Michigan State Bounces Back in 79-55 Victory over Minnesota
2/9/2019 4:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – Junior forward Nick Ward (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) scored 22 points and had nine rebounds, while senior guard Matt McQuaid (Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville) added a season-high 18 points and a career-high seven assists as No. 9 Michigan State beat Minnesota, 79-55, at the Breslin Center on Saturday afternoon.
Junior guard Cassius Winston (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) added 11 points and nine assists for the Spartans, who connected on 51.7 percent of their shots from the floor.
Records
Michigan State breaks a three-game losing streak and improves to 19-5 overall and 10-3 in the Big Ten Conference, while Minnesota falls to 16-8 overall and 6-7 in league play.
Summary
Michigan State hits the road on Tuesday, Feb. 12, playing at No. 19 Wisconsin. The game will air on ESPN2 at 7 p.m., with Dave Flemming, Dan Dakich and Molly McGrath calling all of the action.
Junior guard Cassius Winston (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) added 11 points and nine assists for the Spartans, who connected on 51.7 percent of their shots from the floor.
Records
Michigan State breaks a three-game losing streak and improves to 19-5 overall and 10-3 in the Big Ten Conference, while Minnesota falls to 16-8 overall and 6-7 in league play.
Summary
- MSU led by 11 points, 35-24, at the break and scored the first seven points of the second half – a dunk and a layup from Ward and a layup from Winston – to push the lead to 41-24 and force Minnesota to call a timeout.
- The lead grew to 20-plus points when McQuaid hit a 3-pointer with 13:55 to play, giving the Spartans a 55-33 lead.
- Michigan State took its biggest lead, 66-38, on a layup from Winston with 10:42 to play in the game.
- The Spartans jumped out to a 35-24 lead at the half paced by Ward – 10 points, eight rebounds – and McQuaid – 10 points, four assists.
- MSU took its biggest lead of the half, 21-5 on free throws from sophomore forward Xavier Tillman (Grand Rapids, Mich./GR Christian) with 12:23 to play, but the Golden Gophers used a 9-1 run and pulled to within 22-14 on a jumper from Daniel Oturu at the 8:54 mark.
- Michigan State connected on 51.7 percent of its field goals (31-of-60).
- The Spartans, after being out-rebounded the previous two games, controlled the boards, 38-33.
- MSU handed out 27 assists on 31 field goals (87.1 percent).
- MSU out-scored Minnesota in the paint, 40-20, and scored 20 points off the fast break.
- With a couple of players in foul trouble, the Spartans received 25 points and 17 rebounds from the bench.
- The Spartans committed only nine turnovers and scored 15 points off 16 Minnesota turnovers.
Michigan State hits the road on Tuesday, Feb. 12, playing at No. 19 Wisconsin. The game will air on ESPN2 at 7 p.m., with Dave Flemming, Dan Dakich and Molly McGrath calling all of the action.
Team Stats
M-428
M-416
FG%
.367
.517
3FG%
.357
.400
FT%
.609
.688
RB
33
38
TO
16
9
STL
1
6
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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