On Monday, the Spartans finally got news that they had their first Big Ten player of the week for this calendar year.
Keith Appling, the junior point guard, was named as a co-winner along with Indiana's Cody Zeller. Appling had a 24-point, eight-rebound, and seven-assist performance in last Thursday's big comeback win over Illinois. It was during the second half of the match up against the Fighting Illini when the young star scored or assisted on 11 of MSU's 14 second-half baskets.
Zeller led the Hoosiers during Indiana's victory over the then-No. 1 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday.
In all, Appling scored 19 points and six assists after the half. This marks the third time that Appling has won the award in his career and is also his first for the season. Michigan State's last Big Ten player of the week was senior Derrick Nix, who received the honor back on Dec. 24.
No. 12 Michigan State will face No. 18 Minnesota on Wednesday night at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
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