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Michigan State Basketball: Report card for gutsy road win over Michigan

By Connor Muldowney

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 24: Cassius Winston #5 and Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans react after a basket late in the game while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-70. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 24: Cassius Winston #5 and Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans react after a basket late in the game while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-70. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball picked up a major win over top rival Michigan in gritty fashion but which Spartan received the highest grade?

Everyone was already counting this as a loss for Michigan State, and that’s exactly what this gritty team wanted. The Spartans marched into Ann Arbor to upset their seventh-ranked rival, 77-70.

Oh, and they did it without Nick Ward and Josh Langford who happen to be two of the Spartans’ top-three scorers. The only player averaging in double figures who was healthy on Sunday was Cassius Winston, the Big Ten Player of the Year front-runner. He didn’t disappoint, finishing with 27 points.

Michigan State looked like the better team all afternoon long and didn’t let the Wolverines get too high on their home court as Michigan’s biggest lead was six and it was erased quickly in the second half.

The Spartans passed this road test with flying colors but which player received the highest grade from Sunday’s epic win?

B-. . G/F. Freshman. AARON HENRY

Although he may have scored four points and went just 1-for-3 from the field, Aaron Henry had a quality game, especially on the defensive end. He guarded Charles Matthews and did a rock-solid job in 16 minutes and he added two assists and two rebounds.

Henry also almost had a clutch 3-pointer drop in the final minutes, but it rimmed out. He got the good look and his shot looked much better, but the rim just wasn’t kind.

The only knock I had on Henry was his foul trouble as well as passing up a couple of open looks. He needs to have more confidence in his shot and he needs to be able to make quick switches so he’s not matched up with a guy like Jon Teske, forced to foul and create an and-one opportunity.

Still, he took a step in the right direction on Sunday.

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