It’s hard to overcome a 16-point halftime deficit. Michigan State basketball learned this on Friday, and while it vigorously tried, it failed. In an unsuccessful comeback attempt that made for a classic at the Breslin Center, MSU fell to rival Michigan 83-71.
It was never easy for the Spartans. It was never supposed to be. At times it was rough, at times there was hope, at times there were game changing plays that altered the outcome of what could have been.
It began in the first half where the Spartans were dominated at every facet of play.
Eight minutes into the game and down 15–5 to the Wolverines, the Spartans looked discombobulated. Along with inefficient offensive possessions, turnovers and shots that wouldn’t fall, it felt as if MSU’s big men were taking 3-point shots instead of settling into the post. All while the guards were posting up rather than running a potent offense.
Causing the inefficiency was a strong Michigan man-to-man defense that didn’t let the Spartans breathe — particularly when MSU drove inside the arc. When sophomore guard Jeremy Fears attacked the lane, or when senior center Carson Cooper or senior forward Jaxon Kohler settled with the ball, a maize-and-blue jersey awaited their arrival, anticipating the next move and shutting down one offensive set after another.
Up to that point, MSU looked out of sync with its usual style of play. With three minutes left in the first half and trailing 29–21, there was still life in the air — still time to play a strong game, still hope for a comeback — until freshman forward Cam Ward committed a hook-and-hold flagrant foul on forward Yaxel Lendeborg, awarding Michigan two free throws and possession.
The call originally went against Lendeborg, but after review, it found that Ward hooked Lendeborg’s wrist, restricting him from securing the rebound. Lendeborg hit his two free throws, and with the ball, Michigan scored an and-one layup. It was a five-point swing and a momentum shift, and on the next Wolverine possession, Trey McKenney hit a three.
"We built too big a hole," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. "And [the hole] all started with that hook and hold."
The Spartans were like a ship taking on water, sinking fast into a cold ocean. Down 37–21 with under a minute to go, it got worse. Following a missed Spartan three-pointer, Michigan secured the rebound and pushed the pace on a fast break, catching the Spartans off guard. Lendeborg drove to the basket with no defender in sight, but Fears, trailing the play, struck him from behind while he was airborne. The contact resulted in another flagrant foul, giving Michigan two free throws and possession.
As expected, Lendeborg played a big role in such an important game. The senior scored 26 points on 6-for-13 shooting with 12 rebounds and two blocks. Alongside Lendeborg, there was also Elliot Cadeau, who scored 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting with six assists.
"The officials didn’t cost us this game," Izzo said. "The lack of getting rebounds and playing defense at the right time cost us the game."
Two flagrant fouls. A dominant 11–1 Wolverine run. Six minutes without a Spartan field goal. By halftime, with Michigan State trailing 42–26, the Spartans appeared dead and buried by their rivals.
But then something changed. A new team dressed in green and white uniforms jogged out of the locker room; a team with energy and confidence, much unlike the team from the first half.
This new team shot out of a cannon when the second half began. It took 20 minutes for the Spartans to arrive, and they did; it was as if a whole new team took the floor. There was a dynamic Spartan offense and a blistering Spartan defense, yet the biggest change of all was the emotion – there wasn't too much of it, but just the right amount.
In stark contrast to the first half, the Spartans were calm and controlled, almost as if they had planned to trail by double digits at halftime. They were deliberate when needed and accelerated the pace at the right moments. In the frontcourt, Michigan State consistently penetrated and found success in the post while remaining confident from beyond the arc. Defensively, MSU contested shots, played with greater physicality, and disrupted dribble drives before they could develop, winning battles in the paint through efficient box-outs and ball denial.
This change – the change in offense, defense and emotion – left Michigan stifled and stumped. Its confidence began to shake; its defense broke down and allowed penetration and open looks. Its offense cooled down, unable to score under the basket while struggling to hit shots. In the first half, Michigan shot 42% from the field. In the second half, it shot 33%.
All of this was enough to allow MSU to climb back, and with eight minutes left in the game, Kohler hit a three to tie the game at 55. On the ensuing possession, Fears drove to the basket and scored on a layup to give MSU a 57-55 lead. Fears would finish with a career high 31 points on 9-for-20, shooting seven assists and five rebounds.
After being down by 18, MSU clawed its way back and had its first lead of the game. The Breslin was alive, and so were the Spartans, but the game was far from over.
What ensued was a swinging pendulum of big plays and momentum shifts. For a moment, the game felt like a boxing ring; where two champion fighters stood bloody and beaten but still alive, knowing that one jab could end things.
Michigan landed this one jab.
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In a six-minute span, the Wolverines took control again. During a 16–6 maize-and-blue run, the Spartans began to spiral, bogged down by slow offensive sets that Michigan defended effectively, leading to missed shots and lost rebounding opportunities. At the other end, Michigan capitalized on MSU’s offensive struggles, using quick, intelligent ball movement to create separation and knock down open looks.
It was a slow end to such a fast comeback, it was apparent that the Spartans did not have enough juice to finish. As the final horn sounded and the Spartan fans walked towards the exit, No. 3 Michigan took down its rival No. 7 MSU 83-71.
"At the end, we gave up three rebounds at one time, and they hit a three," Izzo said. "Those are daggers, you know. And give them credit. We just didn't do some things that we needed to do, and when we got the lead, we didn't do what we do best. We didn't get stops or rebounds."
Stats don’t lie. As of Jan. 30, Michigan is better than Michigan State. Come March 8, this can change. Or not. For now, the Spartans must tackle the task ahead. On Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m., MSU will take on Minnesota at Williams Arena.
