Loyola Chicago and No. 5 Michigan State will renew their basketball rivalry on Friday night in East Lansing, Michigan. The two teams will meet for the first time in 14 years, with the Ramblers looking to pull off an upset against the highly ranked Spartans.
Loyola Chicago and No. 5 Michigan State will meet on Friday night in a highly anticipated non-conference basketball matchup. The game will take place at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan, and will be televised on ESPN2.
Ramblers and Spartans Set for Historic Clash in East Lansing
The Ramblers and Spartans have a long history, dating back to their first meeting in 1955. Michigan State holds a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series, but Loyola Chicago won the last meeting, a 68-62 victory in 2010.
This year, Loyola Chicago enters the game with a 7-3 record, while Michigan State is 8-2. The Ramblers are led by senior guard Braden Norris, who is averaging 18.1 points per game. The Spartans, meanwhile, are led by junior guard AJ Hoggard, who is averaging 14.6 points per game.
The game is sure to be a close and competitive one. Loyola Chicago is a well-coached team that is playing with a lot of confidence. Michigan State, however, is a more talented team and will be playing at home.
The Ramblers will need to play their best game of the season if they want to pull off the upset. They will need to hit their shots, play tough defense, and avoid turnovers. If they can do that, they have a chance to beat the No. 5 team in the country.
Michigan State, meanwhile, will be looking to continue their winning ways. The Spartans have won their last two games and will be looking to extend their winning streak to three. They will need to play with the same intensity and focus that they showed in their wins over Seton Hall and Minnesota.
The game is sure to be a great one, and it will be interesting to see how these two teams match up. Loyola Chicago is a rising program, while Michigan State is a perennial powerhouse. Anything can happen when these two teams meet, and it should be a memorable game.
Here is a closer look at each team:
* **Loyola Chicago:** The Ramblers are coming off a 79-62 win over Chicago State on Tuesday night. Norris led the way with 22 points, while graduate student center Philip Alston added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Loyola Chicago is a well-balanced team that has four players averaging in double figures. The Ramblers are also a very good defensive team, holding opponents to an average of 62.9 points per game.
* **Michigan State:** The Spartans are coming off a 76-59 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night. Hoggard led the way with 19 points, while graduate student forward Malik Hall added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Michigan State is a talented team that has a lot of depth. The Spartans are also a very good rebounding team, averaging 39.3 rebounds per game.
The game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday night.
