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Michigan traveled to East Lansing for a Sunday afternoon showdown with rival Michigan State.
The Wolverines enter the contest ranked 12th in the country, and bring a 1-1 record in the Big Ten with a win over Iowa and a loss to Illinois.
The Spartans, ranked 14th, boast a sparkling 3-0 record in conference play with wins over Rutgers, Northwestern and Illinois.
They say basketball is a game of runs, and that old cliche rang true in the first half on Sunday. Michigan State started fast, jumping to an early 15-8 lead, however the Wolverines battled back to within 23-21 midway through the frame.
The Spartans then counter-punched with a 7-0 run to take a 30-21 edge, and continued that momentum throughout the remainder of the half, taking a 44-34 lead into the locker room.
POSITIVES:
- Michigan’s bigs carried the Wolverines in the first half. Jon Teske (11 points, 3 rebounds), Brandon Johns Jr. (5 points) and Austin Davis (7 points, 4 rebounds) combined for 15 of first 17 points. Given the way Michigan struggled in outside shooting, the post production is vital for the Wolverines to stay within striking distance.
- Zavier Simpson box score line won’t wow you — 8 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, steal) — but the senior made several hustle plays for Michigan. Whether it be an offensive rebound or a quick steal off an MSU defensive board, Simpson stole a couple extra possessions for the Wolverines, and those possessions ended in points for the road club.
NEGATIVES:
- The Wolverines struggled mightily shooting from three-point range, missing their first six attempts from beyond the arc before freshman Franz Wagner was finally able to knock one down with just under 8 minutes to play in the opening half. Later in the half, the lack of production from the perimeter began to catch up with Michigan, as they finished the half just 14-of-38 from the floor (37 percent). The Wolverines will have to shoot the ball much better in the second half to get back in the game.
- It came as no surprise that senior Cassius Winston led the way for the Spartans in the first half. Still, it was a little too easy for the All-American in the those opening 20 minutes. He finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and added 4 assists as well.
- As usual, Michigan State looked to get out and run as often as they could, and their pace led to 10 fast break points. The Wolverines, meanwhile, were held scoreless in fast break points. Michigan’s transition defense improved throughout the half, and they’ll have to remain diligent in that area in the second half.