Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from gritty win over Minnesota

Michigan State basketball tipped off against Minnesota on Thursday which was a must-win for the Spartans, and they did just that.

Michigan State basketball was back in action on Thursday night, playing the 12-5 Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Spartans entered the game at 10-7, but have been phenomenal in the state of Michigan this season. They entered as double-digit favorites, with the Gophers as 11.5-point underdogs.

Both coaches also had an agenda: a win for Minnesota coach Ben Johnson would tie his career-high with the Gophers in his third season. As for Tom Izzo? A win would be massive in his 500th regular-season Big Ten game. Tonight marked only the second time in history a Big Ten coach reached that mark. In the end, the good guys prevailed. Tom Izzo recorded a win in Big Ten game No. 500 (in the regular season, I know).

The Spartans made this game a nail-biter, despite the clear stat advantage in most categories. Somehow, this team turned a back-and-forth contest into a near cover. When we said “must win” we did not mean “you will have a heart attack, but wake up to a win” victory. However, the Spartans did indeed win.

So, what did we learn?

1. This version of Malik Hall needs to come out more often

On Thursday, saw the hero early for Michigan State basketball: Malik Hall.

Hall was only two weeks removed from tying a career-high in points against Penn State (24), and that version of him that came alive against the Nittany Lions was present against the Gophers. He had six early points, and his only miss before the under-12 came from a shot clock violation panic shot. However, the other side of Hall came out the rest of the half. He was held out of the score column, missing his two shots. Then, a last second shot attempt slipped through his fingers with under a second in the first half. That might have been the mark to focus, though.

Hall re-centered at half, and had a quick seven points to force a Ben Johnson timeout. He entered the game needing 11 points to hit the 1,000-career point mark, and was destined to do so. To top things off, this came with a Hall double-double.

In his post-game presser, Minnesota head coach Ben Johnson was extremely complimentary of Hall. He called Hall the “difference maker” of the team. He was excellent, finishing with a double-double. Johnson stated that Hall has a “presence” about him, making the players around him better when he is on court. When told of this quote, Hall stated he was honored, with all the good players in this conference, and also all the good players on this team. Both Hall and Walker had no idea on how close the milestone was, per their post-game comments in the locker room. Walker stated how glad he was that Hall got to celebrate that, and, as the other 1,000-point club member on team, that he hopes his teammates all get to celebrate that amazing feeling.

Hall’s parents surprised him after the game, with shirts celebrating his 1,000th point in which Hall stated he had no clue that would happen, and that it was a shock for him. He was emotional talking about it, and you have to feel good for the fifth-year senior.

2. Each team had a clear struggle to make this a heart-pounding game

From the onset of the game, Minnesota and Michigan State basketball had their glaring weaknesses. Minnesota struggled with defense in the paint, and the Spartans could not generate enough pressure to disrupt the 3-point shot. Nearly every shot in the paint had the Spartans drawing a foul on having an uncontested layup or dunk. Meanwhile, Coen Carr was the only Spartan I saw who defended a perimeter shot well in the first half. The Gophers were shooting 45 percent from the arc at half, but it felt like 75 percent.

Defensive lapses were common, and the Spartans were the ones committing these just as often as taking advantage of them. Hall hit a poster, then gave up a mid-range jumper.

The struggles continued in the second half as well. Minnesota quickly tied it up after break, and the next 18 minutes proceeded to be a heart-pounding, nerve-wracking affair. MSU dominated in the paint and off of turnovers, pacing Minnesota by 32 (!) points (paint) and 15 (off turnovers). This was countered by Minnesota making four more shots beyond the arc than the Spartans. The Spartans also outshot Minnesota by 16, but only eight more baskets made this game close. If not for the late scoring run by Tyson Walker (10 straight), we might have a different outcome.

3. Michigan State basketball did win, but Minnesota’s struggles lost this game

Excuse the title of this takeaway, I just need to remind myself that the Spartans did indeed win. The Spartans forced turnovers and fouls as a breakneck pace, and the Gophers were flirting with having MSU in the double bonus before the under-12 timeout in the second half. Right before the under-8, a Jaden Akins and-one led to Cam Christie fouling out. Other Golden Gophers played with four fouls for the end, and it hampered Minnesota. Meanwhile, the only Spartans in foul trouble was Hall (who fouled out with under a minute left) and Carson Cooper.

Johnson and Izzo stated that they thought Christie had a big night coming, but the fouls ended that. Minnesota lost the turnover battle by 14, sealing its fate. Granted, Walker commented that it did not feel this way, as the MSU missed shots made it feel like the Spartans were always in transition. In reality, this was from the turnovers, but the Spartans playing down hurt them. Izzo talked about the mistakes in the press conference, stating that the Spartans won, but did not progress.

Out of their last timeout, the Gophers also had a questionable play call, to say the least. They sent two from beyond the arc with two minutes to play. While a three makes sense, they were not great shot selections, to say the least. The Spartans added a Walker finger roll to end the game.

Speaking of Walker, he carried this team to victory. With around 3:40 left on the game clock, Walker was at nine points. Fast forward to the end, and he had 21. Johnson stated that Walker was just “so fast” and that at the end, his Gophers could not keep up. Get ready for Senior Day, folks, none of us want to see him leave. We have just under two months to prepare.

Michigan State basketball is back in action on Sunday, where it travels to Maryland to play the Terrapins.