Michigan State basketball comes up clutch, tops Michigan for Big Ten tourney title

Michigan and Michigan State basketball faced off in one of the best Big Ten Tournament championship games in league history.

After facing twice in the previous three weeks leading up to the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan and Michigan State basketball locked up yet again for another intense battle.

This time, it was much of the same as the Spartans overcame a deficit in the second half, controlling the final minutes of the game to beat a tough Michigan team, 65-60.

Matt McQuaid was the hero this time around, scoring a game-high 27 points to go along with four rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting from deep, making big shots down the stretch with the Wolverines holding a late five-point lead. He was consistent all game long and didn’t shy away from his shot, which is exactly what Michigan State needs moving forward.

Michigan looked to have the game locked up after defending the Spartans well in the second half, but Cassius Winston also took over, scoring the go-ahead bucket with under a minute left. He finished with 14 points and 11 assists.

When the Spartans needed answers down the stretch, it was McQuaid and Winston, but you can’t overlook the performance by Xavier Tillman who was just a do-it-all energy player with nine points and 11 rebounds.

On a day when Michigan State got just two points from Kenny Goins and lost Kyle Ahrens to a devastating ankle injury, the team gritted out yet another victory over Michigan — making it three straight.

Michigan beat the Spartans three straight times before the 2018-19 season, but Michigan State changed that in just 22 days to end the year.