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Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions for massive game at Purdue

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 09: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after making a three-point shot during the second half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Breslin Center on January 9, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 09: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after making a three-point shot during the second half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Breslin Center on January 9, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half while playing the Michigan Wolverines at the Breslin Center on January 05, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 87-69. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 05: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half while playing the Michigan Wolverines at the Breslin Center on January 05, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 87-69. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. Cassius Winston leads Spartans back from brink in second half

Michigan State has not had success at Mackey Arena over the past few years. In fact, the Spartans haven’t won a game in West Lafayette since the 2013-14 season when Gary Harris and Adreian Payne were leading the way. That’s a long winless drought for a team that’s constantly contending for Big Ten titles.

Once again on Sunday, the Spartans will find themselves in a familiar situation at Mackey Arena: trailing at halftime.

Another familiarity will be the crowd chanting “overrated” at Cassius Winston like they did a season ago when the Spartans found themselves down 23 points with about 13 minutes left. He took that and turned it into fuel, leading a nearly-impossible comeback as the Spartans went on a 24-5 run before the Boilermakers closed the door for good.

While I don’t think the Spartans will trail by 23 in this one, I think it could be close to 10 and then Cassius will piece together another monster second half — he hasn’t forgotten last year’s chants.

Next. 3 takeaways from MSU's win over Minnesota. dark

The All-American point guard will have a huge second half, leading the Spartans back from the brink to beat the Boilermakers in the final minute. This will be another one of those “retire his dang jersey now” games.

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