Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from tight win over Oregon

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 24: Jaxon Kohler #0, Joey Hauser #10, A.J. Hoggard #11, Tre Holloman #5, and Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans walk back to the court after a timeout during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Moda Center on November 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /

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PORTLAND, OREGON – NOVEMBER 24: Joey Hauser #10 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts to score as Jahvon Quinerly #5 of the Alabama Crimson Tide defends during the first half at Moda Center on November 24, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /

2. Joey Hauser’s toughness has been the difference

You have to be impressed with Joey Hauser’s confidence at this point. He has been hobbled through the first two games of the PKI and he’s still playing through it because Michigan State simply needs him.

Hauser twisted his ankle against Alabama and it didn’t look good. He went down and it just felt like he was going to miss some time, but he stayed in and played the rest of the game.

Against Oregon, Joey went down because of that same ankle and it just felt like maybe he was going to miss some time, but he stayed in and played one of the best games of his career. He toughed it out to the tune of 18 points and 10 rebounds and really kept the Spartans in the game in the first half, sparking a 15-0 run right before halftime.

The team seems to be feeding off the toughness of Hauser and that’s a beautiful sight to see.

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