Michigan State Runs Past Minnesota 81-62

The battle between Michigan State and Minnesota was simply the difference between two teams playing at different speeds. From the opening tip, the Spartans dictated the pace of the game and pushed the ball almost every single time down the court, making it seem as if they were on a permanent fast break, leading to a commanding 81-62 Spartan win.

The senior-led Spartans immediately took advantage of Minnesota’s lack of depth as they quickly jumped out to an eight point lead, 19-11. But Minnesota’s big men, Jeff Hagen and Spencer Tollackson, took turns scoring down low and kept the Gophers in the game.

The Gophers tried to push the ball themselves and on one possession, Vincent Grier got out on a fast break and went in for a lay-up and was hacked on the wrist, but a foul was not called. Coach Dan Monson did not like the no-call and threw off his sport coat, resulting in a technical foul.

The Gophers kept themselves in the game mid-way through the first half after a couple of buckets by Dan Coleman and a big three-pointer by Aaron Robinson cutting the Spartan lead to just two points, 26-24.

Following Robinson’s three-pointer, the Spartans went on a 19-7 run to finish out the half and held the Gophers to just two field goals in the last six-plus minutes. The Spartans were led in the first half by a hot shooting Shannon Brown who finished with 11 points and a dominant Paul Davis who finished with 10 points and eight rebounds in the games first 20 minutes, giving Michigan State a 45-31 halftime lead.

The second half was more of the same for the Spartans as they pushed the ball at every opportunity and time and time again beat the Gopher defense down the court and opened up a 54-34 lead with 15:37 remaining in the second half.

Grier continued his hot scoring and did his best to keep the Gophers within striking distance, as he finished with a game high 19 points on 7/15 from the field. Hagen and Coleman scored 11 and 12 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to get the Gophers back in the game.

The loss is Minnesota’s third in a row and drops them to 16-9 overall and 6-6 in Big Ten play. The Gophers, who still hold on to slim NCAA Tournament hopes, enter a crucial two game home stretch which kicks off Saturday at The Barn versus Ohio State before they play host to Iowa on Wednesday night.

Are four more wins possible?