It was an ending that could have been penned by Hollywood’s best writers. Teacher teaches student, only to be schooled by the pupil in the end.

Only the backdrop wasn’t the silver screen, it was the floor of Breslin Center on Friday evening.

And it was just an exhibition.

Sophomore guard Marcus Taylor hit a driving double-clutch floater in the lane with three seconds remaining for the game-winning bucket in the Spartans’ 89-87 win over the Magic Johnson All-Stars.

“It was just kind of an incredible way to end the game,” Spartan head coach Tom Izzo said.

In fitting fashion, it was Johnson who was beat off the dribble by Taylor to set up the last shot.

“I grew up watching him do stuff like that and I got a chance and was able to do it to him,” Taylor said. “And that’s a great feeling.”

But the feeling was nearly cut short by Johnson’s half-court shot at the buzzer, which came up just inches short.

“Oh man - I thought it was good,” Johnson said. “It was right on line and everything, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Along with Johnson, several ex-Spartans returned for the game. Spartan career-leading scorer and guard Shawn Respert, forward/center Pig Miller, center Carlton Valentine and forward Jon Garavaglia all previously suited up in the green and white.

Having those players return was special for everyone involved, Izzo said.

“That was more special for our program than it was for our team,” he said.

Izzo said his young team gained valuable experience in a high-intensity and high-pressure situation.

“That was exactly the type of game (I was looking for),” he said. “That or having them beat the living daylights out of us was exactly the type of game I was looking for.”

Taylor led all scorers with 19 points, despite shooting just 7-22 from the field. He also added 11 assists.

His mentor, Johnson, added a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the losing cause.

But Johnson said Taylor took control of the game’s key moments, a trait any great player must possess.

“I’m sort of glad in a sense that he took it and he took the initiative,” Johnson said. “Good players sometimes have to put the team on their shoulders.”

The Spartans jumped to an early 11-4 lead to start the contest, but the All-Stars chipped away at the deficit before running out to a 14-point lead of their own.

“That’s what veterans do, they keep chipping away at you,” Taylor said. “What surprised me was that they didn’t wear down.”

The Spartans settled in as the game progressed, getting positive minutes from all eight players who played.

“I think the kids from Michigan State, as they started to get on a roll, they got more confident,” Johnson said.

It was the first chance Spartan fans got to see the Spartans three touted freshmen: guard Kelvin Torbert, forward Alan Anderson and guard Chris Hill.

All showed flashes of brilliance, with Hill and Anderson dropping 13 points each and Torbert scoring six points and pulling down six rebounds.

“I love our freshmen,” Johnson said. “I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people as soon as we get to learn how to play with each other.”

And Hill said the learning started in the exhibition.

“This being my first college game, I was so excited - the whole crowd, the atmosphere and everything - it was a fun, fun experience,” he said. “I felt I was able, once I got into the flow of the game, to block all those things out and adjust.”