No. 22/22 Michigan State Hosts Louisville on Wednesday in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's men's basketball returns home for the first time in 10 days and for just its third home game in the first eight games this season, hosting Louisville on Wednesday, Dec. 1 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (ESPN, 7:16 p.m.).

Through seven games, the Spartans have played games in New York City, Michigan, Indianapolis and the Bahamas. MSU won two of three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis, losing in the championship game to No. 4 Baylor on Friday morning. Winners of five of their last six games, the Spartans moved into the national rankings on Nov. 29, appearing at No. 22 in the Associated Press and ESPN Coaches poll.

The game will air live on ESPN, with Jason Benetti, Jay Bilas and Myron Metcalf calling all of the action. The TCF Bank Spartan Media Network radio call can be heard on one of 38 affiliates and on the web at MSUSpartans.com, with Will Tieman handling the play-by-play and Matt Steigenga serving as the color analyst. The game can also be heard on XM 372 and on channel 372 on the SiriusXM app.

About the Spartans

Michigan State enters the game on Wednesday night with a 5-2 overall record.
The Spartans have won five of their last six games, including a 64-60 win over then-No. 23 UConn in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
MSU's two losses have come to teams ranked in the top-10 of the Associated Press rankings.
The Spartans have been led this year by a stingy defense, which ranks among the leaders in the Big Ten in scoring defense (No. 6, 62.9 ppg), field goal percentage defense (No. 2, 37.6%), 3-point field goal percentage defense (No. 4, 28.6%), rebounding margin (No. 3, +8.3 rpg) and blocked shots (No. 2, 6.57 bpg).
Senior forward Gabe Brown is one of two players scoring in double figures and one of eight players averaging at least 5.0 points per game ... He leads the team with 13.4 ppg, while senior forward Marcus Bingham Jr. is second on the team with 10.9 points per game and leads the team with 7.1 rebounds and 3.4 blocked shots per game.
Junior forward Malik Hall is third with 9.0 ppg, while freshman guard Max Christie is averaging 7.9 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
Junior forward Julius Marble is averaging 7.4 ppg and 4.0 rpg and redshirt senior forward Joey Hauser adds 6.3 ppg and is second on the team with 6.8 rpg.

About Louisville

Louisville enters Wednesday's game with a 5-1 overall record following a 63-55 win over Maryland to win the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship.
The Cardinals have won their last four games following an 80-72 overtime loss at home to Furman.
Louisville is led by senior guard Noah Locke, a Florida transfer, who is averaging 13.0 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Senior forward Malik Williams (8.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg) was named the MVP of the Baha Mar Hoops tournament ... He had 13 points, 12 rebounds and four steals in the win over Maryland.

ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Michigan State is 8-12 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
After dropping the first 10 challenges, the Big Ten captured six of the next 11, with three ties (2012, 2013, 2016).
The Spartans have split their last four Big Ten/ACC Challenge games, with wins over Notre Dame (2017) and Louisville (2015).
MSU has lost its last two games in the Challenge, losing at Louisville in 2018 and at home to Duke in 2019.
Michigan State's game at Virginia last year was postponed due to a COVID-19 related issue in the Virginia program ... It was the second time a game against the Cavaliers had been lost, as the 2001 matchup in Richmond was cancelled due to unplayable wet floor conditions.

Series History

This will be the 12th all-time meeting between Michigan State and Louisville.
Louisville leads the head-to-head series, 6-5, and won the last meeting, 82-78 in overtime, at the KFC Yum! Center as part of the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The Spartans are 3-0 in games played in East Lansing and 2-0 at the Breslin Center.
MSU last met Louisville at home, winning a 71-67 decision on Dec. 2, 2015 as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
MSU has won two of the last three games and four of the last six overall.

No. 22/22 Michigan State Hosts Louisville on Wednesday in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Bingham Jr.

Gabe Brown

Max Christie

Malik Hall

Joey Hauser

No. 22/22 Michigan State Hosts Louisville on Wednesday in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Bingham Jr.

Gabe Brown

Max Christie

Malik Hall

Joey Hauser

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