Nebraska, on the other hand, was the opposite. It went on a four-and-a-half minute scoring drought in the first half and over seven-minute field goal drought in the second. Nebraska also committed four turnovers in four minutes while missing six field goals in a row.

As MSU led 70-38 in the second half, Nebraska had made one of its last 15 field goals, proof of MSU’s captivating defense. 

The biggest disparity between the two teams was in the rebounding category. In the first 11 minutes of the game, MSU outrebounded Nebraska 12-4. By halftime, MSU had a 24-to-10 rebound advantage over the Cornhuskers and finished 48-to-19, a 29-rebound differential. 

Some of the biggest MSU points came from offensive rebounds. A board from junior forward Jaxon Kohler and pass to senior guard Jaden Akins led to one of MSU’s nine three-pointers, which shifted the game from being competitive to a match that was out of reach for Nebraska.

Another momentum-shifting play happened in the first half when redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. was involved in a tussle with a Cornhusker. Fears Jr. ripped the ball through and heaved it from the ground to a flying Coen Carr, the sophomore forward whose dunk made the score 28-21. Seconds later, MSU got possession again and freshman guard Jase Richardson found the back of the net on a step-back three-pointer. 

Breslin Center was fired up.

At halftime, MSU was up 41-31 — a closer game than it seemed — and Akins, Richardson and Kohler were getting it done for the Spartans. The three combined for 24 points and Kohler led the team with eight rebounds. The Spartans were a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line, had 17 bench points, 20 points in the paint and nine assists, outperforming Nebraska in practically every category. Saturday saw MSU in a different form, one it hasn't resembled in recent years. 

"We’re moving the ball better. We’re shooting the ball better," head coach Tom Izzo said postgame.

Akins finished with 18 points on 5-for-10 shooting, including a team-high four three-pointers. Richardson, who returned after a head injury during the Maui Invitational, contributed 16 points and Kohler finished just shy of another double-double with eight points and 12 rebounds. Kohler and Fears Jr. combined for 12 of MSU’s 20 assists.

In the two games since the Maui Invitational, MSU has made 20 three-pointers, the most in a two-game period this season.

If MSU can continue its hot streak of three-point shooting and complete domination on the glass, the Spartans will be a tough out for any Big Ten team, especially at Breslin. 

"This team, winning makes them happy," Izzo said. "We played two really good games. This team at Michigan State is making some progress together."

MSU will play Oakland on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. ESPN2 will air the game.