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Michigan State basketball struggling to win rebounding battles in Big Ten play

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — If there are two things Tom Izzo takes pride in with Michigan State basketball, it is the Spartans’ consistency in defending and rebounding.

And as Tuesday’s 65-63 escape at Maryland showed, there's good and bad with both this season. But nothing — not even the Spartans' season-long issues with turnovers — perturbed Izzo more than getting outrebounded again.

The Terrapins had a 31-30 edge on the boards, and they grabbed 10 offensive rebounds that resulted in 11 second-chance points.

“That's a joke, a joke,” Izzo said.. “For Michigan State — give credit, because (the Terrapins) went after it — but we just aren't getting the message on that.