Michigan and Michigan State were both undefeated in the Big Ten going into Saturday’s rivalry game. The Wolverines ended up being too much for the Spartans as they won 80-75. Michigan has now won five out of their last seven meetings with Michigan State.
The Spartans were without Adrian Payne and Brandon Dawson. Payne missed his fifth straight game with an ankle injury while Dawson missed the game after he broke his hand hitting a table out of frustration during a film session. Keith Appling was also said to be playing with an injured wrist and back.
The Wolverines are not without injury as they have lost Mitch McGary for the season. However, Michigan has now won nine straight without McGary. Michigan is the first team since 1996 and the first in team history to win three straight games against top-10 teams. They beat number 10 Iowa at home, number 3 Wisconsin on the road and now Michigan State on the road.
This game snapped the Spartans eleven game winning streak. Michigan State should only get better from here. The team has plenty of time to heal up and make their usual NCAA tournament run.
Gary Harris led the scoring for the Spartans with a career high 27 points. Keith Appling was limited to 10 points. Freshman Alvin Ellis was the second leading scorer with a season high 12 points. Harris passed Nick Stauskas as the Big Ten’s leading score after outscoring him by eight points.
Stauskas was five of six from the three point line and finished the game with 19 points. Derrick Walton Jr. scored a career high 19 along with six rebounds and four assists. He was a big part of closing out the game as he was nine of ten from the free throw line.
Walton has a long way to go before he reaches the level of Trey Burke but this game is a start. The Wolverines will need Walton and Caris LeVert to continue to grow if they want to be successful in this season’s tournament.
Just as the Michigan State team has closed the gap on the Michigan Football program, Michigan has closed the gap on the Michigan State basketball program. This has only led to a more intense rivalry where the outcome is much more uncertain. Michigan will meet Michigan State one more time on February 23rd in Ann Arbor.
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