Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from huge win over No. 22 UConn

Nov 25, 2021; Nassau, BHS; Michigan State Spartans guard A.J. Hoggard (11) drives to the basket as Connecticut Huskies guard R.J. Cole (2) defends during the first half in the 2021 Battle 4 Atlantis at Imperial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

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Michigan State’s Julius Marble II shoots against Ferris State during the first half on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.211027 Msu Ferris 036a /

2. Julius Marble played the role of hero

Michigan State needed a hero against Loyola Chicago on Wednesday and Malik Hall stepped up, scoring a career-high 24 points on 9-of-9 shooting and the Spartans needed someone to step up on Thursday and that just so happened to be Julius Marble.

For two straight games, the Spartans received heroic efforts from some unlikely guys. Hall is growing into more of a leadership role and he did have a huge steal with under 30 seconds when UConn was down by just one and he knocked down both free throws to make it a 3-point game, so he was still a hero despite not having a great game.

But Marble had a huge finish to the game, scoring 15 points and getting a big and-one to make it a 60-59 game (he missed the free throw). He scored eight straight points for Michigan State at one point and when it looked like the Spartans were cooked like a Thanksgiving turkey, he stepped up.

It’s a good sign that Michigan State is getting different guys to step up and play the role of hero every game.

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