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Michigan State basketball found success with the smaller lineup. Kyle Ahrens is the key

Michigan State Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo speaks to the media after the 86-65 win over Nebraska on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Detroit Free Press

LINCOLN, Neb. — There was a time during Kyle Ahrens’ sophomore season when he had to play out of position.

Tom Izzo now hopes that Ahrens’ return to relative health will allow Michigan State basketball to use his fifth-year senior at forward to create matchup problems for opponents.

Izzo used a number of different smaller lineup combinations during the 25th-ranked Spartans’ 86-65 win Thursday at Nebraska.