about people liking you, and I did not work my team. I felt sorry for them. I did not work them like I normally do," Izzo said. "We didn't practice as hard — too worried about my little guys getting tired. … That was a coaching loss, and I take full responsibility for it, and I plan on rectifying it starting at 8:30 (this) morning."

NO. 1 KENTUCKY 83, UCLA 42: Devin Booker had 19 points, and the Wildcats (12-0) scored the game's first 24 in Chicago and handed the Bruins one of their most lopsided losses.

The 24-0 run at the start was eight shy of the record between Division I teams, set by Connecticut against New Hampshire on Dec. 12, 1990. The 41-point margin was seven shy of UCLA's record.

The Wildcats led 41-7 at the intermission, UCLA's fewest points ever in a half and the fewest by a Kentucky opponent since December 1943.

NO. 4 LOUISVILLE 76, W. KY. 67: Terry Rozier took charge after the first-half ejection of Montrezl Harrell to score a career-high 32, including 26 in the second half, to lead the visiting Cardinals (10-0).

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

NO. 7 VILLANOVA 82, SYRACUSE 77, OT: JayVaughn Pinkston had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Darrun Hilliard scored 23 for the host Wildcats (11-0), who rallied from a 15-point hole to stun their former Big East rival.

NO. 9 TEXAS 78, LONG BEACH ST. 68: Reserve guard Javan Felix scored a season-best 17 and made 6 of 9 shots for the host Longhorns (10-1).

NO. 10 KANSAS 96, LAFAYETTE 69: Freshman Kelly Oubre Jr. had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Frank Mason added 14 points and nine assists for the host Jayhawks (9-1).

NO. 24 UNC 82, NO. 12 OHIO ST. 74: Brice Johnson had 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting, and the Tar Heels (8-3) used their stout defense to hold off the Buckeyes (9-2) in Chicago, where North Carolina alumnus Michael Jordan starred for the Bulls.

NO. 13 IOWA ST. 83, DRAKE 54: Naz Long scored 13, Monte Morris had 12 and the host Cyclones (9-1) won their sixth straight game.

NO. 16 WASH. 69, NO. 15 OKLA. 67: Mike Anderson and Robert Upshaw scored 11 each for the Huskies (10-0), who held on after nearly blowing a 20-point lead to stop a three-game winning streak by the Sooners (7-3) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

NO. 21 N. DAME 94, PURDUE 63: Pat Connaughton had 19 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Irish (11-1) in the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis.

INDIANA 82, NO. 23 BUTLER 73: Troy Williams matched his career high with 22 points and Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell had 20 for the visiting Hoosiers (9-2), who gave coach Tom Crean his 300th victory and handed the Bulldogs (8-3) their second straight loss to a power conference foe.

CINCINNATI: Coach Mick Cronin has an aneurysm and will be sidelined indefinitely while doctors decide how to treat it.