Michigan State Basketball: Report card for comeback win over Rutgers

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) /

4 of 6

EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball while defended by Montez Mathis #23 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

A-. . F/C. Sophomore. XAVIER TILLMAN

Xavier Tillman deserves some major props for coming right in as a starter and not missing a beat for the Spartans. He struggled with his post game early on as he’s not as wide as some of the Rutgers bigs so he wasn’t able to get great position, but as the game progressed, he got more comfortable and him and Cassius Winston fed off each other.

In fact, Winston, and Matt McQuaid, found Tillman a couple of times for easy dunks and then his last score of the game was a circus and-one which got the crowd on its feet and shut the door for good on the game.

If Tillman is able to put up about 12-15 points and 8-10 rebounds per game in Nick Ward’s absence, this team is going to be just fine.

The 19 points Tillman scored on Wednesday was a career-high and he probably should have had 20-plus because he missed some layups early on and struggled to back down his defenders. He also added 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the year.

Home/Spartans Basketball