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Big Ten Basketball: Michigan State vs. Purdue preview, prediction, TV schedule

By Taylor Sturm

Jan 24, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) reacts to a play during the second half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) reacts to a play during the second half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tied for the lead in the Big Ten standings with Wisconsin and Maryland, the Purdue Boilermakers will hope to keep rolling with a home win over the Michigan State Spartans.

TV Schedule: Saturday, Feb. 18, 4:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

Arena: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN

Things are tight at the top of the Big Ten regular season standings, and the conference is likely going to come down to either a major upset or a disappointing loss for the top teams.

The Purdue Boilermakers, who sit tied atop the Big Ten standings with the Wisconsin Badgers and Maryland Terrapins, have won four straight games, including wins over two then-ranked opponents. Their win over Maryland on the road was absolutely massive, but a tough match-up against the Michigan State Spartans looms.

The Spartans, on the other hand, are not out of the hunt for the regular season conference title and a No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament. Just two games behind the teams tied at the top of the Big Ten, Michigan State play all three of them to end the season. A road win over Purdue could cause momentum to swing the way of Tom Izzo and Co. and result in yet another success story for this team.

Purdue dominated Michigan State on the road earlier this season, winning by 11 points thanks to a monster game from former Michigan State-commit Caleb Swanigan. Swanigan is borderline un-guardable, and it will be the job of this team to limit other Purdue players, as it is likely Swanigan will find a way to get his points.

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While we could see a repeat of the prior game in East Lansing, I do not think that Purdue can sweep this well-coached, talented Michigan State team. The Spartans pull off the road upset and make the final stretch of regular season play a bit more interesting.

Prediction: Michigan State 79, Purdue 75

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