COLUMBUS – Thanks to Ohio State, No. 1 Michigan State joined three other top-5 teams to lose in the last few days, suffering an 80-64 upset at Value City Arena Sunday.
Keita Bates-Diop scored a career-high 32 points as the Buckeyes handed the Spartans their first loss since Nov. 14 against Duke. Bates-Diop shot 12-for-21 from the field to break his previous career best of 27 points.
C.J. Jackson dropped in 14 points and Jae’Sean Tate had 13 as Ohio State (13-4, 4-0 Big Ten) beat the best team is ir likely to face this season.
The Spartans shot just 39 percent after entering the game with the nation’s best percentage at 53.3. Joshua Langford and Miles Bridges each had 17 points to lead Michigan State.
The Buckeyes’ upset win capped a four-day stretch during which the only top-5 team to avoid a loss was Villanova, opening the possibility that the Wildcats could take over the No. 1 spot in the next Associated Press poll.