EAST LANSING, Mich. — If dominance had a name, it would be Michigan State basketball on senior night at the Breslin Center. The Spartans (26-5) delivered a punishing 79-62 beatdown to their bitter rivals, the Michigan Wolverines (22-9), in a game that was effectively over by halftime.
Tom Izzo’s squad put together one of their most electrifying first halves of the season, storming out to a 50-28 lead before cruising to victory. The Wolverines showed some late fight, but their comeback bid was too little, too late. And, in a moment of classless frustration, Michigan players tried to interfere with MSU’s beloved “Kissing the S” senior tradition—but more on that later.
Spartans Set the Tone Early: A First-Half Clinic
Right from the opening tip, the Breslin Center was electric, and the Spartans fed off that energy. The game’s first possession saw Jeremy Fears Jr. make a high-IQ hustle play, disrupting a Michigan fast break and saving the ball off a defender to regain possession. That set the tone for what was to come.
Michigan led for exactly 14 seconds. After an early three-point play from Vlad Goldin, the Spartans went on an absolute tear. Jaden Akins buried back-to-back three-pointers, igniting a furious 12-1 run that forced an early timeout from a stunned Michigan squad.
But timeouts wouldn’t stop the green and white avalanche. Michigan’s offense crumbled under Michigan State’s defensive pressure, committing turnover after turnover. Meanwhile, MSU’s offense flowed beautifully, as Jase Richardson, Tre Holloman, and Coen Carr all contributed with big plays.
By the time the dust settled on the opening half, Michigan State had outscored the Wolverines 50-28. The stat sheet told the full story:
- MSU shot 7-for-18 from three
- Forced 11 Michigan turnovers while committing just two
- Held Michigan to 2-of-10 from deep
- Bench points? A jaw-dropping 21-1 in favor of MSU
Michigan had no answers. The Wolverines had more turnovers than field goals at one point, and only Goldin (14 points) kept them from total disaster. The Spartans, on the other hand, were putting on a show, highlighted by a backdoor dunk from Richardson and a transition slam from Jaxon Kohler (which may have included an extra step or two, but hey—the refs knew whose night it was).
Second Half: Michigan Shows Life, but MSU Slams the Door
Michigan came out of halftime desperate, and to their credit, they made a push. Goldin continued to carry the Wolverines on his back, scoring inside and drawing fouls. The lead, once 27 points, shrunk to 12 with under eight minutes left.
But then, when the Spartans needed a spark, Jase Richardson delivered. Tripping over a referee, tweaking his ankle, and still drilling a clutch three-pointer that stopped Michigan’s run dead in its tracks.
From there, MSU never let the Wolverines get closer than 12. Tre Holloman put the finishing touches on a stellar night, scoring 20 points off the bench and making big shots down the stretch. The Spartans controlled the glass, outrebounding Michigan 39-30, and their 20-for-24 free-throw shooting sealed the deal.
Michigan’s Disrespectful Antics in the Closing Moments
With the game decided, it was time for MSU’s seniors to take their traditional final bow at Breslin. “Kissing the S” is a cherished Michigan State tradition, where seniors sub out in the closing moments, walk to center court, and kiss the Spartan logo.
Michigan’s Frankie Fidler was the first to do so, and it went smoothly. But when Szymon Zapala approached center court, two Michigan players refused to move, trying to block the ritual.
That’s when Tre Holloman stepped in, forcing them to step aside. Tensions flared, and for a moment, it looked like a full-on altercation might erupt. To their credit, Izzo and Michigan coach Dusty May stepped in to defuse the situation, ensuring that MSU’s seniors got their moment.
But the incident left a sour taste. Did Michigan really not know about the tradition? Unlikely, considering they had just watched Fidler do it moments earlier. It was a petty, unnecessary display from a team that had already been humbled on the scoreboard.
Izzo’s Spartans Are Ready for March
With the Big Ten Tournament looming, Michigan State heads to Indianapolis as the No. 1 seed, riding a wave of momentum. Izzo, never one to let his team get comfortable, acknowledged the second-half sloppiness but emphasized that accountability has been the foundation of this team’s success.
“This team understands that if you don’t play defense, if you don’t rebound, if you don’t give maximum effort, you’re coming out,” Izzo said. “It’s not about talent alone. It’s about toughness, discipline, and holding each other accountable.”
Toughness. Discipline. Accountability.
These are the hallmarks of a Tom Izzo team. And as March Madness approaches, one thing is clear: Michigan State is peaking at the right time, and Tom Izzo still belongs among the best.
