Michigan State Routs Wisconsin in Heathcote’s Final Home Game
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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Shawn Respert scored 31 points in his final home game to lead ninth-ranked Michigan State to a 97-72 rout of Wisconsin in the last Big Ten game in Coach Jud Heathcote’s 19-year career with the Spartans.
Respert left the game with less than two minutes to play and stopped to kiss the center circle as he received a standing ovation from the crowd of 15,138.
“Eric (Snow) cried before the game, but I didn’t want to do that,” Respert said of his backcourt mate. “But I had been thinking all game that it was my last game at Breslin (Center), so I had to do something to let the emotion out.”
The Spartans, 22-5 overall and 14-4 in the Big Ten, can tie for the conference title if Michigan wins at Purdue today.
Wisconsin (13-14, 7-11) ended a disappointing season with virtually no hope for even a National Invitation Tournament bid.
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