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Michigan State Basketball: Report card for comeback win over Rutgers

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his three-point basket in the second half with teammate Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his three-point basket in the second half with teammate Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his three-point basket in the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his three-point basket in the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

B+. . G. Senior. MATT MCQUAID

Defense continues to be Matt McQuaid’s strong suit — well that and making clutch 3-pointers. There’s one thing that McQuaid has struggled with, though, and that’s making baskets inside the arc and he usually attempts at least one off-balance mid-range jumper with his feet not set and his body far from square to the hoop.

I only counted one of those off-balance jumpers on Wednesday as the rest were 3-point attempts as he finished 3-for-7 from deep, including the most important shot of the game which got Tom Izzo to fist pump his arm nearly off his body.

What got Izzo to do this? With the Spartans down 40-37 and needing some sort of spark with about 12 minutes left, McQuaid took a Cassius Winston pass and got a three up with little space, drilling it right in a defender’s face to tie the game. The rest is history.

McQuaid finished with 11 points, including three big 3-pointers, as well as five rebounds and two assists all while playing impressive defense.

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