NEW YORK -- From the time the Big Ten schedule was released last August, fans in the state of Michigan were disappointed the flagship universities were only meeting once on the basketball court. Saturday's rematch -- 500 miles from home -- ended with the Wolverines owning a sweep over the Spartans and a spot in the Big Ten Tournament championship.
In front of a sell-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, Michigan beat Michigan State 75-64. The Wolverines, the No. 5 seed in New York, had won in East Lansing on Jan. 13. That was Michigan State's last loss.