Texas @ Michigan State Live Blog

Recap: Texas, specifically A.J. Abrams, made it interesting in the end, but Michigan State's lead was too much to overcome for the Longhorns. This is Texas' first defeat of the season, and both teams are now 11-1 and figure to be in the conversation come March. Abrams led the way for Texas with 24 points, while Augustin chipped in 22. Michigan State had balanced scoring, as Morgan and Lucas both had 18, while Neitzel and Souton each had 12. Texas actually outrebounded MSU 36-32, a rarity for a Tom Izzo team. Damion James had 16 of the 36 Texas rebounds. Overall it was a very well played game between two quality teams. Both should remain in the top ten.

0.0 2nd: 78-72 Michigan State, final.

1.4 2nd: With MSU up 6, this one is finally over. That was a spirited comeback by Texas but in the end it was too much to overcome.

10.3 2nd: Neitzel makes one of two, but this time Abrams finally misses on the other end.

10.3 2nd: Now Neitzel misses the first free throw! What is going on?

10.3 2nd: Augustin takes it to the rack and has his shot blocked by Morgan. It might have been a goaltend, but what a game saving play by Morgan.

22.9 2nd: Texas fouls before the ball is inbounded and Lucas, a 76% FT shooter, misses BOTH!

22.9 2nd: WOW this is amazing as Abrams buries yet another three! The lead is down to 5.

28.1 2nd: Abrams has just become the 28th player in Texas history to score 1,000 career points. Congratulations.

29.4 2nd: WOW Abrams has caught fire here in the last few minutes. That was a BOMB.

36.2 2nd: Walton got away with a walk on the inbounds pass but he got fouled. He makes two to put MSU back up by 10.

38.1 2nd: Abrams throws in a long NBA bomb and the lead is down to 8. Don't go away yet? Nahh.

46.0 2nd: Walton missed the front end of a one and one for MSU but Augustin couldn't convert the 3 for Texas. If that went down we could have had an interesting finish.

59.3 2nd: Abrams finally gets one to go. It's still a 3 possession game with a minute to go.

1:26 2nd: Augustin makes a looooong 3 to pull Texas within 10. That might be too little too late.

1:48 2nd: Lucas runs the shot clock all the way down and makes a nice jump shot. That's a dagger for Texas as they are now down 13 points.

2:36 2nd: Michigan State comes right back as Naymick slams one home. Sparty up 11 with 2 minutes to play.

2:54 2nd: Augustin forces a turnover and makes the layup on the other end, it's a 3 possession game.

3:40 2nd: Michigan State takes a shot clock violation as we head to the final media timeout. 66-54 MSU.

4:19 2nd: Atchley misses a wide open 3 and that might do it.

4:53 2nd: With 5 minutes left and being down by 12, Texas needs to tighten the screws on defense and take better shots if they want to get back in the game.

5:37 2nd: Abrams is not getting his feet set, he fires up another bad three pointer and is 2-10 on this night.

6:17 2nd: Michigan State is still up 10 even after Abrams hits only his 2nd three of the night.

9:07 2nd: Augustin with two rare misses from the line. Morgan with a nice layup on the other end and the lead is up to double figures.

11:30 2nd: Upset alert: Utah wins by 2 at California.

11:30 2nd: Alexis Wangmene comes off the bench and gets called for a walk, but he was in the lane for a good 5 seconds.

12:08 2nd: Michigan State is up to 5 team fouls in the second half, that may play a role down the stretch.

12:36 2nd: Abrams is really struggling with his shot tonight and that is hurting Texas. When he is on, they are very tough to beat.

13:52 2nd: Augustin cuts the lead to 5 with two free throws of his own.

14:27 2nd: Damion James gets to the line and calmly hits both shots. Texas is down 7.

15:47 2nd: Mississippi beat Clemson by 3 in the San Juan Shootout, I guess they are for real now. Andy Kennedy has done a terrific job with a team who lost basically everybody from last season.

15:47 2nd: Lucas will go to the line after the TV timeout, Michigan State has pushed the lead back up to 8 points.

16:35 2nd: Both teams are heating up offensively as Atchley makes a turnaround hook shot, but Morgan answers on the other end for Sparty.

17:08 2nd: Mason lost the ball on the offensive end but showed great hustle to get back and block Neitzel's attempted layup.

17:47 2nd: A nice save results in a layup for Raymar Morgan, only his 5th and 6th points of this game.

18:25 2nd: Souton makes a nice soft jumper in the lane, good touch for the big man.

