Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: Report card for gritty win over Nebraska

By Connor Muldowney

LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans watches action during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - JANUARY 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans watches action during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans drives against Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans drives against Glynn Watson Jr. #5 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

Starters: B+

Once again, no Josh Langford and no Kyle Ahrens for the Spartans, so for the second straight game, Aaron Henry was forced to fill in as a starter.

Henry didn’t do half-bad, probably producing his best game of the season with nine points, a rebound and a steal on 4-of-5 shooting. He even hit the biggest shot of the second half, arguably, when he drained a 3-pointer as the game was tied at 44-44. Another clutch long-range make from the freshman wing as he was an asset to the starting lineup on Thursday.

However, no one did better than Cassius Winston who had the best game of his career, posting 29 points and surpassing the 1,000-point mark for his career, bouncing back from one of the worst games he’s played as a Spartan. He answered Tom Izzo’s call and put the team on his back, making 9-of-15 shots and dishing six assists. He was a beat all night and put himself in the lead for Big Ten Player of the Year.

Kenny Goins and Matt McQuaid had forgettable offensive nights, finishing a combined 2-of-13 from the floor and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, but they were strong on the glass, totaling 13 boards, and played great defense. McQuaid shut down 19 point-per-game scorer James Palmer Jr. for most of the game, holding him to 6-of-21 shooting.

Lastly, Nick Ward had a decent night and overcame a poor shooting performance, under his standards, to finish with 15 points and 10 rebounds — his second straight double-double.

Plug and fill, this unit just keeps getting the job done no matter who graces the starting five.

Home/Spartans Basketball