Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from blowout win over Penn State
![EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during game action against the Northwestern Wildcats at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 02: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during game action against the Northwestern Wildcats at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9dbab95b48b058ba0ccda74d004793086729860bdb10de9cfb46b123433b80c7.jpg)
3. Cassius Winston didn’t have his best game — and it didn’t matter
One thing was fairly evident on Sunday and it was the fact that Cassius Winston had one of his worst games of the season, scoring 11 points with six assists on 3-of-7 shooting.
You might be thinking that’s not half-bad, but the Spartan point guard had a season-high seven turnovers to go along with it as well as three fouls. He wasn’t quite effective on the offensive end like he usually is and his lack of shooting did have something to do with it.
Was he just worn down? Possibly, he’s been playing 30-plus minutes per game this season but it was probably just one of those inevitable off games.
Down two players already, having your star player, leading scorer, team leader and point guard struggle on the road would be a recipe for disaster, but other guys stepped up and the team still won by 15 points.
Even when Cassius is off, this team can be a nightmare for opponents — and that’s great news for the green and white.