Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for Week 16 Rutgers battle

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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 17: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half at Breslin Center on February 17, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. Game is close early, Spartans pull away late to win by 15

The early stages of Nick Ward-less basketball will be rough on the Spartans who will be adjusting to the new lineup with Xavier Tillman starting, but they’ll eventually wake up and get back to the basics of running and scoring on the fast-break to the tune of a 15-point win.

The game will be back-and-forth for the entire first half and some uneasiness will creep in when the Scarlet Knights hit a 3-pointer to extend their biggest lead of the game to six points in the first half, but the Spartans will go on one of their patented 14-0 runs to regain the lead back and extend it in the final 20 minutes.

You will feel a collective sense of relief exuded throughout the fan base when the Spartans regain the lead before the half and that’s going to give them momentum to just maintain and tack on more in the second half.

Cassius Winston’s hot shooting night will help and Kenny Goins will add some of his clutch 3-pointers while the Spartans get some nice production from the young bigs off the bench to cruise to victory.

Next. MSU basketball: Game-by-game predictions for February. dark

This sets up a monster matchup on Sunday at Michigan.

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