Down 7-0 within the first few minutes of the game, the No. 15 MSU men's basketball team quickly fought back and never let Michigan regain the lead in a sloppy 64-53 win Thursday night at a packed and boisterous Breslin Center.
The Spartans committed 17 turnovers in the game, a figure that had head coach Tom Izzo scratching his head.
"We're getting down to crunch time here," Izzo said. "We play like that (against Illinois) and we're going to set a North American loss record. I don't want to be a part of the most points scored against Michigan State, but if we turn the ball over like that, that's the way it's going to be."
Turnovers were also a problem for the Wolverines (12-8, 3-3), who committed 23.
MSU (13-3 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) broke open with an 8-0 run in the second half that had the crowd roaring.
"The difference, in all honesty, was the start of the second half," U-M head coach Tommy Amaker said.
"We got out really slowly, for whatever reason, and they got to a double-digit lead and put us on our heels.
"I thought we broke down."
A major contributor to that run was MSU junior guard Maurice Ager, who finished with a game-high 18 points.
"Maurice Ager did an incredible job bringing some energy to this team in the second half," Izzo said.
"I really wasn't happy with him in the first half, but he responded like the true competitor he is.
"He brought 15,000 people into the game."
MSU junior center Paul Davis, who did not start due to an ankle sprain, entered the game more than six minutes into the contest. Sophomore forward Delco Rowley started in his place.
Davis took advantage of his passing ability by starting out MSU's second half run with a pass to senior swingman Alan Anderson for a jam.
He followed with a pass from the top of the key to wide-open junior forward Matt Trannon under the basket for a slam dunk.
Davis also added 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals on the night.
"I was really proud of Paul Davis," Izzo said. "I really honestly didn't think he'd play a minute."
MSU was aided by the suspension of U-M guard Daniel Horton and was helped even further when U-M centers Graham Brown and Chris Hunter found themselves on the bench and out of the game with foul trouble within the first 15 minutes of the game.
"I thought they really took advantage of us at times," Amaker said. "Their pressure and their depth really wore us down."
MSU senior guard Chris Hill once again had an off-shooting night, hitting only 2-of-8 shots on the night.
He finished with six points and six assists.
"I was more pleased with his defense than his offense," Izzo said.
"He's been in a little bit of a slump and I think that hurts us, too."
Guard Dion Harris and center Courtney Sims led U-M with 12 points each.
The Spartans now look to Oakland on Saturday, before their biggest test of the season against an undefeated No.1 Illinois team at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Breslin.
"We've got to be real now," Izzo said.
"The real is that if we play like that next Tuesday, you won't even have me in this press conference, I'll be hiding somewhere."
Matt Bishop can be reached at bishop20@msu.edu.
