The last time Michigan won in East Lansing was Jan. 13, 2018. Since then, Michigan State has dominated the matchup, winning 10 of the last 14 regular-season games.
The No. 3 Wolverines ended a four-game skid in the rivalry, defeating the No. 7 Spartans 83-71 at the Breslin Center on Friday in what was the highest combined-ranked matchup for both teams.
The Wolverines (20-1, 10-1) held a lead by as much as 18, but the Spartans (19-3, 9-2) came roaring back to tie the game in the second half.
The Spartans had nearly double the turnovers (11) to field goals (6) in the first half, but amped up their defensive intensity in the second period. The Wolverines looked out of sorts until Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau sparked the game-deciding run after knocking down a pull-up jumper and then tossing a lob to Morez Johnson Jr. for a thunderous dunk on the next offensive possession. The North Carolina transfer buried a 3-pointer with just over three minutes remaining to give the Wolverines a six-point advantage.
Cadeau finished with 17 points, six assists and three rebounds. Forward Yaxel Lendeborg added a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds, including six offensive boards.
Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 31 points, dished seven assists and grabbed five rebounds for the Spartans.
Michigan is the Big Ten frontrunner
What a week the Wolverines just had. With wins against No. 5 Nebraska and No. 7 Michigan State, Michigan claimed a head-to-head advantage against two of the teams battling for the Big Ten championship. Beating the Spartans on the road was especially significant, as there won’t be many better wins for a Big Ten team this season.
This win, Michigan’s first in East Lansing since 2018, puts the pressure on Michigan State to return the favor in Ann Arbor on the final Sunday of the regular season. There’s still lots of basketball to be played, but the Wolverines have a chance to put some distance between themselves and the other teams at the top of the standings after this 2-0 week.
Michigan has gone from looking invincible to looking beatable at times, but lately, the Wolverines have just found ways to win. Against Nebraska, they turned up their defense in the second half and gutted out a comeback win. Against Michigan State, they built a big lead, gave it away, and then outplayed Michigan State down the stretch. The Wolverines opened the door for Michigan State with a lackluster start to the second half, but showed some real fortitude to win this game after giving up the lead. That’s the stuff that wins Big Ten championships. — Austin Meek
Michigan State nearly overcomes slow start
The Wolverines’ defense smothered the Spartans’ offense in the first half. The Wolverines’ size in the frontcourt with Aday Mara (7-3), Morez Johnson Jr. (6-9) and Yaxel Lendeborg (6-9) took away the high-low action between the Spartans’ bigs and made it difficult to finish around the rim. The Wolverines were also great at keeping the ball out of the paint with their switching and rotations on the weak side.
MSU’s comeback started on the defensive end. Their intensity went to a whole other level, along with the raucous crowd in the Breslin Center. After turning it over a bunch in the first half, Michigan State returned the favor, forcing nine Michigan turnovers and turning them into 17 points. Midway through the second half, Michigan State was amidst a furious 17-point comeback. As the Wolverines dribbled the ball down the floor, all five Spartans slapped the floor. With the shot clock winding down, Mara held the ball on the left block before flinging a desperation pass that ended up on the other end of the floor. It was an example of the ferocious, tough defense Tom Izzo’s teams are known for.
The ball pressure was relentless and sped up the Wolverines. However, Cadeau’s great offensive play at the end of the game gave the Wolverines separation and the win.
The Spartans proved their defense can hit a level that could disrupt one of the most potent offenses in the country. (Michigan is No. 1 in points per game in the Big Ten at 90.8). Fears carried the offense in the second half, finding ways to maneuver into the paint and create for himself and others. But the Spartans didn’t get enough scoring from the rest of the team. Jaxon Kohler scored 12 points, but on four of 13 shots from the field.
Coen Carr’s inability to make outside shots gave Michigan an outlet to disrupt on defense. Jordan Scott gave them some lift off the bench, but he was also inefficient from the floor.
For now, the Spartans likely fall into a second tier, right below Michigan, in the Big Ten. But they’re still a dangerous team come March when the pressure is the highest. — Matthew Ho
Michigan’s defense was the difference
The metrics say these are two of the best defensive teams in college basketball. Michigan put up 83 points, the second-most Michigan State has allowed this season, and scored 1.15 points per possession. Meanwhile, the Wolverines held Michigan State to 37 percent shooting and 4-for-23 from 3-point range. Some of that was Michigan State missing shots, but Michigan’s defense had a lot to do with it.
The Spartans played hard — they always do — and made Michigan work, especially during their big run to get back in the game. The way Michigan smothered Michigan State in the first half gave the Spartans a huge hill to climb. The Wolverines play some of the best interior defense in the country, and unlike some of the teams that have given Michigan trouble, the Spartans don’t rely heavily on their outside shooting. On a night when the 3-pointers weren’t falling, the Spartans didn’t have many reliable scoring options outside of point Fears.
Michigan’s turnovers early in the second half helped the Spartans get back in the game. That was partly Michigan State’s defense, partly the crowd and partly Michigan losing focus. Michigan State expended a lot of energy in its comeback and seemed to run out of gas in the last five minutes. Just as they did against Nebraska, the Wolverines made winning plays late in the game. — Meek
