Michigan State University
Louisville
No. 9 Spartans Fall Short in Overtime at Louisville, 82-78
11/27/2018 10:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) No. 9 Michigan State came up just short Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, falling 82-78 to Louisville in overtime at the KFC Yum! Center.
Ryan McMahon made two free throws with 7.1 seconds remaining in overtime before Jordan Nwora made another from the line with 3.1 seconds left to seal it as the Cardinals held on for the win. The Spartans played the final six minutes of regulation and the overtime period without junior guard Cassius Winston, who fouled out with 13 points and six assists.
The short-handed Spartans were also without senior guard Matt McQuaid, who did not travel for the game because of a thigh bruise. Kyle Ahrens had a career-high 15 points starting in place of McQuaid.
Louisville needed just about every point to hold off MSU (5-2), who had a chance to get close with Joshua Langford (15 points) at the line. But he missed the first of two free throws with 4.2 seconds left and failed to hit the rim on an intentional miss.
McMahon scored all seven of his points in the extra session from the line to finish with a career-high 24. Nwora's clinching free throw followed his 3-pointer with 2:05 left that gave the Cardinals (4-2) the lead for good in an exciting matchup.
Redshirt senior Kenny Goins grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds, and sophomore Xavier Tillman recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
