The defensive stand led to an MSU touchdown on its next second-quarter drive, and — as was the case all day — provided a spark for the entire Spartan Stadium crowd to rally around in No. 24 MSU’s thrilling 34-24 win against No. 11 Wisconsin.

Few would have expected it before the game, but MSU’s defense rose to the challenge of a premier Big Ten offense and dominated the tempo Saturday.

Against a dominant Wisconsin offensive line, the Spartans (5-0 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) put forth a statement defensive effort, holding Wisconsin (4-1, 0-1) to 292 total yards and little possession in Saturday’s hard-fought win.

“Our defense stepped right up and you could just sense it every time they went out,” offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said. “They kept saying, ‘Guys keep the faith, just keep playing hard.’”

Most people expected Wisconsin’s rushing attack, which ranked 10th in the country coming in, to dominate the line of scrimmage and force MSU to stand back while quarterback Scott Tolzien was given time to hit his receivers.

That didn’t happen, as MSU’s front seven answered the challenge of Wisconsin’s size and toughness by generating pressure up the middle and forcing quick throws.

Wisconsin generated only 165 yards rushing and 127 passing, which are well below its averages for the season and is a credit to a defense that was criticized last season for inconsistent play.

This year, it appears there’s a new identity.

“We did give up some big runs, but I thought we played great team defense,” senior linebacker Greg Jones said. “Our defense stuck together.”

MSU used a 1-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Cousins to junior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham to take a 34-24 lead with 2:43 left.

The score capped a 15-play, 84-yard drive that ate up 8:03 off the clock. MSU’s ability to move the ball was a thorn in the side of a team is known for its time of possession.

The Spartans held a 36:24 to 23:36 advantage in clock.

The Spartans’ rushing attack, led by sophomore Edwin Baker’s 18 carries for 87 yards and Le’Veon Bell’s 16 carries for 75 yards, got better as the game went on and had the effect of wearing down the Badgers’ front seven that couldn’t stop a two-dimensional attack.

Despite throwing two interceptions, Cousins went 20-for-29 with 269 yards and three touchdowns and played well on the final drive.

He hit senior wide receiver Mark Dell for an 8-yard touchdown in the first half and senior tight end Charlie Gantt for a 1-yard touchdown with two seconds left in the third quarter.

Wisconsin forced three MSU turnovers, but could never seem to get anything going against a resilient MSU defense.

“It was a total team effort,” Cousins said. “That’s a good football team… we did a great job running the ball.”

MSU took a 20-10 lead at halftime before Wisconsin scored on a three-play drive on its first possession of the second half, that was run in by running back James White.

White led the Badgers’ rushing attack with 98 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns, while John Clay added 17 rushes for 80 yards.

Tolzien was 11-for-25 for 127 yards and a touchdown, but aside from two good touchdown drives, Wisconsin failed to find a rhythm.

In a monumental program victory, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio had to watch the game from his hospital room after a blood clot was discovered in his leg Thursday.

Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said despite Dantonio’s absence for the second game in a row following his Sept. 19 heart attack, he kept in touch with Dantonio via text messages and calls.

However, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said he ultimately made the calls on the field.

“Coach D was with me the entire game,” Narduzzi said. “I have never been on the phone so much during a game.”

MSU used a loud Spartan Stadium environment to start the game well, holding Wisconsin to one first down on its first two drives before sophomore Dan Conroy hit a 36-yard field goal to give MSU a 3-0 lead just 4:02 in.

Wisconsin running back James White scored on a 16-yard touchdown run to put the Badgers ahead 7-3 with 14:29 left in the second quarter.

After the teams traded field goals, MSU stopped Wisconsin on a three-and-out before junior wide receiver Keshawn Martin returned a punt 74 yards up the gut to put MSU ahead 13-10 with 8:11 left in the half.

On MSU’s next drive, it went 69 yards in less than three minutes and scored on Cousins’ 8-yard pass to senior wide receiver Mark Dell.

MSU dominated the game’s tempo, and moves to 5-0 with a game against a 5-0 Michigan team that is ranked No. 19 next week.

However, Saturday was about a big win, and showing that the Spartans could match the intensity of a highly-rated Big Ten opponent.

“I feel that (the offensive line) gets better every day and every snap,” Baker said. “That’s our main goal at the beginning of the season… Show that we’re Big Ten contenders and that we’re going to run the ball.”