When it comes to summer trips overseas, college basketball programs handle their exhibition schedules in a variety of ways. Some go the route of playing teams they can handle, while others will put together a mixture of games they should win comfortably and a couple challenging contests.
Michigan State on the other hand, which won its opener in Italy, scheduled three games against national teams (Russia, Italy and Georgia) preparing for next month’s Eurobasket tournament that will determine which teams get to play in next summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Saturday the Spartans played the second of those contests, and they lost 90-69 to an Italian national team that included NBA veterans Marco Belinelli and Danilo Galinari.
The Spartans pulled to within five points in the fourth quarter before the hosts closed the door on the comeback with a 20-4 run, handing Michigan State its second consecutive loss on the trip.
Michigan State will play Georgia’s national team on Sunday in their final game of the trip, and while some may look to focus on the results the experience will benefit Tom Izzo’s team as they prepare for the 2015-16 campaign.
Above are some highlights from Saturday’s game, with Michigan State athletics putting together the video.