Michigan State lost to Russia, 93-75, in the second game of the team’s foreign exhibition tour of Italy on Friday. Russia is ranked No. 6 in the FIBA world rankings.
The Spartans round out the trip with games against the national teams from Italy and Georgia. While Michigan State is gearing up for the 2015-16 season, the three senior national teams are preparing for next month’s EuroBasket, where they will attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.
“That was a boys versus men game tonight and not that it shouldn’t have been, either,” Izzo said, via the Michigan State athletic site.