Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from resilient 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 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: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles up the court and draws a foul from Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Cassius Winston took over when the Spartans needed him

The offense was struggling, turnovers were piling up and a lid seemed to be on the Spartans’ basket, especially inside the arc, and that’s when Cassius Winston answered the call.

It was clear that the offense wasn’t going to come from anyone else, besides a few Matt McQuaid 3-pointers, so Winston took charge. He finished with a game-high 28 points and added eight assists, working guys like Xavier Tillman and McQuaid into the game with some easy buckets.

McQuaid is the one who tied the game up at 40 but it was Winston who extended the lead and hit the back-breaking 3-pointer in the corner to put the Spartans up 51-43.

This is what Big Ten Player of the Year front-runners do and it’s becoming more obvious that he should be the favorite to win the award over guys like Carsen Edwards and Ethan Happ.

Although he started the night slowly, Winston finished 8-for-17 from the floor and 3-of-8 from long range.

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