No. 3 Michigan Survives No. 7 Michigan State Comeback in 83-71 Win in East Lansing
In a top 10 matchup with huge implications on a potential Big Ten regular season title for both teams, the 3rd-ranked Michigan Wolverines held off a furious second-half comeback by the 7th-ranked Michigan State Spartans to move to 10-1 in Big Ten play.
Lendeborg and Cadeau Star for the Wolverines in Win
After going up by as much as 18 points, the Wolverines needed every bit of both Yaxel Lendeborg and Elliot Cadeau’s heroics in the second half to pull out the win. Lendeborg would finish with a huge double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds as the Big Ten Player of the Year frontrunner was unstoppable down the stretch for Michigan.
Cadeau wouldn’t be far behind in impacting the game for the Wolverines, as he finished with 17 points and 6 assists, putting on one of his best performances of the season tonight. After jumping out to a 16-point lead heading into halftime, Michigan looked ready to blow out yet add Michigan State’s name to the list of ranked teams the Wolverines have dominated this season.
The Hot Second Half
However, the Spartans would come out of the gates hot in the second half, as they went on a 19-5 run behind a swarming defensive effort in the first 5 minutes of the half. Michigan was able to weather the storm in the closing minutes of the game, as they went on a 16-4 run over the final 4 minutes to silence the rowdy Michigan State crowd.
Michigan also received some much-needed support outside of Lendeborg and Cadeau, as both Morez Johnson Jr. and Trey McKenney gave the extra boost the Wolverines needed. Johnson Jr. would finish with 12 points and 4 rebounds, while McKenney provided a nice spark off the bench with 10 points. The Wolverines would also make their trips to the charity stripe count tonight, as they shot 23 for 26 from the free-throw line, which helped them seal the win.
Spartans Offense Sputters Despite Fears Jr. Fantastic Performance
It was a one-man show for the Spartans in the loss, as star Point Guard Jeremy Fears Jr. was the only player to find any rhythm on offense for Michigan State. Fears Jr. would finish with a solid stat line of 31 points and 7 assists in a valiant effort.
Michigan State would lean heavily on its starting five for any production on offense, as the second unit was missing in action tonight. The Spartans’ bench would finish with just 12 points total, with backup forward Jordan Scott accounting for 10 of those points.
Efficiency At Its Best
The overall efficiency of the Spartans’ offense was also poor, as they shot just 37% from the field and 17% from the three-point line. This latest loss for Michigan State continues to show a worrying trend for the Spartans, as the slow-paced offense once again stalled when matched up against heavyweight opponents.
In their now three losses this season, the Spartans average just 63 points per game while shooting under 40%. That continued ineptitude on offense when facing stiff competition doesn’t bold very well for the Spartans’ title chances.
Michigan Takes Over Top Spot in Big Ten Standings Following Win
After surviving two tough tests against No. 5 Nebraska and now No. 7 Michigan State, the Wolverines are now sitting very comfortably atop the Big Ten heading into the final month of the conference season.
Michigan’s 10-1 record also helps to break up the top of the Big Ten standings, as the Wolverines are now among just three teams in the conference with only one loss so far in Big Ten play.
Conclusion
For the Spartans, they move down to the 4th place position in the conference, with their Big Ten regular season title hopes as both Nebraska and Michigan hold the tiebreaker over them for the time being. Of course, they’ll have a chance to get rid of at least one of those tiebreakers, as Michigan State will play the Wolverines on March 9. As for now, the Wolverines are the current kings of the Big Ten.
