Louisville vs. Michigan State: Chris Mack returned, MSU defeated the Cardinals 73-64

Ladies and gentleman, Chris Mack is back.

The Louisville men's basketball coach returns from a six-game suspension as the Cardinals head to Michigan State for a Power 5 matchup.

U of L won the championship against Maryland in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas tournament and is riding a four-game winning streak into Wednesday's game.

Sullivan: Louisville basketball's Chris Mack coaching as if his job is on the line

Louisville leads the all-time series against MSU 6-5. The Cardinals are 3-0 at home and 3-2 at neutral sites against the Spartans but are 0-3 in East Lansing, beat writer Brett Dawson wrote. Louisville won the most recent meeting 82-78 on Nov. 27, 2018 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Final: Michigan State 73, Louisville 64

The Michigan State Spartans closed out the night with a victory over the Louisville Cardinals, 73-64.

Michigan State Senior Gabe Brown ended the game shooting 50-percent from the field for 10-points, two rebounds and one assist. Junior forward Malik Hall finished with 15-points, five rebounds and two assists.

Junior guard El Ellis carried the torch for Louisville in the second half to give the Cardinals some hope, knocking down four three-pointers in the second half alone. At one point in the half, Ellis accounted for 17 of Louisville 19 points.

1:21, 2nd half: Louisville down by 8, El Ellis on a tear

The Cardinals Junior guard El Ellis is responsible for the Cardinals last 17 of 19 points. MSU 70, Louisville 62

7:15, 2nd half: El Ellis breathes some life into Louisville

Ellis knocks down the three. MSU 48, Louisville 63

12:23, 2nd half Michigan State pulling away

A.J. Hoggard logs in another assist after the Malik Hall three-pointer. MSU 52, Louisville 39

14:16, 2nd half: Michigan state nails the wide-open 3-pointer

The dish from A.J. Hoggard leads to a Jaden Akins three-pointer. MSU 37, Louisville 35

16:18, 2nd half: Jarrod West cashes the 3-pointer for Louisville

Jarrod West makes the Three Point Jumper to put Louisville within two. Assisted by Dre Davis. MSU 39, Louisville 37

Halftime: #22 Michigan State is leading Louisville, 36-28, at the half

Michigan State went into the locker room leading Louisville, 36-28.

Michigan State Senior forward Gabe Brown ended the half hot, shooting 80-percent from the field for 10-points. He also has two rebounds on the day.

On Louisville side, Sophomore guard Dre Davis is leading the Cardinals shooting 5-for-6 for 11-points, while Senior center Malik Williams leads on the glass with six rebounds (3 offensive, 2 defensive).

“It’s the turnovers, they’re of ridiculous nature,” said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. “The turnovers are killing us.”

1:55 1st H: Louisville guard Dre Davis is on a mission

Dre Davis nails the jumper. MSU 32, Louisville 28

4:04 1st H: MSU takes the largest lead of the night at Breslin

Michigan state guard Pierre Brooks knocks down the three. MSU 30, Louisville 22

4:26 1st H: Michigan State guard Max Christie hits the three

MSU up five after Christie drills the three, with the assist from Tyson Walker. MSU 27, Louisville 22

7:18 1st H: Louisville, MSU tied

Louisville currently shooting 9-19 from the field, MSU shooting 8-17. Tied 19-19

11:21 1st H: Turnovers a plenty by MSU and Louisville at midway point

Both teams have 4 turnovers at the halfway mark of the first half of play. MSU 11, Louisville 9

14:59, 1st H: MSU Gabe Brown with the dunk

Michigan State forward Gabe Brown throws it down with the assist from Julius Marble II. Louisville 7, MSU 6

16:00, 1st H: Slow start for both Louisville and MSU, 4-2

Louisville 4, MSU 2

Louisville vs. Michigan State Big Ten/ACC Challenge tips-off

The Louisville Cardinals (5-1) look to upset the No.22-ranked Michigan State Spartans (5-2).

How to watch the game

Louisville basketball vs. Michigan State begins at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in East Lansing, Michigan.

Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Myron Medcalf (sideline) will call the game on ESPN. ESPN+ subscribers can stream the game via the ESPN app.

Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst) will have the call on Louisville Sports Radio, available on WHAS 840 AM, XM channel 371 and SiriusXM app 971.

Return of the Mack

Chris Mack watched press conferences. That was new.

For more than two weeks, the Louisville coach followed his Cardinals the way a fan would. Games on TV. No practice access. As he served a six-game university-mandated suspension to open the season, he was forced to keep his distance from the Cards. He told an audience at Roosters on Monday for the broadcast of his radio show that he’d watched “every single second Michigan State has played.”

“Unique,” Mack called it. And later, “very awkward.”

More: Reece Gaines is back to help Louisville basketball by bridging the past and present

In the first segment of Monday’s show, host Paul Rogers centered his questions on Mack’s return from a six-game university-mandated suspension to start the season. What was it like to watch from afar? Was Mack anxious? Analytical? How did he get caught up on his team?

Mack is back, and for more than six minutes at the top of the hour, that was the focus.

It figures to be much the same Wednesday, when the Cardinals (5-1) step into their brightest spotlight this season — a date with No. 22 Michigan State (5-2) in East Lansing, Michigan.

-Read more from Brett Dawson here

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville vs. Michigan State basketball: Big Ten, ACC Challenge game