Goins, McQuaid Reflect on 2019 Big Ten Championship
3/17/2020 3:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. -Â Even though he is playing basketball in Germany right now, former Michigan State basketball star Matt McQuaid knows that it was one year ago today (March 17) the Spartans beat Michigan, 65-60, for the Big Ten Tournament Championship.
When you hit seven 3-pointers and score 27 points against your biggest rival, beat them for the third time during that 2018-19 season and come back from a 13-point deficit to win the program's sixth tournament title, those are things you tend to remember.
Kenny Goins remembers it too. He didn't have one of his signature games of his redshirt senior year that Sunday afternoon in Chicago – Goins averaged 7.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game – but he hit two free throws in the final seconds to clinch the win.
The memories came back for both players over the weekend after a local tv station aired the game and his phone was flooded with messages.
"It meant the world to me, to win another Big Ten Tournament after just winning a regular season championship," McQuaid said via text from Germany, where he has been playing this season. "And winning both of those games against Michigan was crazy (and sweeter!). It fueled us even more for our deep run in the tournament and brought us closer, both players and coaches."
"I started getting messages from people on Sunday and it brought back some great memories from last year," Goins said via WhatsApp from Italy, where he has been playing this season. "I was so happy to be on that team last year and we just had such a great ride. I wish I could have been there to see the game on tv back home, but, man, that was a fun day."
One of the great memories of that game for McQuaid – outside of hitting 4-of-7 from 3-point land in the game's final 20 minutes – was seeing the return of his close friend, Kyle Ahrens, to the bench after he had gone down in the first half with what appeared to be a terrible injury.
Ahrens returned to the sidelines on crutches early in the second half as MSU went on a 19-7 to tie the game at 48-all on a jumper from Cassius Winston with 7:15 to play. Michigan would go back up by five points, 60-55, with 2:25 to play, but those were the last points from the Wolverines.
McQuaid hit the last of his seven 3's with 2:02 to play, Xavier Tillman tied the game on a put-back layup with 1:19 to play and Winston's layup with 28 seconds left gave MSU a 62-60 lead. Aaron Henry hit a free throw and then Goins hit a pair with two seconds left to seal the win and the historic comeback.
"That was pretty special for me," Goins said. "I grew up with Michigan State. I always wanted to be there and for me to be the person to hit those free throws, against my biggest rival, that was one of the best memories I had at Michigan State. It's something I'll never forget."
One of the things McQuaid remembers most is cutting down the net postgame at the United Center and celebrating with his family, friends and teammates, especially Ahrens.
"That was a moment we'll never forget," McQuaid said. "Coming in together, being roommates with Kyle all four years, we are brothers and that was one of the many special moments we shared in college."
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When you hit seven 3-pointers and score 27 points against your biggest rival, beat them for the third time during that 2018-19 season and come back from a 13-point deficit to win the program's sixth tournament title, those are things you tend to remember.
Kenny Goins remembers it too. He didn't have one of his signature games of his redshirt senior year that Sunday afternoon in Chicago – Goins averaged 7.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game – but he hit two free throws in the final seconds to clinch the win.
The memories came back for both players over the weekend after a local tv station aired the game and his phone was flooded with messages.
"It meant the world to me, to win another Big Ten Tournament after just winning a regular season championship," McQuaid said via text from Germany, where he has been playing this season. "And winning both of those games against Michigan was crazy (and sweeter!). It fueled us even more for our deep run in the tournament and brought us closer, both players and coaches."
"I started getting messages from people on Sunday and it brought back some great memories from last year," Goins said via WhatsApp from Italy, where he has been playing this season. "I was so happy to be on that team last year and we just had such a great ride. I wish I could have been there to see the game on tv back home, but, man, that was a fun day."
One of the great memories of that game for McQuaid – outside of hitting 4-of-7 from 3-point land in the game's final 20 minutes – was seeing the return of his close friend, Kyle Ahrens, to the bench after he had gone down in the first half with what appeared to be a terrible injury.
Ahrens returned to the sidelines on crutches early in the second half as MSU went on a 19-7 to tie the game at 48-all on a jumper from Cassius Winston with 7:15 to play. Michigan would go back up by five points, 60-55, with 2:25 to play, but those were the last points from the Wolverines.
McQuaid hit the last of his seven 3's with 2:02 to play, Xavier Tillman tied the game on a put-back layup with 1:19 to play and Winston's layup with 28 seconds left gave MSU a 62-60 lead. Aaron Henry hit a free throw and then Goins hit a pair with two seconds left to seal the win and the historic comeback.
"That was pretty special for me," Goins said. "I grew up with Michigan State. I always wanted to be there and for me to be the person to hit those free throws, against my biggest rival, that was one of the best memories I had at Michigan State. It's something I'll never forget."
One of the things McQuaid remembers most is cutting down the net postgame at the United Center and celebrating with his family, friends and teammates, especially Ahrens.
"That was a moment we'll never forget," McQuaid said. "Coming in together, being roommates with Kyle all four years, we are brothers and that was one of the many special moments we shared in college."
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