Spartans lose to Michigan in their first game since shooting

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan showed itssupport for rival Michigan State with a poignant pregame ceremonybefore the Wolverines took an 84-72 win on Saturday night, thefirst game for the Spartan men since a shooting on the their campusthat killed three students and wounded five others.

A long moment of silence was broken by the Michigan band playingthe Spartans’ alma mater — “MSU Shadows” — while Crisler Arena wasdimly lit with green and white lights from LED wristbands that weregiven to fans. A large “Spartan Strong” flag was held up in thestudent section.

The Wolverines, and their student section, wore maize shirtswith “Michigan Basketball Stands with MSU” across the front.

Kobe Bufkin snapped a tie with a 3-pointer after he bobbled theball as the shot clock was winding down with two minutes left andthe Wolverines (15-12, 9-7 Big Ten) scored the last 12 points tosplit the season series.

Dug McDaniel led the Wolverines with 18 points, Bufkin scored17, Hunter Dickinson 14 and Joey Baker and Jett Howard had 10 each.Howard left the game with an apparent leg injury early in thesecond half.

Joey Hauser scored 20 points, Malik Hall 14 and Tyson Walker 11for the Spartans (16-10, 8-7).

Earlier in the day at East Lansing, a moment of silence was heldbefore the women’s game against No. 8 Maryland. The victims andsurvivors were honored in pregame remarks.

Funerals were held earlier in the day for Brian Fraser andAlexandria Verner while Arielle Anderson’s funeral is scheduled fornext week. Of the five wounded students, four remained in criticalcondition with one in stable condition on Saturday.

Michigan State plays at home against Indiana on Tuesday.

Michigan goes to Rutgers for a Thursday game.