No. 11 Michigan State used a 20-2 run over the course of the final eight minutes on Saturday afternoon, sending Ohio State back to Columbus with a 62-44 loss to keep pace with Purdue and Michigan atop the Big Ten standings, but no one is going to be talking about that today.
They’re going to be talking about Nick Ward.
The 6-foot-9 junior center for the Spartans emerged from halftime with his left hand -- shooting hand -- heavily bandaged and played just four second half minutes because of the injury. Michigan State announced after the game that Ward suffered a hairline fracture in his left hand towards the end of the first half. The injury occurred when Ward hit his hand on the rim, a source close to the program said.
Michigan State is already down their second-best scorer with Josh Langford injured. Losing Ward would mean losing their best low-post scorer and a guy that gets them a couple of easy buckets every night because of his ability to run the floor and the way Cassius Winston can find him in transition.
With Langford out of commission, Michigan State is going to have a tough enough time with Michigan in two of their last four game.
Without Ward?
It’s hard to see the Spartans winning much if Ward cannot return in time for the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.