Somber mood resonates in Detroit at halftime

Detroit – As the Spartans left halftime down more than 20 points, the mood outside Ford Field was somber and disappointing among fans.

Compared to Saturday’s crowd of some 5,000 fans, fewer gathered outside the arena tonight. A couple dozen were seen leaving Ford Field at halftime, with about 100 people mingling outside.

“It’s brutal,” said MSU fan Josh Bell, of Grand Rapids. ”We were at the game; we watched, but it was so brutal.

“We can’t make a basket, we got no defense. We’re playing awful.”

Bell said he left Ford Field to try and catch the rest of the game at the designated Spartans’ bar — Cheli’s Chili Bar, 47 E. Adams St. — in downtown Detroit.

“UNC is shooting the lights out,” Bell said. “The bad thing is Michigan State is forcing a lot of shots right now.”