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Michigan State basketball: Xavier Tillman breaks out in Rutgers win

By Connor Muldowney

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,) /
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It wasn’t pretty and it took a second-half comeback, but Michigan State basketball got a breakout performance from Xavier Tillman vs. Rutgers.

No one said life after Nick Ward was going to be easy and Michigan State got a glimpse into that scary future on Wednesday night against Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights dominated for most of the first half, taking a seven-point lead into the locker room and then they extended it to 11 in the second half. Then Xavier Tillman and Cassius Winston took over.

Tillman, a sophomore big man, got his second start of the season with Ward out and struggled early, but finished strong with a double-double. He finished with a career-high 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds, a block and a steal. He was all over the court for the Spartans and made sure they won the battle on the glass without their No. 1 big man.

It was the effort from Tillman and Kenny Goins on the glass that helped Michigan State come back to top the biggest — size-wise — team in the Big Ten without Ward. The Spartans actually won the battle on the boards, 45-31.

And that was with Thomas Kithier and Marcus Bingham Jr. playing a combined 12 minutes.

Some were worried about Tillman’s ability to become the primary big, but he silenced those doubters with the best game of his career and some nifty plays in the process.

Tillman wasn’t the only player to step up when Michigan State needed an answer on offense. Cassius Winston proved to be the front-runner for Big Ten Player of the Year yet again with 28 points and eight assists.

And there was this play that basically knocked the roof off the Breslin Center.

Matt McQuaid made some big shots, too, including the game-tying 3-pointer in the second half which led to a mean Tom Izzo fist pump and momentum through the roof.

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Michigan State now faces its toughest test to date on the road against rival Michigan for that top spot in the Big Ten standings. It will need this version of Tillman and Winston if it’s going to come away with a big win.

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