The No. 3 Wolverines ended a four-game skid in the rivalry, defeating the No. 7 Spartans 83-71 on Friday at the Breslin Center in what was the highest combined game for either team.
The Wolverines (20-1, 10-1) led by as much as 18, but the Spartans (19-3, 9-2) came roaring back and tied the game in the second half.
The Spartans had nearly doubled turnovers (11) to field goals (6) in the first half, but increased their defensive intensity in the second period. The Wolverines appeared confused until Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau set up the game-deciding point after knocking down a pull-up jumper and then a lob to Morez Johnson Jr. had thrown for a thunderous dunk on the next offensive possession. The transfer from North Carolina buried a 3-pointer with just over three minutes remaining, giving the Wolverines a six-point lead.
Cadeau finished with 17 points, six assists and three rebounds. Forward Yaxel Lendeborg added a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds, including six offensive boards.
Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 31 points, made seven assists and grabbed five rebounds for the Spartans.
Michigan is the leader of the Big Ten
What a week the Wolverines just had. With wins against No. 5 Nebraska and No. 7 Michigan State, Michigan claimed a head-to-head lead over two of the teams competing for the Big Ten championship. Beating the Spartans on the road was especially important, as there won’t be many better wins for a Big Ten team this season.
The win, Michigan’s first in East Lansing since 2018, puts the pressure on Michigan State to return the favor in Ann Arbor on the final Sunday of the regular season. There’s still a lot of basketball to be played, but the Wolverines have a chance after this 2-0 week to put some distance between themselves and the other teams at the top of the standings.
Michigan has gone from looking invincible to beatable at times, but lately the Wolverines have just found ways to win. Against Nebraska, they stepped up their defense in the second half and pulled off a comeback win. Against Michigan State they built a big lead, gave it away and then defeated Michigan State. The Wolverines opened the door for Michigan State with a lackluster start to the second half, but showed some real determination to win this game after giving up the lead. That’s the stuff that wins Big Ten championships. –Austin Meek
Michigan State nearly overcomes a slow start
The Wolverines’ defense smothered the Spartans’ offense in the first half. The Wolverines’ size in the frontcourt with Aday Mara (7-3), Morez Johnson Jr. (6-9) and Yaxel Lendeborg (6-9) took away the high-low action between the Spartans’ bigs and made it difficult to finish around the rim. The Wolverines were also great at keeping the ball out of the paint with their switching and rotations on the weak side.
MSU’s comeback started on the defensive end. Their intensity went to a whole other level, along with the raucous crowd at the Breslin Center. After turning over a number of points in the first half, Michigan State returned the favor, forcing nine Michigan turnovers and turning them into 17 points. Midway through the second half, Michigan State staged a furious 17-point comeback. As the Wolverines dribbled the ball down the floor, all five Spartans hit the floor. With the shot clock winding down, Mara kept the ball on the left block before throwing a desperation pass that landed on the other side of the floor. It was an example of the ruthless, tough defense that Tom Izzo’s teams are known for.
The ball pressure was relentless and accelerated the Wolverines. However, Cadeau’s great offensive play late in the game gave the Wolverines separation and the win.
The Spartans proved that their defense can reach a level that could disrupt one of the most potent offenses in the country. (Michigan is No. 1 in points per game in the Big Ten at 90.8). Fear carried the offense in the second half, finding ways to maneuver in the paint and create for itself and others. But the Spartans couldn’t get enough goals from the rest of the team. Jaxon Kohler scored 12 points on four of 13 shots from the field.
Coen Carr’s inability to make shots from outside gave Michigan an outlet to disrupt the defense. Jordan Scott gave them some lift off the bench, but he was also inefficient from the floor.
For now, the Spartans likely fall into a second tier, just below Michigan, in the Big Ten. But they are still a dangerous team in March, when the pressure is at its highest. –Matthew Ho
Michigan’s defense made the difference
According to the statistics, these are two of the best defensive teams in college basketball. Michigan scored 83 points, the second most in Michigan this season, and scored 1.15 points per possession. Meanwhile, the Wolverines held Michigan State to 37 percent shooting and 4-for-23 from 3-point range. Some of that was Michigan State’s missing shots, but Michigan’s defense had a lot to do with it.
The Spartans played hard – they always do – and made Michigan work, especially on their big run to get back into the game. The way Michigan smothered Michigan State in the first half left the Spartans with a huge hill to climb. The Wolverines play one of the best interior defenses in the country, and unlike some teams that have given Michigan problems, the Spartans don’t rely heavily on their outside shooting. On a night when 3-pointers weren’t falling, the Spartans didn’t have many reliable scoring options outside of Point Fears.
Michigan’s turnover early in the second half helped the Spartans get back into the game. That was partly Michigan State’s defense, partly the crowd and partly Michigan losing focus. Michigan State used a lot of energy in its comeback and seemed to run out of gas in the last five minutes. Just like against Nebraska, the Wolverines made winning plays late in the game. – Modest
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