GAME NOTES: A Big Ten Conference showdown will ensue in East Lansing this evening, as the Ohio State Buckeyes attempt to upset the 11th-ranked Michigan State Spartans. Ohio State carried an eight-game win streak into Saturday's clash with Purdue and figured to have an outstanding chance of winning that game as well. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes dropped a 75-68 decision to the Boilermakers. Still, they are 3-1 in league play and own a 12-4 overall record. Michigan State carried a sparkling 14-1 record and an 11-game win streak into Saturday's clash with Iowa. The Spartans were heavily favored in that road tilt, so the fact that they lost by an ugly 43-36 final was shocking. They are now 2-1 in league play and eager to get back to action this evening. Michigan State owns a 59-49 series lead over Ohio State, and the teams will meet again in March.

Ohio State only connected on 35.5 percent of its field goal attempts against Purdue, including a 6-of-24 effort from three-point range. The Buckeyes also turned the ball over 20 times, so it isn't surprising that they fell to the Boilermakers. That poor play overshadowed a strong defensive effort that limited the Boilermakers to 38.3 percent shooting from the floor. Leading the way in the setback for Ohio State was Jamar Butler, as he tallied 26 points to go along with five assists. Butler was 6-of-11 from three-point range, which means that his teammates combined to miss all 13 of their attempts from behind the arc. Kosta Koufos finished with 12 points and nine rebounds for the Buckeyes. Butler is the team's leading scorer this season with 14.8 ppg, and he is dishing out 6.2 apg as well. As for Koufos, he checks in with 14.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg, as the replacement for former star Greg Oden.

Michigan State shot 16-of-52 from the floor against Iowa on Saturday and finished with only 11 assists against 18 turnovers. Equally disturbing was that the Spartans were 1-of-4 from the foul line in 40 minutes of action. The fact that the club lost to a sub-.500 Iowa team despite limiting the Hawkeyes to 27.5 percent shooting from the floor is surprising to say the least. Raymar Morgan and Drew Neitzel both scored 10 points in the loss, and Goran Suton had 11 rebounds. Morgan leads the club through 16 outings with 17.6 ppg on 57.9 percent shooting from the field, and he is pulling down 7.1 rpg. As for Neitzel, he checks in with 13.2 ppg on 40.7 percent efficiency from three-point range. The Spartans are posting 75.1 ppg on 49 percent shooting from the field, and they are limiting opponents to 62.3 ppg on 38.5 percent shooting. Clearly, they have been much better than they showed against Iowa.

There is no doubt that Michigan State is anxious to get back to action following the debacle against Iowa. Expect the Spartans to knock off Ohio State behind a much better offensive showing.