ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In its first game since a campus shooting claimed the lives of three students earlier this week, Michigan State fell just shy of a win against its rival Saturday night in an effort that coach Tom Izzo said was aimed at helping students and alumni briefly escape the reality of a tragic week for the school.
"We played the game to try to make many people back in East Lansing and around the world that are Michigan State alums escape for two hours," Izzo said after Michigan's 84-72 win. "I thought for the most part we did our part.