19:06 2nd: Damion James takes it to the rim and gets fouled after Augustin hit a big 3 pointer on the previous possession. James makes one of two free throws and Texas trims the lead to four.

Halftime: Michigan State played very well for the last 10 minutes of the half, but I think Texas will get back into the game. Hopefully we see something like the Duke/Pitt game the other night.

0.0 1st: Michigan State closes the first half on a 28-13 run to take control of this game at the half. Lucas has 11 points off the bench for MSU and they lead it 41-33.

22.0 1st: A little lingerie on the deck. I love Bill Raftery.

47.0 1st: Souton makes a nice low post move and all of a sudden Michigan State leads by 10.

1:25 1st: Walton goes coast to coast as nobody for Texas rotates over to help.

2:24 1st: Damion James has quietly had a nice half, he knocks down a 3 for his 8th, 9th, and 10th points.

2:58 1st: Morgan will go to the line after the media timeout. Michigan State leads 33-28.

3:47 1st: The lead swells to 7 as Souton completes the lay in.

4:51: 1st: Rick Barnes needs a TO as Sparty adds to the run on a transition reverse layup by Lucas.

5:15 1st: Neitzel buries a 3 from the corner and Michigan State, on a 12-2, has grabbed a 3 point lead.

5:45 1st: Michigan State is coming to life. A nice backdoor alley-oop and the Spartans have tied it at 26. Augustin has just picked up his second foul.

6:52 1st: Lucas with the quick answer on the other end, he's had a great half so far. Michigan State cuts it back to four.

7:04 1st: Augustin is soooo good.

7:21 1st: Michigan State is really being harassed in the paint by the stout Texas defense.

8:27 1st: Neitzel, a great free throw shooter, makes all three free throws.

8:27 1st: Stupid foul by J.B. Lewis as he clips Neitzel while shooting a 3.

8:52 1st: Abrams swishes a 3, he's gotta be one of the better 3 point shooters in the country.

9:26 1st: Texas has quietly built a seven point lead as Damion James hits a jumper. Michigan State better get some points on the board or else this game could get out of hand.

10:01 1st: Texas is playing teriffic halfcourt defense. Augustin takes it coast to coast for the finish as Raftery is stunned.

11:02 1st: Augustin jacks up a long NBA 3, not a good shot for the sophomore.

11:27 1st: Michigan State finally gets something inside as Suton backs in and makes a layup.

12:22 1st: A.J. Abrams buries his first 3 of the night, but Lucas hit yet another shot (a 3) as he answers.

13:10 1st: Lucas knocks down a long two pointer just as the shot clock expires. First "dagger" out of Raftery tonight.

13:57 1st: Neitzel tries it again coming off a curl but misses this time. Damion James knocks down a jumper and Texas grabs a 7-6 lead.

14:33 1st: Neitzel knocks down his first 3 pointer of the night off a nice ball screen.

15:05 1st: 5 minutes in, both teams have only 8 points combined.

15:35 1st: Gray misses an easy dunk on a lob as he is rejected by the rim.

15:57 1st: Mike Wood makes a questionable hand check foul call, much to the chagrin of McDonough and Raftery, not to mention Tom Izzo as well.

16:29 1st: The game is becoming a bit sloppy as Texas turns the ball over after Lucas missed an easy layup for Michigan State on the other end.

17:34 1st: Only two and half minutes into the game, Travis Walton picks up his second personal foul.

17:35 1st: Michigan State's game plan seems to be taking the ball to the hole and exploiting Texas in the paint.

18:19 1st: Rick Barnes might be the most underrated coach in the nation. He's had a nice career and it seems he produces a winner every season at Texas.

18:42 1st: Augustin hits the first 3 pointer of the game and Texas is out to a quick 5-0 lead on the Spartans.

19:04 1st: Morgan quickly gets up the floor and draws a foul to answer for MSU. Morgan misses both free throws.

19:07 1st: Atchley gets Texas on the board first as he hits two free throws.

Pregame: Travis Walton, Drew Neitzel, Raymar Morgan, Marquise Gray, and Goran Souton will start for MSU. Augustin, A.J. Abrams, Connor Atchley, Damion James, and Justin Mason get the start for Texas.

Pregame: #4 Texas takes to the road to face #9 Michigan State at The Palace of Auburn Hills this evening. Texas is lead by sophomore D.J. Augustin (19.9 ppg, 6.4 apg). Augustin, arguably the best poing guard in the nation, will be matched up against Michigan State's Drew Neitzel, the Big Ten preseason player of the year. Your announcers for tonight's game are Sean McDonough and Bill Raftery.