The game was decided during a nine-plus minute stretch in the middle of the first half, when MSU took a four-point deficit and turned it into a 19-point lead. The transition machine was on full display, with Nick Ward’s career-high 28 points. The big man was running, early, and often, and Cassius Winston was masterful in his ability to get it to him. 

“If he's running the floor, I’m gonna reward him,” Winston said. “When the big fella is running, you gotta reward him any chance you get. He did a good job getting out today.”

The fact that Ward’s career high came as a result of effort rather than simply superior talent, had to please the coaching staff. It pleased Ward, too.

"That’s just off of pure effort," Ward said. "Running takes no skill. I didn’t really get the ball on the block, to be honest. ... I just try to do the best I can for my team every time I step out on the court. Go as hard as I can, make the best play.”

Green Bay plays fast, as coach Linc Darner noted postgame, which contributed the speed of the Spartans looked. If MSU can run the way it did Sunday, it will change how they’re defended. Without former teammates Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr., the half court offense can stagnate at times. If the Spartans beat the defense down the floor, as they proved tonight, suddenly the struggles in the half court diminish in importance.

Winston sees the game on another level. It often feels like he’s playing 3D chess, and the roaring transition run tonight was no exception. He was coy when asked postgame if he sometimes sees plays before they happen.

“I wish," Winston said. "It’s more of a reaction thing. I’m really good at just taking what the defense gives me. If I dribble this way and he shifts, that means that pass is open.

"If he’s on the top side, that means I can drive, it’s more of a quick reaction-type thing. Sometimes, you can anticipate movements after you see what they’re doing for a while, but most of the time, it’s just quick reaction.” 

McQuaid back in the starting lineup

Coach Tom Izzo told an interesting story postgame about junior guard/forward Kyle Ahrens, who has played since Matt McQuaid was injured against Texas. Ahrens voluntarily gave his starting spot back to McQuaid.

“Him and McQuaid had already gotten together and came to me to say that McQuaid should start because it was his starting position and he is fine coming off the bench and I should think nothing of it,” Izzo said. “Don't make it a quarterback controversy or nothing else. That is the way he wanted it. Him and Matt talked about it.”

Ahrens’ "Remember The Titans," “Petey should play” moment was recounted by McQuaid as well.

“Me and Kyle have been roommates since freshman year,” McQuaid said. “We’re really good friends. He actually came to me and told me that he wanted me to start. That meant a lot especially the way he’s been playing.”

McQuaid scored three points in 18 minutes off the bench against Florida, but looked back in shape Sunday. He scored five quick points early in the game.

“I felt like I had more pep in my step this game, felt like I was in better shape,” McQuaid said. “I was running a lot better on the break, too. Cassius was giving me great passes and finding me, Josh [Langford] was being so unselfish. He hit me on a couple great passes. Give all my teammates credit, because they were just finding me and giving me good passes.”

Loyer and Brown put in a shift

Izzo has publicly stated his preference for an eight-man rotation, with Aaron Henry as the lone freshman getting meaningful playing time. That being said, point guard Foster Loyer and guard/forward Gabe Brown played well in the first-half opportunities they had Sunday night. 

As the breakneck pace of the game tired Winston out, Loyer came into the game and made an impact in the short time he was out there. He grabbed a rebound in traffic, made four free throws, and took a charge. It’s a process, but it was a positive step towards earning Izzo’s trust.

“I think for me, a lot of it is, when I am out there, doing the little things," Loyer said. "When I go out there, I’ve got to be a leader and help run the team, that’s the point guard’s job. Getting that rebound, taking a charge, things like that, that’s the little things that help keep me on the court.”

Izzo was asked about Loyer’s opportunities going forward, after the Clarkston native did not play at Florida, and he deferred to the issue of matchups.

“Those things sometimes will make a difference until he gets his thought process. He is smart enough, he will figure it out,” Izzo said. “I don't know what it's going to take, I just know that I am going to keep trying to get him some minutes but I am also going to get Matt some minutes there and see if we can keep it going.” 

This season is about getting Brown prepared for bigger moments down the road. The freshman knocked down three triples, including two from the same spot in the right corner during his two minutes of first half play. 

“I felt like this week was good for me as an individual because it helped me better my basketball game,” Brown said. “I played the character of (Tank Hemphill) on Green Bay. He’s a driver, so that helped me work on my driving and work on getting to the basket, work on getting tougher, especially being down there with the big dogs."

Brown is young, and will improve as an all-around player mostly in practice, with a logjam ahead of him at the wing positions. His attitude is right, as Izzo noted — taking the scout team role as a challenge rather than an insult. For him to come in and shoot the ball well during the game-deciding stretch was something he can use going forward.