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Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from huge win over No. 18 Iowa

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 25: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans late in the second half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Breslin Center on February 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 25: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans late in the second half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Breslin Center on February 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 25: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans grabs a loose ball in front of Joe Toussaint #1 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second half of the game at the Breslin Center on February 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 25: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans grabs a loose ball in front of Joe Toussaint #1 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second half of the game at the Breslin Center on February 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. Michigan State shook off second-half woes

Down by six at the half, Michigan State fans realized an unfortunate stat that has plagued their team all year long: the Spartans were 0-9 when trailing at the half on the season.

Not winning a single game with a halftime deficit was concerning, especially against an Iowa team that could shoot the lights out and had Luka Garza in the post, but the Spartans came out swinging in the second half and even though they trailed by 10 at one point, they took a 63-61 lead and then never turned back.

A Rocket Watts 3-pointer seemed to be the nail in the Hawkeyes’ coffin and the Spartans won the second half, 51-37. That’s exactly what has been missing from this team.

Often times when Michigan State is piecing together a comeback in the second half, it gets within two and then takes a silly shot or turns the ball over with a chance to tie or take the lead. That happened a couple of times on Tuesday but the Spartans didn’t crumble. They bounced back and took a commanding lead and didn’t look back.

Next. 3 reasons Mel Tucker will get MSU back on track. dark

Michigan State shook off those second-half woes to beat a good Iowa team by eight points and that could go a long way for this team’s momentum as it has now won 3-of-4 games.

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