Well, that lived up to the hype. No. 7 Michigan basketball and No. 10 Michigan State basketball went back and forth all throughout the first half. And then traded blows into the second. But in the end, the Spartans simply had more: more offense, and more defense. And a dominant second-half performance led MSU to a 77-70 win over U-M. After opening up a six-point lead at the 15:32 mark, the Wolverines scored just seven points over the next 12-plus minutes. MSU, meanwhile, ripped off a 21-7 run to take control. U-M (24-4, 13-4 Big Ten) was led by Zavier Simpson's 19 points, while Ignas Brazdeikis and Jordan Poole chipped in 16 and 15, respectively. More:Is MSU looking at another banner after dropping U-M? Cassius Winston scored 27 points and had eight assists for the Spartans (23-5, 14-3). The loss snapped U-M's three-game winning streak in this rivalry. And it gave the Spartans control in the race for a Big Ten title, taking a one-game lead over U-M and the rematch set to take place at the Breslin Center on March 9. MSU dominates second half Michigan's offense went cold at the worst time. And that allowed MSU to take advantage. The Spartans slowly chipped away at a six-point deficit with 15 minutes left. And then they took the lead for good with a dominant second half. U-M couldn't finish at the rim, and it struggled to find good looks. The Wolverines scored just 25 in the second half, shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from 3. That proved to be the difference. Despite missing two injured starters, the Spartans avoided mistakes and played with an impressive amount of poise on the road. U-M hadn't lost at home since Jan. 9, 2018. Back and forth The first half played out surprisingly as U-M's offense played one of its best halves of the season and the defense played one of its worst. The Wolverines got a solid performance from Jon Teske, who scored eight points, grabbed three offensive rebounds and drew several fouls down low. MSU chose to leave open Simpson, who entered the game shooting 29.6 percent from the 3-point line; he made 2 of 5 in the first half and scored 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting. Poole was quiet, while Charles Matthews was limited by an early foul and an ankle injury. Meanwhile, U-M was a mess on the other end. The Wolverines gave up more open 3s and layups in the first half than they have against any other team. Winston made the right reads in the ball-screen game and racked up five first-half assists. His supporting cast played well, too: Kenny Goins had 13 points in the first half on 5-of-7 shooting, Matt McQuaid drilled two 3s and Xavier Tillman scored eight. Missed opportunity Michigan had a chance to break the game open early in the second half. The Wolverines ripped off a 12-4 run over a 3:13 stretch, taking a six-point lead — their largest of the game to that point — and forcing a Michigan State timeout with 15:32 left. But then the offense went cold, and MSU took control. Contact Orion Sang at osang@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter.<doc-sep>Michigan basketball hosts Michigan State Sunday with first place in the Big Ten on the line. Here are three predictions for the Wolverines and Spartans. When it comes to Michigan basketball, there is no team the Wolverines and their fans want to beat more than Michigan State. The rivalry between the two schools has continued to grow in recent years as Michigan basketball has gotten better and better and asserted itself more. Heading into the key matchup Sunday at the Crisler Center, Michigan has won three in a row over the Spartans, including wins in East Lansing and in the Big Ten semifinals last season. It’s been a couple years since Michigan State has come to Ann Arbor and in that last trip to play in front of the Maize Rage, the Spartans fell flat on their face in an 86-57 loss. Yet, these are different teams and the battle between the seventh-ranked Wolverines and the 10th-ranked Spartans should be hard-fought. Of course, the Spartans injury issues have been well documented as both Joshua Langford and Nick Ward are out indefinitely and won’t play Sunday. After losing Langford, Michigan State lost three straight, but since then, the Spartans have won four in a row to remain tied with Michigan at 13-3. While this game is critical for both teams in the Big Ten race, Michigan needs it more. The Spartans still host UM to close out the season and the Wolverines also have a trip to Maryland looming. UM can’t afford more than a loss if it wants to win the regular season title, so unless it can win back-to-back road games at Maryland and Michigan State, it better beat the Spartans. So here is a breakdown of the Wolverines and Spartans with three predictions littered in.