This game was setup for a win for the Spartans. Michigan State got to play in Madison Square Garden. The bright lights and national audience should be second nature to a team that has played multiple times on an aircraft carrier. Their opponent should have shrunk in the spotlight.
Their opponent, the scrappy team from New Jersey, was supposed to have lost their home court advantage by moving from the RAC (technically known as Jersey Subs Arena - ugh), to downtown Manhattan and a more neutral court.
Instead, Rutgers rose to the moment, battled through a terrible shooting night and rode a loud crowd to a 61-55 ugly win over Michigan State.