Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from blowout win at Ohio State
![Feb 12, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Joey Hauser (10) controls the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (1) defends during the second half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports Feb 12, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Joey Hauser (10) controls the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (1) defends during the second half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b982787c13810007358b9c34839293a64f47ec122c7e9912e314a10d9b51a122.jpg)
It’s hard to dub any road game an “easy win” but Ohio State was definitely one of the more beatable teams left on the schedule for Michigan State basketball.
And the Spartans took care of business, 62-41.
Michigan State now improves to 16-9 overall and 8-6 in conference play by picking up another Quad 1 win on Sunday afternoon.
What’d we learn from this gutsy road win?
3. Malik Hall needs to get his confidence back
Since returning from an injury, Malik Hall has struggled a bit. He had his best game against Iowa in which he arguably put the team on his back to get the Spartans a big win. Other than that 11-point showing, he has scored just 22 points over four games. That’s just not going to cut it if Michigan State wants to make a run in March.
Hall is 8-for-25 from the field over the past four games which is also just not like his normal self and he’s been taking some poor, contested shots like he did on Sunday to finish 1-for-5.
Michigan State needs Hall to be much better moving forward and snap out of his slump to get that confidence back. A confident Malik Hall is bad for everyone left on the schedule.