Tag: kyle ahrens

3 Key Takeaways: Michigan State Basketball defeats Penn State on the road

Michigan State basketball beat Penn State on the road last night in a tightly contested Big Ten game. Here are 3 key takeaways.

Michigan State basketball beat Penn State last night, 79-71, in a tightly contested Big Ten road game. Xavier Tillman led the Spartans with a career-high 23 points and a dominant 15 rebounds. Michigan State won despite turnovers and a 19-point deficit in the first half.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

1. Xavier Tillman Is The Best Defender in the Big Ten

Xavier Tillman is ridiculously talented on defense. Last night, he put on another defensive clinic against Penn State Forward Lamar Stevens. Note, Stevens will likely finish his career as one of the best Penn State basketball players of all time. Tillman still clamped him up, especially in the second half during crucial moments. No doubt Tillman will be Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year once this season wraps up.

2. Michigan State Winning Despite Sloppy Play

Cassius Winston has made some very sloppy plays as of late. For instance, he stepped out of bounds last night against Penn State. This turnover was followed by a Nittany Lions 10-2 run, including a flurry of three-pointers. Later in the game, Tillman threw the ball away to Penn State. Michigan State’s turnover problem is not going away and this spells trouble for Sparty in the NCAA tournament.

3. Starters Carry The Team Again

Last night, Penn State’s bench unit contributed 19 total points. In comparison, MSU’s bench unit contributed eight total points. Marcus Bingham Jr. and Thomas Kithier did not score any points. The Spartan’s bench does not need to score an absurd amount of points per game, however, they must contribute more than just eight. We’ll see how this performance plays out as we enter tournament season.

Michigan State plays against Ohio State this upcoming Sunday at 4:30 for a shot at the Big Ten title. The game broadcasts live on CBS.

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Michigan State basketball overcomes 19-point deficit in 79-71 victory over Penn State

Michigan State basketball overcomes a 19-point deficit vs. Penn State on the road tonight. Read more details about this game in this recap.

Michigan State basketball beat the Penn State Nittany Lions tonight, 79-71. The Spartans trailed Penn State by as many as 19 points in this game. This did not matter. MSU mounted a ridiculously impressive comeback in a tough, road atmosphere.

Here is a quick recap of this game:

First Half

Penn State won the opening tip-off which resulted in a Mike Watkins alley-oop. On the next play, Penn State Guard Jamari Wheeler hit a wide-open corner three. Then, Cassius Winston stepped out of bounds. The Nittany Lions started this game with a 10-2 run. Luckily, Michigan State answered back with two straight buckets. Spartans trailed Penn State 10-6 with 15 minutes left in the first half.

Xavier Tillman threw down an impressive putback dunk, bringing Penn State’s lead to only one point. Both teams traded buckets for the next five minutes. The Nittany Lions were 6-9 from deep in the first ten minutes of this game. Penn State led the Spartans 25-13 with 10 minutes left in the first half.

Aaron Henry scored and then set up teammate Rocket Watts for a three-pointer. Penn State answered right back with two three-pointers, bringing the lead to 15 points with seven minutes left in the first half.  Over the next seven minutes, Penn State hit more shots from deep and did not let up the offensive end.

The Spartans trailed Penn State 46-31 at the half.

Second Half

Aaron Henry splashed a three-pointer to start the second half. Rocket Watts scored on back-to-back possessions, cutting the lead down to just eight points. The Spartans continued their offensive flurry with, shooting 6/6 from the floor in the first four minutes of the second half.

Aaron Henry scored on back-to-back possessions, including a three-pointer, to tie the game at 49 apiece. Then, Xavier Tillman gave MSU its first lead of the game thanks to a beautiful Cassius Winston assist. Penn State had no choice but to call a timeout after buckets from both Winston & Watts.

Rocket Watts and Cassius Winston scored back-to-back three-pointers, stretching the MSU lead to 10 points. Penn State would not go away. Lamar Stevens converted two consecutive and-one plays. One play came as the result of an eight-second backcourt violation from Michigan State.

Winston drew a foul and hit one free-throw, boosting MSU’s lead to six points with 5:30 left in the game. Penn State cut into this lead but the Spartans pushed back. Tillman scored down low, giving MSU a 72-67 lead with less than three minutes remaining.

Aaron Henry scored in the lane. Then, Cassius Winston scored on a drive to the lane, converting on an and-one opportunity. Kyle Ahrens hit two free-throws in the last 30 seconds of this game.

Michigan State was victorious over Penn State in a tough road game. Xavier Tillman had a career-high 23 points and he snagged 14 rebounds.

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3 Key Takeaways: No. 24 Michigan State Basketball defeats No. 9 Maryland

Michigan State basketball enjoyed a strong victory over the Maryland Terpins last night, 78-66. Here are three key takeaways from this game.

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Michigan State won an absolutely impressive road game last night against the Maryland Terpins, 78-66. At one point, the Spartans led the Terpins by nearly 16 points. Cassius Winston scored a team-high 20 points in this Big Ten matchup.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

1. MSU Showcases Dynamic Defense

For the most part, Michigan State clamped up Maryland last night. Forward Jalen Smith led the Terpins in points with 20 points on the night. The Spartans primarily focused on Maryland Guard Anthony Cowan Jr., to great effect.

