Following an 80-72 triumph over Penn State, the Michigan State men’s basketball team concluded their two-game road stint with a 73-63 victory at Michigan, marking their first win in Ann Arbor since 2019.
Despite noticeable vacancies in the Crisler Center during the Saturday night rivalry clash, Spartan fans still made their presence felt in Ann Arbor. The MSU team received a decent amount of cheers upon entering the court, a departure from the typical jeers encountered on the road.
Senior center Mady Sissoko secured the tip-off for the Spartans, and graduate student forward Malik Hall swiftly capitalized on possession to give his team a two-point lead in the opening moments of the game.
Initially, the home team seemed to hold the advantage, capitalizing on MSU’s handling errors, resulting in turnovers and missed rebounding opportunities. Fortunately for the Spartans, Michigan’s own mistakes kept the game within a two-point margin.
Midway through the game, MSU managed to snatch a one-point lead, and a steal from Sissoko followed by a lengthy pass to freshman forward Coen Carr hinted at a potential increase in their advantage. However, Carr was obstructed by Michigan’s Will Tschetter, leading to a Class A technical foul. Despite splitting his free throws, MSU maintained its slowly expanding lead.
With 4:21 remaining in the first half, Michigan State surged ahead by nine points after a steal and dunk by Carr, igniting fervent cheers from Spartan supporters. Nevertheless, the Wolverines swiftly responded with a 7-0 run, narrowing the gap to just two points.
As the first half drew to a close, Michigan began to dominate from beyond the arc, ultimately pulling ahead 37-35. Senior guard A.J. Hoggard and sophomore guard Tre Holloman both accumulated two fouls each, prompting head coach Tom Izzo to substitute senior guard Davis Smith to conclude the half. Despite typically being reserved for securing decisive victories, Smith sunk two free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining, allowing MSU to head into halftime with a 39-37 lead.
The first half was characterized by defensive lapses for the Spartans, who struggled to find their rhythm from long range, going 0-5 on three-point attempts and 14-33 in total field goals. Hoggard’s limited playing time due to fouls was notably felt on the court.
The outset of the second half mirrored the first, with Michigan dominating proceedings. Michigan State grappled with securing rebounds, while the sluggish pace of the game worked against them.
It wasn’t until 13:04 remained on the clock that Michigan State registered their first three-pointer of the game, courtesy of graduate student guard Tyson Walker. Following this breakthrough, the Spartans regained momentum, leveling the score at 56 apiece.
Whenever Michigan State gained momentum, the Crisler Center erupted with noise, belying the fact that MSU was playing away from home.
The latter part of the second half was fiercely contested, with neither team able to establish a firm grip on the lead until senior guard Jaden Akins converted a layup off an assist from Walker, coupled with a steal from Hoggard, pushing MSU ahead 71-63 to cap off an 8-0 run.