EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State is 6-0 in the Big Ten, its best start to conference play in coach Tom Izzo’s 15 seasons.
But Izzo is thoroughly unimpressed, especially after Wednesday night’s lackluster 70-63 victory over Iowa. The sixth-ranked Spartans lacked intensity and let the overmatched Hawkeyes cut a 19-point lead to three late in the game.
“I’m used to our great teams playing with incredible emotion,” Izzo said. “This team is not quite like that right now. … I’m not happy with tonight’s performance. I’m not happy with where we are.”
Raymar Morgan scored 16 points to pace Michigan State (16-3, 6-0), which led by 19 midway through the second half before Iowa got back into it. Matt Gatens hit a three-pointer with 2:05 left to cut the deficit to 64-61, but the Hawkeyes (7-12, 1-5) couldn’t get closer.
The last Spartans team to open 7-0 in league play was the 1977-78 squad led by Magic Johnson.
Durrell Summers had 12 points for Michigan State and Kalin Lucas added 11. The Spartans have won seven straight since losing to Texas on Dec. 22.
Gatens scored 17 points for Iowa. Aaron Fuller had 13 points and nine rebounds.
Every other team in the Big Ten already has at least two losses this season. But the quest for the conference title is about to get tougher for Michigan State. Six of the Spartans’ next eight games are on the road, starting with trips to Minnesota and Michigan.
“I’m starting to get concerned,” said Michigan State’s Draymond Green, who had 11 rebounds and nine points. “We play six of our next eight on the road. … If we play like that, we’re going to lose.”
Iowa had beaten Tennessee State and Penn State since losing to Michigan State 71-53 in Iowa City on Jan. 9. But the young Hawkeyes, with only two upperclassmen on their active roster, could not come back.
Iowa coach Todd Lickliter called it a “letup” by Michigan State.
“They were in control,” Lickliter said. “To our guys’ credit, they continued to fight. … These are opportunities. It’s well documented that we’re young and we’re trying to build something.”
No. 3 KANSAS 81, No. 25 BAYLOR 75: Sherron Collins had 28 points and hit his fifth three-pointer with just over a minute left as the host Jayhawks (17-1, 3-0 Big 12) survived the upset bid by the Bears (14-3, 2-2).
No. 4 VILLANOVA 94, RUTGERS 68: In Piscataway, N.J., Dominic Cheek scored 17 points, Corey Stokes added 16 and the Wildcats (17-1, 6-0 Big East) rolled to their eighth straight win.
N.C. STATE 88, No. 7 DUKE 74: Tracy Smith scored 23 points, Dennis Horner added 20 as the host Wolfpack (13-6, 2-3 ACC) upended the Blue Devils (15-3, 3-2).
No. 12 GEORGETOWN 74, No. 9 PITTSBURGH 66: Chris Wright scored 27 points and the Hoyas held the host Panthers scoreless for four minutes while taking control with a late 9-0 run.
Gilbert Brown scored a career-high 20 points for Pittsburgh (15-3, 5-1 Big East), but the Hoyas (14-3, 5-2) ended Pittsburgh’s 31-game home winning streak.
No. 11 WEST VIRGINIA 68, MARSHALL 60: Da’Sean Butler scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half to propel the Mountaineers (14-3) in Charleston, W.Va.
No. 14 BYU 81, WYOMING 66: Tyler Haws scored a career-high 24 points and the host Cougars (19-1, 4-0 Mountain West) won their 14th in a row and pulled within one win of the best start in school history.
No. 16 TEMPLE 77, XAVIER 72: Ryan Brooks scored 22 points, Lavoy Allen had 16 and the host Owls prevailed in a matchup of Atlantic 10 unbeatens. The Owls (16-3, 4-0) won their fifth consecutive game.
No. 18 WISCONSIN 54, MICHIGAN 48: Trevon Hughes and Rob Wilson led a late scoring surge to power the host Badgers (15-4, 5-2 Big Ten). DeShawn Sims had 23 points for the Wolverines (10-8, 3-3).
No. 22 MISSISSIPPI 66, SOUTH CAROLINA 57: Chris Warren had 15 points to pace the host Rebels (14-4, 2-2 SEC).
WAKE FOREST 82, No. 24 NORTH CAROLINA 69: Freshman C.J. Harris scored a career-high 20 points and the Demon Deacons (13-4, 3-2 ACC) sent the host Tar Heels (12-7, 1-3) to their first three-game losing streak under coach Roy Williams.
Women
No. 11 XAVIER 92, SAINT LOUIS 50: Freshman guard Katie Rutan scored a season-high 25 points in her first career start to pace the host Musketeers (13-3, 3-0 Atlantic 10).
No. 20 TEXAS 77, No. 12 OKLAHOMA ST. 63: Erika Arriaran scored 28 points as the host Longhorns (13-5, 2-2 Big 12) snapped the Cowgirls’ 11-game winning streak.
No. 13 OKLAHOMA 62, MISSOURI 61: Amanda Thompson scored off a rebound with 9.6 seconds left to secure the win for the visiting Sooners (13-4, 3-1 Big 12).
No. 16 WEST VIRGINIA 74, MARSHALL 42: Vanessa House scored 16 points as the host Mountaineers (18-1) won their 16th straight.