Cowan Jr. only scored 13 points on 6/15 shooting from the floor. Rocket Watts played excellent defense against Cowan Jr. throughout large portions of this game. Aaron Henry also helped out with stellar perimeter defense, contributing one block and one steal. Meanwhile, Tillman blocked two shots and ended the game with a steal as well.

2. Freshmen Playing With Confidence

Malik Hall and Rocket Watts really stepped up in this game against the Terpins. Most importantly, the freshmen carried themselves with confidence which is critical in away game situations. Malik Hall scored 16 points on 5/5 shooting from the floor. Rocket Watts scored 13 points on 5/13 shooting from the floor along with two rebounds and three assists.

I’ve mentioned before that Michigan State really needs thirty points or so from anyone but Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman. Malik Hall and Rocket Watts both have the talent necessary for this contribution. Hopefully, both freshmen continue this high level of play to close out the season.

3. Room For Growth

MSU’s starting five played a total of 158 minutes. The Spartan bench played a total of 42 minutes. MSU’s starting rotation scored a total of 72 points. The Spartan bench contributed a total of six points, all from Kyle Ahrens. The trend is pretty obvious.

Gabe Brown saw the floor for only five minutes in this game. Marcus Bingham Jr. played no more than three minutes. MSU has a very thin margin for error in the Big Ten Tournament. Brown must score more than 0 points for a Championship run.

Michigan State is back in action this upcoming Tuesday on Feb. 3. The Spartans face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions on ESPN at 7 P.M.

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3 Things to Watch: Michigan State Basketball vs. Iowa

Michigan State basketball faces off against a Big Ten powerhouse in Iowa this week. Here are 3 things to watch in this game.

Michigan State welcomes the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Breslin Center this Tuesday for another Big Ten basketball game. The Spartans just beat Nebraska, 86-65, on the road. Iowa most recently beat Ohio State, 86-76, at home.

Here are three things to watch in this game:

1. The Luka Garza Matchup

Luka Garza is probably the best Big Ten basketball player this season. Some may even say he is the best NCAA basketball player this season as well. Nonetheless, he is a serious matchup issue for every Big Ten opponent including Michigan State. Garza is an extremely skilled big man who can shoot threes, grab boards, and dominate the paint.

Luka Garza stands at 6’11” and weighs 260 pounds. Marcus Bingham Jr. is also 6’11” but has not played significant minutes for Michigan State the past few games. Xavier Tillman is 6’8″ and Malik Hall is 6’7″. Iowa is a top-tier three-point shooting team in the Big Ten, so double teams are not really an option. Watch for how MSU schemes against Luka Garza on defense.

2. Turnover Control

MSU ended their last game against Nebraska with a season-high 22 turnovers. Big Ten basketball is really good this year. The Spartans cannot expect to win any game with 22 turnovers. Especially against an elite offensive like Iowa. The Hawkeyes will capitalize on every single Michigan State turnover. Watch for some more discipline from the Spartans in this game.

3. Michigan State’s Depth

The Spartans have not gotten a lot of contributions from their bench players this season. Against Nebraska, Gabe Brown and Kyle Ahrens combined for 31 points off the bench. Both set a season-high for scoring totals in one game. Michigan State could use another 30-40 points from the bench again this time around. Look for some bench scoring from the Spartans in this game.

MSU and Iowa play at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, Feb. 25 on ESPN2.

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3 Key Takeaways: Michigan State Basketball vs. Nebraska

Michigan State basketball pummeled Nebraska 86-65 last night in a Big Ten basketball. Here are three key takeaways from this game.

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Michigan State basketball pummeled Nebraska last night 86-65, moving to 18-9 overall and 10-6 in Big Ten Conference games. Cassius Winston led the Spartans with a game-high 23 points and Gabe Brown contributed 17 points off the bench.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

1. Turnovers Galore

Michigan State ended this game with a season-high 22 turnovers. Cassius Winston, Aaron Henry, and Rocket Watts combined for a total of 12 turnovers. The Spartans are currently third in Big Ten turnovers per game with 12.85 per game. 20-plus turnovers can overshadow a 20-plus point victory and certainly did last night. MSU could not pull away until late due to these turnovers against a 7-19 Nebraska team. I’m concerned with March right around the corner.

2. Gabe Brown Gaining Steam

As mentioned earlier, Gabe Brown scored a season-high 17 points last night, shooting 63% from three-point land. This double-digit game comes after a scoring drought for Brown and could do wonders for Michigan State moving forward. Now, there must be a decision as to whether Brown comes off the bench again or returns to the starting lineup.

3. Lineup Changes

Jack Hoiberg got the start against Nebraska, playing a total of five minutes. Malik Hall was also in the starting lineup. Thus, both Rocket Watts and Gabe Brown came off the bench. Foster Loyer, Thomas Kithier, and Marcus Bingham Jr. played a combined 19 minutes. Meanwhile, Kyle Ahrens scored a season-high 14 points in his season-high 22 minutes.

