Michigan State Basketball: Report card for monster road win at Ohio State

COLUMBUS, OH - JANUARY 5: Head Coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans asks the referees for a foul against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half on January 5, 2019 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State defeated Ohio State 86-77. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Dererk Pardon #5 of the Northwestern Wildcats makes a pass while defended by Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Defense: B

Tom Izzo had to be happy with his team’s defense in the second half after a shaky first half in which he said his junior point guard was getting beat far too often and the back-door cuts were killing the Spartans.

Michigan State held the Buckeyes to just 34 second-half points, keeping them under 80 for the game on their home floor which isn’t too bad, but there were still far too many open shots. Off the bench, Gabe Brown struggled a bit on this end of the floor as did Foster Loyer.

The Spartans only forced five turnovers but they did finish with four steals and four blocks.

Nick Ward struggled to slow Kaleb Wesson in the post, along with Xavier Tillman, but other than that, the Buckeyes had a tough time getting open shots. If it wasn’t for Wesson, the Spartans may have won by 15-plus points.

The Spartans also held the Buckeyes to 7-of-24 shooting from the perimeter and 44 percent from the field.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad afternoon on the defensive side of the floor, considering Josh Langford — one of the best defenders on the team — was absent.

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