<doc-sep>Nolan Bianchi The Detroit News Game summary Cassius Winston was the heartbeat, tactician and muscle of No. 10 MIchigan State's 77-70 win over No. 7 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday. The junior guard out of Detroit came alive in the second half and finished with a game-high 27 points and eight assists, Kenny Goins had 16 and pulled down 11 rebounds, Xavier Tillman scored 14 and Matt McQuaid 13 for Michigan State (23-5, 14-3 B1G). The Wolverines were done in by two dismal stretches from the field in the second half — both times, going over five minutes without a basket — and poor outside shooting, as Michigan finished 7-for-26 from 3-point land. Zavier Simpson led Michigan scorers with 19, Ignas Brazdeikis 16 and Jordan Poole 15. Late surge can't get Wolverines back in game Ignas Brazdeikis immediately gets a bucket at the rim after the media timeout. Matt McQuaid is fouled by Jordan Poole while fighting for a rebound after Kenny Goins misses from 3. Poole is once again being talked to by the referee at the line. McQuaid makes one of two, and it's 67-60. Poole takes an errant 3-point attempt that clanks off the rim. Cassius Winston gets a one-and-one after being fouled by Brazdeikis. Brazdeikis misses from 3 on the other end, and after Aaron Henry misses a shot for the Spartans, Charles Matthews misses the rim completely with a 3-pointer. "Go, green, go white" chants are taking over Crisler. After Cassius Winston makes a free throw, the Wolverines storm back the other way. Simpson converted a layup, and then, after McQuaid turned it over, Poole hit from 3 to make it a 5-point game. Winston is fouled immediately after handling the ensuing inbound pass. That's four fouls for Poole. Winston makes both free throws. Poole comes right back the other way and drills another 3-pointer, making it 72-68 with 30 seconds to go. Winston goes right back to the free throw line and hits both again. Poole can't make his third in a row, and two more free throws from Winston will all but put this one away, as the Spartans have a 76-68 lead with 20 seconds to go. More free throws ensue. Michigan State 77, Michigan 70 (FINAL) Michigan State takes largest lead of game late in second half Xavier Tillman filling the void of Nick Ward nicely, filling up the rim with a layup to make it 58-55, Michigan State after the media timeout. Michigan State is now at the bonus. Aaron Henry will shoot one-and-one. The official is now speaking to Jordan Poole and Cassius Winston. It appears that Poole may have had some trash talk for Henry. Henry converts both, making it 60-55. Michigan's poor stretch from beyond the arc continues. Ignas Brazdeikis misses from 3, and Winston gives the Wolverine defense the ol' right there Fred with a finish at the rim. Jon Teske breaks a Wolverine scoreless streak of over five minutes — the second time that's occurred for Michigan in the half — with a layup that makes it 62-57. Tillman silences the crowd quickly, throwing down a dunk that brings the Spartan lead back to 7 points. Simpson makes the front end of a one-and-one. 64-58 Spartans. McQuaid gets the bounce of a lifetime on a midrange jumper, which gives Michigan State an 8-point lead. Brazdeikis is stuffed at the rim by Thomas Kithier at the other end, and Michigan will go into the final media timeout with its largest deficit of the game. Michigan has now missed eight of its last nine field goals. Michigan State 66, Michigan 58 (3:16 2nd) Cold Wolverine shooting helps Spartans pick up slight edge Matt McQuaid hits all three free throws, giving the Spartans a 52-51 lead. Charles Matthews and Eli Brooks each miss a shot on Michigan's next possession, making the Wolverines 0 for its last 7. Michigan gets a stop on the other end, though, and Zavier Simpson snaps a scoring streak longer than five minutes with a layup to make it 53-52. Cassius Winston puts the Spartans back out front with a layup of his own on the next possession. Kenny Goins drills a jumper after the Spartans get a stop to give Michigan State a 3-point lead. Both teams are 0-for-5 from 3-point range in the half. Matthews will go to the line after drawing a foul on McQuaid. He hits both, making it 56-55, Michigan State. Michigan State 56, Michigan 55 (8:20 2nd) Michigan State clawing back with stellar 'D' Cassius Winston dishes it to Xavier Tillman who lays it in to pull the Spartans within 4. Michigan State picks up its seventh foul of the game with Charles Tillman's foul on Ignas Brazdeikis. He'll shoot a one-and-one, but misses the first. Matt McQuaid isolates the Michigan defenses and kicks it to a wide-open Thomas Kithier down low, where freshman out of Clarkston hits his first bucket of the game. After Jordan Poole misses a 3-pointer, Michigan State keeps a possession alive with a nice hustle play by Kenny Goins to avoid a backcourt violation, and eventually, McQuaid is fouled on a 3-point attempt. He'll take his free throws after a media timeout. Michigan 51, Michigan State 49 (11:47 2nd) Michigan picking up momentum in second half Michigan gets the first possession of the second half. After spreading the ball around, Ignas Brazdeikis draws a foul while going to the rim. He makes both free throws to tie things up, 39-39. Cassius Winston receives a feed while speeding toward the basket and drops a beautiful floater that gets nothing but nylon. Jordan Poole answers with a layup at the other end. Brazdeikis is fouled on a 3-point shot, and will go to the line, where he drills all three to give Michigan a 44-41 lead. Winston hits a pair of free throws to make it 44-43. Zavier Simpson runs a