Michigan State basketball: 3 likes and dislikes from Marquette win

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Mar 19, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (12) and guard Tyler Kolek (11) celebrate a shot during the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchBasketball Ncaa Men S Basketball Tournament Round 2 /

Dislike: Letting opponent back in the game

For the second time in a row, MSU let a huge lead dwindle down in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

While we all knew water would find it’s level and there was no way Marquette was going to score 10 in the first half, the Spartans looked helpless, letting a 25-13 advantage get cut to a 5-point lead at halftime. Then they let Marquette do whatever they want for the first three minutes of the second half.

What happens if Kansas State comes out swinging next week? If it’s close at the 10-minute mark of the first half, do the Spartans let a team get ahead by 5-10 points going into halftime, too? Or is it just a big lead type of thing?

The one positive I can take out of this that more than a few times, the Spartans got punched in the mouth, but they never let those momentum swings sink them, and I think that says a lot about this inconsistent, yet resilient, basketball team.

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