Michigan State men’s basketball walked into Mackey Arena Thursday with a month’s worth of reasons to question the extent of its offensive ability in measuring-stick games. The Spartans also held more than a decade’s worth of evidence about what usually happens to them in that building. 

The difference this time was that, as an experienced, high-octane Purdue offense executed and stretched the game toward its comfort zone, MSU kept answering with clean possessions and clean looks, made possible by a focus and composure that was on display throughout the night.

However nail-biting, this was not a survive-and-escape road win for the Spartans, who claimed a 76-74 victory in the most difficult environment they will see this season, in a building they had not won in since 2014.

Purdue entered ranked No. 2 nationally in offense by KenPom. Its veteran point guard Braden Smith — a tempo-setter whose 10 assists Thursday pushed him past 1,000 for his career, becoming just the fifth Division I player to reach that mark — passed MSU great Cassius Winston earlier this season for the Big Ten’s all-time assists record.

The Boilermakers shot 12-for-25 from three, won the rebounding battle and still fell short, because MSU never let the game become too big and, thus, didn’t hand Purdue any extra chances to stack runs. The Spartans shot 53% from the field, scored 40 points in the paint, committed just six turnovers and turned Purdue’s nine into a 19-5 edge in points off turnovers. That’s all well and good. But why this win changes the way people should think about what’s possible for this group is that the counters kept coming — in that setting, against a capable and punchy opponent — which has been rare for this MSU team.

That resolve was required quickly in West Lafayette. Purdue big man Oscar Cluff had eight points in the first five minutes, walking down MSU’s frontcourt into layups and a dunk as the Boilermakers raced to a 13-6 lead. 

The Spartans responded with a flurry of scoring and, within three minutes, took back the lead, which changed sides 11 times over the next 36 minutes. MSU didn’t flinch. The answers came in spots where, over the last month, it had often looked like the Spartans were waiting for them to arrive.

Purdue hit six threes in the first half and 12 for the game. None proved demoralizing because the Spartans kept responding with offensive sets that produced quality shots. It was epitomized by Carson Cooper on the block, scoring repeatedly in a matchup MSU treated as an advantage, with possessions ending in shots the Spartans could live with again and again until it became clear the offense was up to the challenge.