Michigan State, Michigan basketball put on a show worthy of the moment in Ann Arbor
Nothing about the pre-game atmosphere at the Crisler Center felt like the lead up to a typical rivalry matchup between the Michigan State Spartans and the Michigan Wolverines.
When the Spartans made their way on to the court for warm-ups about 30 minutes before tipoff, they were greeted to a welcoming applause rather than the typical boos by Michigan's student section, the "Maize Rage", and the Wolverines faithful who had arrived early to the game.
A green "Spartan strong" flag covered the middle section of the Maize Rage, Wolverine fans wore green bracelets and the entire arena was awash in green as fans, players and coaches paused for 30 seconds in remembrance of the victims of the tragic shooting which claimed the lives of three Michigan State students on Monday.
It was raw. It was emotional. It was touching.
Yet, when the ball was tipped, the atmosphere in Crisler Center was immediately electrified, and the Spartans and Wolverines put on a show worthy of this unique and powerful moment in the rivalry's history.
The rims on both ends of the floor must have looked as big as the ocean for players on both sides. Michigan State knocked down seven of its first eight shot attempts. Michigan wasn't as efficient offensively, but benefited from a couple early MSU turnovers to go stride-for-stride with the Spartans.
After the teams combined for just 112 total points in their first matchup this season — a grinding 59-53 victory for MSU in East Lansing — the pace on Saturday night in Ann Arbor was like a track meet.
Michigan led 18-17 with 11:38 left in the first half, before Spartan senior Tyson Walker drove the lane and scored a layup to give Michigan State the lead — a lead that the Spartans would not yield until there was just five minutes and 20 second left in the game.
Yet, the largest lead that Michigan State could muster was an eight-point advantage with four minutes left in the first half. Every time the Spartans appeared poised to seize control of the game, the Wolverines had a response — usually coming via a clutch three-point basket or a second-chance opportunity off an offensive rebound.
Michigan State's Joey Hauser, Malik Hall and Tyson Walker traded big, clutch moments with Michigan's Dug McDaniel, Kobe Bufkin, and Tarris Reed Jr.
The Spartans' final opportunity to put the game on ice came with just under 10 minutes left in the game. Point guard A.J. Hoggard scored a big bucket in the lane, and that was followed by Hauser's third and final three-pointer of the night. Michigan State led by six, 63-57, and the Crisler Center went quiet as U-M coach Juwan Howard called timeout.
But Michigan had one last response left, and it won them the game. The Wolverines went on a 21-9 run over the next seven minutes, highlighted by back-to-back triples from Bufkin and junior center Hunter Dickinson. Those blew the roof off of Crisler.
Michigan State failed to score in the final two and a half minutes of the game. A disappointing conclusion to what had been an inspired effort from the Spartans on an emotional night in Ann Arbor.
Tom Izzo's squad had the weight of a hurting community on their shoulders on Saturday night. They didn't win the game, but they did not crumble under that weight, nor did they succumb to the pressure of the moment.
While a story-book ending to a tumultuous week wasn't how the script played out at the Crisler Center, make no mistake, the Michigan State men's basketball team rose to the occasion on Saturday night.
Michiganders, both those who wear Green and White and others who don Maize and Blue, were treated to a memorable performance by both the Spartans and Wolverines.
