Michigan State Basketball: 5 most memorable plays from win over Duke

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Xavier Tillman #23 (L) and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate the basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

5. Xavier Tillman’s game-clinching inbounds pass

With 4.7 seconds left and the Spartans holding on to a one-point lead, Xavier Tillman was getting ready to inbound the ball from in front of the Duke bench.

The Blue Devils still had to commit three fouls before the Spartans were in the bonus, but you can bet they were selling out for the steal or to force a five-second call. Tillman was unfazed, though.

If you watch the sophomore big man’s face before he gets the ball from the ref, he gives a little nod to Kenny Goins and another to Cassius Winston, telling them to go separate ways and he’d hit the latter going down the floor because no one expected it. After the game, Tillman admitted he saw the way Tre Jones was guarding Cassius and knew what he was going to do.

This high basketball IQ play deserves some major credit.

https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/1112492052313325568

Is an inbounds pass really worth a mention as one of the top plays in arguably the most entertaining game of the season for Michigan State? Absolutely, and it was because of Tillman’s high basketball IQ and ability to coach Kenny and Cassius on where to go before he passed the ball in. This play will be remembered by Michigan State fans for a long time.

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