“We talk about playing from tip to horn and that's something that we definitely did today,” Manning said in a postgame press conference. “That's just been the mindset. In the huddles we're chipping away, we're challenging them to win three, four, five-minute blocks of game to get back in the game because we're not going to get back in the game in one or two possessions. It's over a period of time.” 

The other was that of none other than Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo, a huddle that fully expected to make those waves without stumbling into the murky waters themselves. 

“We get to that point where we're 20 up and we're in the huddle and we're talking about it and we come out and make two poor shot selections and a poor turnover and that's kind of a lack of leadership on the floor that we have to continue to build on,” Izzo said. “And probably we've got to do a better job from the bench and in really designating those things, but you can't script everything in a game.” 

They weren’t up 20 when freshman guard Jaden Akins settled for yet another wide-open three, the same look Michigan State had been cashing out on all evening. And yet, he let it fly and the ball settled gently through the net for the 68-56 lead with around three minutes to go, the kind of blow that would be final in most games, against most opponents, in most arenas. 

But after seven turnovers at the hands of a tenacious Maryland press, a handful of free throws from freshman guard Max Christie and one sweet turnaround jumper from junior guard Tyson Walker, Michigan State emerged soaked from the depths the Terps had dragged them into with a narrow 76-72 victory that sucked the air out of a building that had already seen one backbreaking collapse in the first game of the day. 

The reactions ranged from a tempered brand of perspective and disappointment…

“Obviously a win is a win, but it was ugly at the end and that's something we've got to make sure that can't happen, can't happen,” Christie said. 

…to those with maybe a little more fire. 

“So, (I’m) disappointed,” Izzo said of his team’s late collapse. “A little frustrated, a little bummed out. And for Tom Izzo, frickin’ angry.” 

No matter the reaction or the result, it played out exactly how Manning wanted: tip to horn, his team sticking to fight no matter how many comeback attempts got put down. As they did in their first two games against the Terps, the Spartans raced out to a sizable lead, generally played winning basketball for the majority of the game and then, a couple mistakes and big shots later, Maryland was right there, breathing down their necks in the final minutes. 

Comparing close basketball games is like comparing ulcers to boils and there’s certainly some measure of credit to be given to Michigan State for finding their own unique measure of consistency in the topsy-turvy sort of season they’ve managed. But the tension in the final minutes at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was certainly greater than a 65-63 win on Feb. 1 at Maryland that got pulled out thanks to some last second heroics from junior forward Malik Hall. Maybe when the Terps cut it to three with around five minutes left in a 77-67 Senior Night win there was a similar sinking feeling in the air.

After all, it wasn’t a Tuesday in February or even Senior Night. It was the Spartans’ first foray into one-and-done time, the back-against-the-wall situation they’ve embraced at certain points throughout the season. Graduate student guard Fatts Russell, the same one that choked up when talking about what his one year with Maryland meant to him postgame, was one clean look and missed three away from stopping a season sweep and making things real uncomfortable for Michigan State. 

“We got out and we told each other that we were going to give it all that we got for these last couple minutes and we almost pulled it off,” Russell said. 

He missed. Michigan State won in the survive-and-advance style that defines early spring in Indianapolis. They play again today while the Terps head back to College Park. 

The natural question that comes through sorting through a messy escape-what now? 

For one, there’s the simple fixes. A little bit of shot selection. Remedying the turnovers that reared their head after not biting the Spartans as bad lately. And with that, working on a press offense that almost resulted in a remarkable undoing. 

“We'll go to work on that,” Izzo said. “We've got a nice tape-down area in our nice hotel and we've got room to have a full court scrimmage tonight so maybe we'll get after it a little bit, have a little fun.” 

Then there’s the tougher aspects to develop. For a Michigan State team with a startling lack of postseason experience-keep in mind, this is their first Big Ten Tournament win since 2019, so there’s the need to grow and act upon said inexperience. Izzo noted this absence besides the presence of senior forward Gabe Brown and senior center Marcus Bingham Jr. but shouldered the responsibility himself.

“I felt our inexperience showed at times, but I'm experienced and I should be able to do a better job of getting that done. I've got to work on myself, too, and our staff,” Izzo said.

From there, encouragement starts to bode. The final three minutes were as far away from the Spartans’ script as possible but Walker and Christie stepping up in the final minutes remained invigorating. Meanwhile, the defense was as solid as every aspect of Michigan State’s game for “85%” of the game-that is, “damn good.” 

Of course, that remaining 15% remains troubling. 

“85% in this league or in this tournament or the next tournament is not good enough,” Izzo said.

The issues and the bright spots might and might not carry over for Michigan State in another game against Wisconsin. As another huddle leaves Indianapolis, all that’s guaranteed is one more of their own to work them out in.