Michigan State takes advantage of late Michigan fade, wins 73-63

Ann Arbor — No one on Michigan State’s current team had experienced the euphoria of beating the Spartans’ most hated rival, Michigan, in enemy territory. 

Saturday was the last chance for guys like Tyson Walker and Malik Hall — and possibly A.J. Hoggard and Jaden Akins.

The outcome was in doubt for much of the game but then Michigan suffered one of its trademark late collapses and the Spartans pulled away for a 73-63 victory. 

Hall finished with a team-high 18 points to go with his four rebounds. Walker, who scored six points at Penn State earlier this week, had 17 points, three rebounds and three assists to help Michigan State earn its first win at Crisler Center since the 2018-19 season. 

Hall charged toward the hoop from the baseline before throwing down a one-handed slam to give the Spartans a seven-point lead. Then, Hoggard picked off Tray Jackson and had Walker move it up the floor before he dished it to a soaring Akins, who tipped it in. 

Olivier Nkamhoua was whistled for a travel, Michigan’s 20th turnover of the night. 

A chorus of “Go Green! Go White!” chants echoed through Crisler Center and drowned out Michigan’s band that was playing “The Victors” during the media timeout. 

The Spartans held the Wolverines scoreless over the last 7:01. 

The Wolverines had 22 turnovers, which Michigan State turned into 27 points. Dug McDaniel committed five giveaways and Nkamhoua had eight. The Spartans recorded a whopping 15 steals.

Timely 3-pointers kept Michigan in the game until the final seven minutes. Nimari Burnett made a 3-pointer that knotted the score at 61 with 8:07 left. Michigan would tie it once more but never score again. 

The game started with both teams shooting well. Then it got ugly for all parties. The first half was littered with unforced turnovers, bad fouls and offensive lapses. 

Michigan State cleaned up its act in the second half, but the Wolverines didn’t.

Hoggard was whistled for two fouls in the game’s first three minutes and sat for the rest of the first half. Without its point guard, Michigan State struggled with ball security and stringing together profitable possessions. 

Michigan and Michigan State missed a combined nine shots and went scoreless over a 2:22 stretch before Malik Hall ended the drought with a driving layup that tied the score at 16 with 10:51 left in the first half. 

Moments later, Coen Carr got a steal and was going for a monstrous dunk but Will Tschetter committed a Flagrant 1 foul as Carr went airborne. The Spartans freshmen split his pair of free throws to give Michigan State a two-point lead. 

The next time Carr got a steal and was heading full speed to the rim, Michigan stayed out of his way and let him soar. His dunk capped a 7-0 run for the Spartans that gave them a 31-22 lead. 

Michigan responded later. Jaelin Llewellyn put an exclamation point on an 8-0 Michigan run with a go-ahead 3-pointer with 38.7 seconds left. 

The last time these teams met on Jan. 30, the Spartans needed a Rocky-like speech at halftime from walk-on Davis Smith to hit the ground running in the second half and earn the 19-point victory. 

This time, with Hoggard, Akins and Holloman with two fouls each, Davis made a cameo in the final 24 seconds of the half. Dug McDaniel turned the ball over and Carr passed it to Davis, who was fouled in the final second of the half. Davis knocked down each of his free throws to give Michigan State the 39-37 advantage at the break.

After the break, Michigan hung in with the Spartans early — and even led by six at one point — but the Wolverines’ trend of second-half collapse caught up to them. 

Michigan State outscored Michigan 10-0 over the final seven minutes. 

BOX SCORE: Michigan State 73, Michigan 63

Five Wolverines finished with double figure scoring, including Tarri Reed Jr. who had a team-high 15 points. But the Spartans bench outscored Michigan’s reserves 23-2. 

The Spartans also had the 42-24 edge on points in the paint and recorded 19 fast-break points to the Wolverines’ two. 

Michigan State will have three days of prep before hosting Iowa at Breslin Center on Tuesday. Michigan will return to action Thursday at Northwestern. 

mkenney@detroitnews.com

@madkenney