Ward was whistled for a technical for tripping a Michigan player during a dead ball as the Spartans fell apart. Bridges led the Spartans with 15 points and Ward added 13, but MSU's defense struggled allowing Michigan to shoot 75 percent from the field in the first half. The 29-point loss tied for the worst loss MSU has suffered to Michigan under Tom Izzo and moved the Spartans to 14–10 overall and 6–5 in the Big Ten. Looking to rebound from their embarrassing loss against Michigan, the Spartans welcomed Iowa, who had swept the Spartans the previous year, to the Breslin Center. MSU continued to struggle with turnovers, committing 12 turnovers in the first half. Miles Bridges led the Spartans, scoring 14 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, and kept MSU close as they trailed 32–31 at the half. In the second half, MSU's hot shooting and suffocating defense allowed the Spartans to pull away, leading by as many as 16. For the first time this season, all four MSU freshmen, Bridges, Joshua Langford, Nick Ward, and Cassius Winson, each scored in double figures. Bridges added 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. The Spartan defense held the Big Ten's leading scorer, Peter Jok, to 2-for-11 shooting and limited him to 13 points. The 77–66 win put MSU at 15–10 and 7–5 in sole possession of fifth place in the Big Ten. On Valentine's Day, MSU welcomed Ohio State, who had beaten the Spartans a month earlier, to the Breslin Center. Senior Alvin Ellis III led the Spartans, scoring 15 straight points on five straight three-pointers in the first half, giving MSU the halftime lead 40–34. Ellis would add a sixth three-pointer in the second half to lead MSU for the game with 18 points. MSU stretched the lead to 12 early in the second half, before the Buckeyes fought back. Every time MSU attempted to take control of the game, OSU fought back. However, led by freshmen Miles Bridges' 14 points in the second half and a ferocious dunk by Joshua Langford, the Spartans were able to answer and hold on to their lead. Cassius Winston dished out nine assists and added eight points while Nick Ward added 15 points. The Spartans pulled out the must-win game, 74–65. The win, their fourth in five games, moved MSU closer to a near-certainty for the NCAA