Michigan State’s starters looked similar to past games with a lineup that included junior guard A.J. Hoggard, senior guard Tyson Walker, sophomore guard Jaden Akins, graduate student forward Joey Hauser, and junior center Mady Sissoko in the middle. 

Both teams had a slow start offensively.

The green and white ended the half 9-28 from the field, compared to Michigan’s 7-26.

It wasn't until just after the 13-minute mark, when Hoggard brought the Spartans back to life and broke the scoring drought with an impressive drive to the basket. 

Hoggard kept the momentum going as he sent the ball to Sissoko for a alley-oop dunk over Michigan junior center Hunter Dickinson. 

MSU double-teamed Dickinson in the paint for the majority of the first half. On the glass, Michigan State outrebounded the Wolverines 38-34, with Hauser leading the way for the green and white with 10.

In the last five minutes before the half, senior forward Malik Hall lit the Breslin on fire with back-to-back baskets, putting the Spartans ahead of their opponent heading into the final few minutes of the half.

During the final play, Hall fell back into Michigan’s bench after colliding with junior guard Jace Howard and rolled his ankle. He looked like he was in pain as he stood up to sink two at the line, but returned in the second half without issue.

In an extremely low-scoring first half, the Spartans held the lead at halftime, 27-18. 

The green and white returned from the half with an immediate scoring hunger. They took control offensively, notching five points within the first two minutes of the half.  

Hoggard continued to serve as the leader MSU needed at the top of the key. Hoggard and Hall led the team in points, each notching 15 throughout the entirety of the rivalry showdown. 

Dickinson began to pose a problem for the Spartans early on in the second half, but Sissoko was able to cover him and keep his scoring to a minimum. 

While Sissoko managed to avoid foul trouble in the first half guarding Dickinson, he picked up three fouls midway through the second  and collected his fourth foul with just under seven minutes to play, causing freshman forward/center Jaxon Kohler to take over for him in the middle.

As Sissoko took the bench, Michigan crept up in the final five minutes, as they began to find their groove offensively. A once 42-28 lead now read 47-41 with just over four minutes remaining in the game. 

Despite a late comeback effort from the Wolverines in the second half, Michigan State shut down the Wolverines, 59-53. 

MSU will travel to Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday to take on the Badgers and continue Big Ten play. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be streamed on ESPN.