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Michigan State Basketball: Report card for comfortable win over Purdue

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after a second half timeout was called with Foster Loyer #3 while playing the Purdue Boilermakers at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-59. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 08: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after a second half timeout was called with Foster Loyer #3 while playing the Purdue Boilermakers at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-59. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball picked up a big win over Purdue on Tuesday night. Which aspect of the Spartans’ game graded the highest?

It wasn’t the best game for Michigan State, but Tom Izzo’s guys still found a way to smack Purdue, 77-59.

Michigan State improved to 14-2 overall on the season and 5-0 in conference play, soaring to the top of the Big Ten standings. Purdue, on the other hand, fell to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in conference action. These two teams are trending in opposite directions.

Not everyone played well against the Boilermakers in an 18-point win and others had to step up in yet another absence of Josh Langford.

Who graded the highest against Purdue?

Bench: B

Only two players on the bench recorded more than four minutes even though seven guys saw the floor off the pine. Xavier Tillman led the way with 11 points, five rebounds and a steal but he did have four fouls so probably wasn’t quite as aggressive as he wanted to be.

Tillman was one of the reasons this grade was a B instead of a C/C+ as he continues to be a force as a role player and potentially the best sixth man in the Big Ten.

Aaron Henry, too, played 22 minutes like Tillman and had four points, three rebounds, a steal and a block. He looked a bit more comfortable and under control and made 2-of-4 shots from the floor.

Gabe Brown did make another 3-pointer on his only shot of the game and had a rebound. He continues to show he can be a spark off the bench, even with just four minutes of action.

Only playing three minutes, Foster Loyer had one assist and no other stats. He must prove he belongs on the floor for longer than 3-5 minutes per game to give Cassius Winston a rest. Thomas Kithier, Conner George and Marcus Bingham Jr. each played one minute in garbage time.

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