Sure, the Spartans defeated the Magic Johnson All-Stars 89-87 on Friday night at Breslin Center. And yes, it was Johnson who sophomore guard Marcus Taylor beat off the dribble en route to the game’s winning hoop.

But from the look on Johnson’s face after the game, nobody would have known. And the 14,759 people inside watching the game saw the inescapable look too.

It was Johnson’s smile.

“I was like a little kid all day,” he said. “When I heard the band playing the fight song, that was it for me.”

And during the game, Johnson did look almost like a little kid, as he wandered over by the Izzone section during free throws and other stoppages of play.

One of many interactions went like this: “Hey Magic, quit dragging out there. You got to play some defense,” an Izzone member said.

Johnson shifted his eyes from the heckler and fixed them on the scoreboard above, showing his All-Stars ahead of the Spartans.

“It looks like I’ve already been playing,” he said.

And by the time the final buzzer had sounded, Johnson played all 40 minutes of the exhibition and recorded a triple-double.

“It was a thrill to have him back,” Spartan head coach Tom Izzo said. “I can’t believe how he played - a triple-double is incredible and to play 40 minutes is just incredible.”

But just as important to Johnson as his gaudy stat line was being home.

“To come back here twenty-something years later and to be able to still play and see my home in Lansing, I already won,” said Johnson, who led the Spartans to the 1979 NCAA Championship. “I was having fun tonight.”

And the homecoming gave Johnson and his wife, Cookie, a chance to look back.

“We have one of the best campuses in the world. And that’s why I brought my wife back, so we could go by Yakeley Hall where I courted her,” he said. “It’ll be great walking by the Red Cedar, and just reminiscing about all the good times we’ve shared and I’ve had here.”

But Johnson’s good time provided Izzone member and social relations senior Jamila Kai Mathis a chance to give him a hard time.

While Johnson posed for fans by sitting on the press table during a free throw, Mathis shouted, “Magic, this is a basketball game, not a comedy show.”

Johnson’s eyes widened and jaw sagged as he walked directly in front of Mathis.

He put his hands to the side of his head and began to turn imaginary screws, smiled and said, “I think these are a little too tight.”

Johnson was home, and it showed in his attitude, his jokes and his play.

And fellow Lansing-native Taylor was on the receiving end of many of Johnson’s jokes and big plays.

When Taylor hit two key shots to stop All-Star scoring-runs, Johnson dribbled the ball down the floor and hit three-pointers from the top of the key.

When Taylor had two crucial free-throws late in the second half, it was Johnson jokingly pushing him backwards in between shots.

“The whole time Magic was guarding me he was saying, ‘Whatcha’ gonna’ do? Whatcha’ gonna’ do?’” Taylor said.

And after Taylor hit the eventual game-winning shot after driving past him, Johnson almost shortened the triumph with a desperation, buzzer-beating half-court shot, which fell just short of giving the All-Stars the win.

“I thought it was going in,” Taylor said. “You have to watch everything Magic does, because basically, everything he did was positive.”

And everyone in attendance did just that, watching magic happen time and time again right in front of their eyes.