Michigan State basketball proves it’s elite in gritty Ohio State win
Saturday afternoon’s battle between Ohio State and Michigan State basketball went down to the wire and lived up to all the hype.
It was a game of runs and at halftime, Spartan fans were collectively muttering “just like last year” but Tom Izzo and Michigan State made the correct halftime adjustments and came out swinging in the second half.
The Spartans took a seven-point halftime deficit and turned it into a nine-point win over Ohio State on the road, avenging a 16-point road loss to the Buckeyes just last year.
At the end of the first half, it looked like the Spartans were lifeless and it was looking like last year’s loss but they toughed it out in the second half to run away with a win in Columbus.
Izzo was talking during halftime interview with FOX reporters about Cassius Winston’s rough first half and how he wanted his junior point guard to step up after a seven-point first half. He responded in a big way, scoring 18 points in the second half, finishing with 25 points and five assists as he helped prove the Spartans belong in talks with college basketball’s elite.
It wasn’t just Winston who stood out, though, as Nick Ward — who had an epic battle with Ohio State’s Kaleb Wesson — added 21 points and seven rebounds and he was effective from the free throw line.
Michigan State went on the road to take down an unbeaten team in conference play and one that had just one loss before the matchup. It was a major statement for the Spartans and they proved to be up there with the rest of the nation’s title contenders.
Moreover, this proved that the Big Ten title may come down to an in-state affair between Michigan and Michigan State.
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Is this year’s Michigan State team better than last year’s? It certainly looks to be that way after a huge win.