MSU continues to peak at the right time, following up wins over Illinois and Purdue with a determined second-half showing at Crisler Center.

"Not sure if I’ve ever had a seven-day span like the one we just had," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said postgame.

MSU and Michigan will meet again on March 9 at Breslin Center.

Richardson, whose winning effort spanned all 40 minutes, finished with 21 points and six rebounds. Holloman propelled himself to 18 points with three consecutive triples in the second half. Senior guard Jaden Akins, despite shooting just 4-for-14, 1-for-6 from three, attacked confidently and finished with 11 points. 

"Sometimes losing brings you down, and sometimes winning makes you a little better than you are," Izzo said.

The Wolverines leaned on big man Vladislav Goldin down the stretch. The Florida Atlantic transfer shot 7-for-11 for 21 points, while fellow seven-footer Danny Wolf orchestrated Michigan’s offense with 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

MSU now controls its Big Ten title fate, with three of its final four games against ranked opponents — Maryland, Wisconsin and Michigan — all battling for top spots in the conference.

The Spartans have four days to prepare for another significant challenge: a road date with No. 20 Maryland, one of the hottest teams in the country. The Terrapins (21-6, 11-5) have won 10 of their last 12 games and are unbeaten at home in Big Ten play, feeding off fast starts and a formidable scoring attack.  

After facing Maryland, MSU returns home for a matchup with No. 11 Wisconsin (21-5, 11-4), the most complete team in the conference. The Spartans then travel to Iowa before closing out the regular season with the anticipated matchup against Michigan at Breslin Center — a game that could decide a Big Ten champion.  

MSU vs. Maryland tips off at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in College Park. The game will air on Big Ten Network.

A true road environment

The energy inside Crisler Center Friday was night and day from last February when Spartan fans stole the show as MSU defeated a reeling Michigan program under Juwan Howard. 

What a difference a year makes. Michigan signed first-year head coach Dusty May to a multi-year contract extension hours before tip-off Friday, locking up the man who’s led the Wolverines atop the Big Ten and hasn’t yet lost in Ann Arbor. 

It was clear before tip-off Friday that MSU had its hands full with a raucous environment at Crisler Center, a packed house quickly silenced as Richardson got things underway with a step-back three following a turnover on Michigan’s first possession. 

Akins’ transition three at the 12:53 mark put MSU up 16-8. Then, Wolf took over, and Crisler erupted.

The Yale transfer ignited a 15-0 Michigan run spanning just over five minutes late in the first half. MSU couldn’t play to its strengths as the Wolverines walled up inside and forced the Spartans to succeed in their half-court offense, which led to them settling for outside shots as Michigan was suddenly ahead, 23-16. 

MSU simmered down and began slowly eating away at the Wolverines’ lead. Down three points at the first half’s 4:16 mark, Holloman sailed a lob to Coen Carr, leading to an easy Michigan bucket. Holloman tried again seconds later, this time from past half court — high again. 

Instead of pulling within a point, the Spartans trailed by five. Michigan led 38-34 at halftime. 

"I thought in the first half, we were awful," Izzo said.

Holloman, Richardson rise up

The Minnesota native and freshman delivered MSU’s biggest win over Michigan in years.

Holloman and Richardson stepped up time after time as the Spartans mounted a lead they would never relinquish. Down four points at halftime, MSU’s pair of guards sparked a 23-11 run over the first nine minutes of the second half. 

Three straight Holloman triples beginning at the 12:16 mark tied MSU’s largest lead of the night at eight points. The first two were significant momentum-changers, coming directly after Michigan buckets. 

"For us to make that many threes: a miracle," Izzo said. "Tre Holloman did a hell of a job. Jase Richardson was unbelievable."

Holloman scored 11 points in his first seven minutes of the second half. Richardson notched 10 of his 21 total points in the second half, which featured several timely scores that were more difficult than the freshman made them look. 

MSU’s recent success wouldn’t be without elevated play from Richardson and Holloman. Both guards delivered again Friday night when MSU needed it most.