This lineup will certainly change again, with Hoiberg returning to the bench. Will Izzo tweak the lineup yet again? Will Marcus Bingham Jr. play more than 10 minutes? Will Malik Hall start again? Find out next week as Michigan State faces off against No. 20 Iowa on Tuesday, February 25. The game starts at 7 P.M. and broadcasts live on ESPN2.

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Michigan State Basketball vs. Illinois: 5 Most Important Players

Michigan State Basketball plays against Illinois this Tuesday in another Big Ten road game. Here are the 5 most important players.

Michigan State Basketball travels to the State Farm Center for a game against Illinois. The Fighting Illini are 3-2 in their last five games whereas MSU is 2-3 in their last five games. Another tough away game environment for the Spartans in this matchup.

Here are the five most important players in this game:

1. Aaron Henry

Aaron Henry sits atop my list of the five most important MSU players yet again. Henry did score in double digits against Michigan but he still struggles on the floor. The Sophomore Forward can still improve over the next month but the window of opportunity grows smaller and smaller with each game. Aaron Henry is the most important Spartan in this game against Illinois.

2. Gabe Brown

Gabe Brown failed to score against Michigan this past Saturday, shooting 0/5 from the floor. Keep in mind, MSU only lost by nine points against their interstate rival. So even just ten points from Gabe Brown swings this game in Michigan State’s favor. Watch for Brown to have an explosive bounce-back game against Illinois.

3. Xavier Tillman

Xavier Tillman put up a sneaky 17 points and 12 rebounds against Michigan. I think Tillman should be more aggressive as a scorer. Sometimes, he gets the ball down low and looks to pass to a perimeter teammate. Instead, Tillman should put his body against the defender and score or draw contact. He is a reliable source of high-quality shots more often than not.

4. Rocket Watts

Rocket Watts had a quiet game against the Wolverines with seven points off the bench. Watts gives Michigan State a great scoring spark when Cassius Winston rests on the bench. More importantly, he allows Winston to play off-ball when paired together in the backcourt. Rocket Watts scoring ability is critical for Michigan State’s success during the final stretch of the season.

5. Kyle Ahrens

Kyle Ahrens is the furthest thing from a flashy player. Instead, he is a grit and grind type of guy. Ahrens’ energy and hustle are inspirational. Plus, he can hit three-point shots when open. Kyle can easily swing an MSU game with three or four shots from beyond the arc. As a result, I think he is pretty important in this intense road game situation.

Michigan State and Illinois play at 9 P.M. this Tuesday on ESPN. Cheer on the Spartans and stay with us on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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MSU Basketball vs. UCLA: Three Things To Watch

Michigan State Basketball is set to face UCLA at 2:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 26. This comes after a 93-85 victory over Georgia. Michigan State has underperformed in the tournament so far and must vastly improve before their game against Duke on Dec. 3. …

Michigan State Basketball is set to face UCLA at 2:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 26. This comes after a 93-85 victory over Georgia. Michigan State has underperformed in the tournament so far and must vastly improve before their game against Duke on Dec. 3.

Here are three things to watch in this game against the UCLA Bruins:

Xavier Tillman

Should we be concerned over Xavier Tillman’s performance thus far this season? Right now, he’s averaging 11.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. On paper, this is an improvement over last year in every statistical category, but, he just doesn’t look right.

Tillman currently averages 2.4 turnovers and tallied up three in just the game against Georgia. You expect turnovers from a young player like Rocket Watts but not from Tillman. Worst of all, Xavier is making unforced errors.

Michigan State cannot afford for Tillman to continue this play. Yes, his rebound total is impressive night in and night out, but, he must be wiser with the basketball. Also, he must have a stronger presence around the rim. Watch for Tillman’s improvements against UCLA.

MSU’s Forward Rotation

Marcus Bingham got the start against Georgia instead of Kithier. Personally, I back this decision up. Thomas Kithier is not bad, but, he’s not getting the job done. Especially after a rather horrific defensive performance against Virginia Tech.

Bingham looked great out on the floor. Bill Walton is Bingham’s number one fan. I think that Marcus Bingham brings so much energy to the game. Plus, he usually ends the game with at least one steal and a block.

Malik Hall will definitely get more clock as the season progresses. Against Georgia, Hall had an absolutely vicious dunk. Best of all, he did this while MSU was up by nearly 20 points. That’s the sign of someone with killer instinct.

Guard Depth

Michigan State is absolutely brutal without Cassius Winston on the floor. The offense is discombobulated and the perimeter defense is easily to exploit. More often than not, opposing guards blow right by Foster Loyer for easy buckets at the rim. The Spartan’s lack of Guard depth is a serious problem right now.

What can MSU do? Kyle Ahrens is still working towards full health. As I just mentioned, Loyer can be a defensive liability on any given play. Rocket Watts is moving towards high-quality Guard play but still needs another month of development.

The Joshua Langford injury did more damage than anyone could have imagined. Spartan’s Basketball is in a trial by fire situation. We’ll just have to see how they hold up. Tom Izzo is certainly scheming up something for UCLA.

You can catch this game against UCLA at 2:30 P.M. on ESPN2.

Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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