Ohio State vs. Michigan State: Score, Twitter Reaction from 2015 Regular Season

Michigan State's Denzel Valentine drilled the game-winning shot for Michigan State in its 59-56 victory over Ohio State on Feb. 14.

Of course he did.

The headline writes itself, as Valentine gave the Spartans a monumentally important win on Valentine's Day with less than a month remaining in the regular season. Considering Michigan State was squarely on the bubble entering the contest, a victory over a ranked team will go a long way come Selection Sunday.

Valentine led the way with 17 points, while Branden Dawson tallied a double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. Dawson's lockdown defense was almost as important as any offense Valentine provided throughout the game.

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Shannon Scott spearheaded the Ohio State attack with 15 points, five assists, five rebounds and two rebounds, and D'Angelo Russell was unusually quiet with only 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

The Buckeyes got some bad news before the game even started, via Ohio State associate athletics director for communications Dan Wallenberg:

The Spartans got off to a quick start, and a major reason why was the lack of rim protection for the Buckeyes down low, as Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports pointed out:

"

Amir Williams has gotten so much worse this season. I don’t know how that is possible.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 14, 2015"

"

Like, last year Williams was at least active in the post and on defense. This year, that activity level is just gone and he looks lost.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 14, 2015"

Ohio State battled back early in the first half with a solid defensive stretch, as Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors noted, and a favorable matchup on the other end, via Dan Kilbridge of 247Sports:

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo probably wasn't pleased with the early defense on Russell given his pregame comments, via Graham Couch of the Detroit Free Press:

"

We're gonna play a box-and-one (defense) — box on him and one on the other four. I think he's one of the best players I've seen in this league, one of the best guards I've seen in this league in a long time. ...

He can beat you with a shot. He is one of the best passers I've seen here, and he's big. He's 6-(feet)-5, 6-4, so he can see over things. We're going to throw a couple different wrinkles at him.

"

The Buckeyes took control in the middle of the first half and jumped out to a five-point lead, but the Spartans battled back behind a raucous home crowd. Bob Baptist of The Columbus Dispatch described the rough stretch for Ohio State:

Things only got worse for the Buckeyes to end the first half, as Michigan State extended its run and lead to 33-24. Mike Young of Eleven Warriors pointed out that the Spartans' renewed defensive effort on Russell was the difference in holding Ohio State without a field goal in the last six minutes of the half:

The Buckeyes came out of the locker room with energy, but Michigan State was quick to respond. Shoemaker described the initial second-half momentum swings:

Michigan State continued to lead into the middle of the second half, and ESPN Stats & Info pointed out that one of the problems for the Buckeyes was a rare off day from Russell in the passing department:

However, The Student Section noted that the Buckeyes were staying in the game because of their effort on the less glamorous side of the floor:

Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press and Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal both acknowledged that Michigan State was having trouble holding on to the lead when Valentine picked up a third foul and had to leave:

The Buckeyes came all the way back to tie the game at 46 at the under-eight-minute timeout, thanks to a solid defensive stretch and impressive play from Jae'Sean Tate on both ends of the floor. Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com praised the freshman for his efforts:

Given that the game was tied heading into the final eight minutes, Noah Trister of The Associated Press noted an important storyline that wasn't exactly pretty for either team:

Scott completed the comeback for Ohio State with a mid-range jumper and gave his team its first lead since early in the first half with 5:19 to play. Shoemaker pointed out that Scott was playing particularly well, which was critical considering Russell was struggling:

Michigan State was quick to answer, though, and Rexrode set the stage for a thrilling finish:

Both teams traded two points to make the game 54-53 in advantage of Michigan State with 1:30 remaining. Travis Trice responded with arguably the most important basket of the game to that point on a slash to the hoop that set the Spartans up with a 56-53 lead. 

Then Sam Thompson drilled a monumental three-pointer to tie the game with 35 seconds remaining. However, it was all for naught when Valentine drilled a fadeaway three with three seconds left in the game to put the Spartans back up 59-56.

Rexrode pointed out that it was only appropriate that the game-winning shot came from Valentine on Valentine's Day:

Ohio State turned the ball over on the inbounds play, and the game was over. The Spartans came away with the critical 59-56 victory thanks to one of the biggest shots of the season for any team.  

What's Next?

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In a strange scheduling twist, Ohio State does not have another game for more than a week and will have plenty of time to lick its wounds. Next up for the Buckeyes is a visit to Ann Arbor to take on archrival Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 22. 

It becomes something of a must-win for Ohio State if it hopes to finish in second place in the Big Ten after Saturday's loss. 

Michigan State's next game is also against the hated Wolverines in Ann Arbor, but that contest takes place Tuesday.

The Spartans need a win to keep the momentum they established Saturday, but Michigan is also desperately in need of a win, and you would be hard-pressed to find a team it would love to beat more than its in-state rival.