Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from title-clinching win over Michigan

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - MARCH 09: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans huddles with his team during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on March 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - MARCH 09: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans huddles with his team during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Breslin Center on March 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
EAST LANSING, MI – MARCH 09: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Cassius Winston #5 after defeating the Michigan Wolverines 75-63 at Breslin Center on March 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – MARCH 09: Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Cassius Winston #5 after defeating the Michigan Wolverines 75-63 at Breslin Center on March 9, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2. This is a Final Four-caliber team, after all

There comes a time in every game where one team steps up and grabs momentum. For Michigan, it was early on as the Wolverines built a 12-point lead in the first half.

Michigan State looked defeated, down 35-23 with about three minutes to play, but that’s when the adrenaline of the rivalry kicked in. The Spartans put together a 6-0 run to end the half and continued to build on that momentum in the second half, cutting the lead to five, then four, then three and finally taking a lead.

After taking its first lead of the game, Michigan State never looked back. The Spartans had fought hard to get back into it and showed incredible resiliency when it did, taking a lead and extending on it.

Rebounding, defense and Cassius Winston just losing his mind in the second half led to the dominant effort in the final 20 minutes, out-scoring the Wolverines by 18.

People were worried about Michigan State’s potential as a Final Four team coming in, but this silenced all the doubters. Two games against Michigan without Nick Ward and Josh Langford and the Spartans still won, recording yet another Quadrant 1 victory.

This team is Final Four worthy, after all.

Home/Spartans Basketball