give-and-go with Poole and gets fouled on his way to the rim, hitting both shots to give Michigan a 46-43 lead. Tom Izzo reads Matt McQuaid the riot act after the senior Spartan guard commits an off-ball foul. While things get heated at the Michigan State bench, Brazdeikis fires up the crowd at Crisler. After Michigan State gets a stop, Winston gets to the hole and coverts a layup to make it a 1-point game. Poole gets fancy with the handles and hits a layup that earns him an and-1 opportunity. A converted free throw makes it 49-45. Xavier Tillman can't make a short shot fall; Michigan heads the other way, and Brazdeikis ignites Crisler even further by driving from the baseline and throwing down a two-handed dunk. Michigan 51, Michigan State 45 (15:32 2nd) First half leaders Points MSU - Kenny Goins: 13 pts. UM - Zavier Simpson: 10 pts. Rebounds MSU - Kyle Ahrens: 3 rebs. UM - Ignas Brazdeikis: 6 rebs. Assists MSU - Cassius Winston: 5 asts. UM - Jordan Poole: 2 asts. Michigan State takes 2-point lead into half Jordan Poole hits both free throws to tie things up, 34-34. Jon Teske is fouled inside and will go to the line to shoot two. He converts on one. Matt McQuaid sends Poole to the deck silences the crowd by drilling a 3-point shot. Xavier Tillman hits two free throws on Michigan State's next possession to extend the Spartans' lead to 39-35. Charles Matthews goes to the free-throw line and makes one of two. Michigan elects to call a timeout with about 14 seconds remaining in the half. Zavier Simpson is unable to help the Wolverines draw even with Michigan State before halftime, missing a sky hook as time runs out. Michigan State 39, Michigan 37 (End 1st) Goins' efficient shooting helps Michigan State hold on to tight lead Injury alert: Charles Matthews is in Michigan's locker room having his ankle taped but is expected to return to the game, per CBS. Kyle Ahrens hits one of two shots from the free-throw line. Xavier Tillman has a look inside courtesy of Cassius Winston, and converts to give Michigan State a 30-28 lead.<doc-sep>
Matt McQuaid and Cassius Winston would not let Michigan State basketball lose to Michigan again. And the Spartans are now in first place all alone in the Big Ten standings. The two guards made critical shots, passes and hustle plays down the stretch, helping ignite a 17-4 run that led No. 10 MSU to a 77-70 victory over the No. 7 Wolverines on Sunday afternoon at Crisler Center. Winston scored 19 of his 27 points after halftime and finished with eight assists, and McQuaid added 13 points and five rebounds. Big men Kenny Goins and Xavier Tillman combined for 30 points and 16 rebounds, outplaying their Michigan counterparts Iggy Brazdeikis and Jon Teske (26 points, 20 rebounds). Winston hit 9 of 10 free throws in the final minute and won his individual matchup with Zavier Simpson (19 points, five rebounds, two assists), helping MSU end a three-game losing streak to U-M. The Spartans (23-5, 14-3 Big Ten) move a half-game ahead of Purdue atop the Big Ten, with the Wolverines (24-4, 13-4) falling to third place. [ Tom Izzo put Spartans on Cassius Winston's shoulders, and he carried them ] An even first half Winston had eight points and five assists while playing all 20 minutes, but it was Goins who produced the eye-popping stats at halftime. The 6-foot-7 senior hit 3 of 4 from 3-point range and scored 13 points in the first half. His counterpart on the block, Tillman, had eight points and three rebounds. That helped counter a strong half for Teske and Brazdeikis, who combined for 13 points and 11 rebounds. They were aided by MSU defensively switching on screens, which left the Spartans’ guards exposed to mismatches inside. But the two teams traded punches and runs the entire half. Each hit 5 of 12 from 3-point range. There was some role-reversal as well, as the Wolverines managed a rebounding edge (17-12), while the Spartans committed just four turnovers and forced seven. MSU led by as many as seven in the first half, and McQuaid’s second 3-pointer of the half and a pair of Tillman free throws proved the difference, as the Spartans carried a 39-37 lead into the break. [ Michigan State in position for Big Ten title after beating Michigan ] Back-and-forth Michigan went on a 15-6 run out of halftime, with MSU’s defense struggling to defend Brazdeikis. His dunk after driving baseline from the corner around Goins put the Wolverines up 51-45 with 15:42 to play and gave them their largest lead of the afternoon. Back came MSU, behind the playmaking of Winston and McQuaid, who set up baskets by Tillman and Thomas Kithier to spark a 17-2 run. McQuaid’s savvy draw of a foul with the shot clock winding down gave him three free throws, then Winston hit a layup in traffic after coming off a screen. He then fed Tillman for another layup. Winston finished the burst with a driving layup around Simpson to put MSU up 62-57 with 5:34 left. The Wolverines kept fouling Winston in the final minute, and the junior point guard made 9 of 10 at the line to ice the game. Windsor:Michigan's loss to Michigan State was a gut punch. Plain and simple. Contact Chris Solari at csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.