Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from tight win over Maryland

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Michigan State’s A.J. Hoggard, left, and Malik Hall, right, walk away as Maryland’s Don Carey, left, celebrates with Hakim Hart, right, after Hart’s 3-pointer during the second half on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.230207 Msu Maryland Bball 140a /

1. When this team puts a full 40 minutes together, it’ll be scary

For the first four minutes of this game, Michigan State looked unbeatable. The Spartans were making shots and playing elite defense, racing out to a 15-0 lead.

For the next five minutes, Michigan State held scoreless. The Spartans saw a 15-point lead shrink to just six in a matter of minutes. Michigan State stretched it back to nine before halftime and it felt like the game was in hand.

The Spartans were up 38-26 early in the second half and the game seemed over, but that wasn’t the case as they let the Terrapins hang around.

Not only did they let Maryland hang around, but they let the Terps reel off 14 straight points to take a 40-38 lead. Michigan State recaptured the lead not too long after, but Maryland was owning a 10-minute stretch, or so, in the second half.

Michigan State had dominant stretches where it looked untouchable and then others where it fell asleep at the wheel and allowed the Terrapins to hang around and strike.

A complete 40-minute game would make this team so scary. If they could play complete games more often, the Spartans would be unstoppable.

Next. 5 bold predictions for MSU basketball in February. dark

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