Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from tight win over Minnesota

It wasn't pretty, but Michigan State basketball found a way to win on Thursday night to improve to 11-7 on the season and 3-4 in conference play. The Spartans raced out to a 7-0 lead, but Minnesota battled back and made the game tight throughout before Michigan State pulled away late to win 76-66.

With the 10-point win, Michigan State heads into Sunday's matchup at Maryland with a little bit of confidence and it could lead to a huge road win (something the Spartans haven't had this year).

What did we learn from Michigan State's 76-66 win over Minnesota?

3. It's time to see more of Jaxon Kohler

A whopping two minutes from Jaxon Kohler just wasn't enough, in my opinion. Obviously I can't really question a Hall of Fame head coach, but with the lack of post scoring that the Spartans have had, it would just make sense to play the only center on the team who has the ability to score in the paint. And yet he only saw the floor for a couple of possessions, recording a steal and a rebound but exited in the first half with two fouls.

And we never saw him again.

We watched as Mady Sissoko went 1-for-2 from the floor and 3-for-8 from the free throw line with five points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. Carson Cooper had six points and two rebounds in 17 minutes. He did, however, have four fouls and was just 2-for-5 from the floor.

It's time to see more of Kohler because the Spartans desperately need some post scoring. Two minutes doesn't even allow him to prove himself.