MSU has rarely been tested late, so surviving a hostile road environment on an off night matters

Michigan State did not look like a top-10 team for much of Tuesday night in Piscataway — and that may end up being the most encouraging part of the Spartans’ 88–79 overtime win over Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights controlled the tempo, capitalized on Michigan State’s mistakes, and led for nearly the entire game. Yet when the night demanded composure, Tom Izzo’s team found a way to survive and win on the road in the Big Ten.