Michigan State loses the semifinals of the Maui Invitational 71-63 to Memphis

Michigan State will not play for a championship on Wednesday.

In the semifinals of the Maui Invitational, held at the Lahaina Civic Center in Lahaina, Hawaii, Michigan State (5-2) lost 71-63 while a fast and physical Memphis (6-0) stole the show. The Spartans play Wednesday in the third-place game against the winner of Tuesday night’s Auburn-North Carolina semifinal.

“I love the way they play. I do. I don’t think we can do that,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo told reporters after the game. “But they are more physical – not just athletic, but they are more physical.”

Memphis set the tone from the start by scoring the first two shots of the game. But for the first time this season, Michigan State managed to grab a three-pointer early and stay afloat. The Spartans hit five of their 11 attempts in the first half. And while that rate dropped to 7 of 19 by the end of the game, it was still a significant improvement for the worst shooting team in the country.

A performance like that should have given Michigan State control of the game, but instead its mistakes became its undoing. Seven turnovers gave Memphis 10 points in the first half, while that statistic increased to 13 turnovers and 22 points by the end of the game. A 12-for-19 attempt at the free throw line also effectively wiped three shots from the field.

Memphis’ lost possessions and physical interior defense led to a tougher offensive game than Michigan State has experienced so far this season. It struggled to connect passes and land clean shots. The Spartans trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, but the deficit shrank to 34-31 by halftime.

BOX SCORE: Memphis 71, Michigan State 63

“They were definitely more physical defensively,” guard Jase Richardson said. “There was a lot of pressure, they applied pressure all over the pitch, then half the pitch, it went all the way up. “I just got used to that during the game.”

Richardson kept things close and continued his team-leading 18 points in the tournament, the highest of his career. His day wasn’t perfect, however, as he uncharacteristically missed three free throws, including one that he shot into the air. He also paid the price for those fouls, getting elbowed in the face, popped in the mouth and knocked to the ground as the game progressed.

Michigan State only had one shot in the half and conceded the first basket. Then a three-pointer from Jaxon Kohler and a steal-and-score from Jeremy Fears Jr. tied the game. Michigan State nearly took the lead after four consecutive shots sparked by a strong offensive rebound. However, none of these shots were fired.

This was Michigan State’s moment to take control of the game, but it passed. Memphis took control of the game with a 10-2 run, forcing Izzo to call a timeout and reset. Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter shined during that time, scoring five points as part of his 23-point effort.

“You have to give Hunter a lot of credit,” Izzo said. “He made some shots that… I don’t know if Penny (Hardaway, Memphis coach) made those shots when he was playing, and I mean that. He fell right, fell left, at the end of the shot clock, and he drained it.”

Although a timeout allowed the Spartans to regroup and score a few times, those efforts failed as Memphis went on another 11-0 run to build on their earlier takeover. This stretch was very similar to the early first half of the game, when the Spartans turned the ball over too often and let Memphis run right down the field. But this time, MSU’s shots weren’t falling to stay afloat. Memphis extended its lead to 15 at one point before Michigan State cut it.

With 6:33 minutes left in the game, Memphis forward Dain Dainja was fouled, forcing center Moussa Cisse – who was fouled three and a half minutes later – to follow in his footsteps. By temporarily freeing itself from its opponent’s physical presence, Michigan State had a chance to capitalize and bring the game closer. Instead, missed shots and poor execution left them eight points shy of the comeback.

With the loss, the Spartans will face the loser of Tuesday night’s game between Auburn and North Carolina in the third-place game on Wednesday. Michigan State last played in this third-place game in 2010, defeating Washington for the bronze. The third-place game will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m

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@ConnorEaregood