Michigan State’s Shooting Slump: What Went Wrong in the Crucial Clash Against Michigan?

EAST LANSING — Man, it’s been a minute since Michigan basketball rocked the Breslin Center like this. Last time they snagged a win here was back in 2018 — you know, that magical season when the Wolverines stormed all the way to the national title game. On a frenzied Friday night, the Wolverines jumped out to an early lead, soaring ahead by 18 points before the Spartans could even catch their breath. But oh, did the Spartans fight back, churning out a 29-13 run and stealing a fleeting lead — if you blinked, you missed it. With the game teetering on a knife’s edge, Morez Johnson Jr. slammed down a dunk that sent a shockwave through the arena, followed by Elliot Cadeau’s clutch three-pointer sealing the deal as Michigan held firm for an 83-69 victory. This win not only marks their first triumph in East Lansing in half a decade, but it also propels Michigan to the top of the Big Ten, matching the program’s best start through 21 games ever. Meanwhile, Michigan State faces some major hurdles if they hope to defend their crown. The drama, the comeback, the grit — it was all there, and it was electric. LEARN MORE

EAST LANSING − Michigan basketball can party like it’s 2018.

The Wolverines came into a roaring Breslin Center on Friday, Jan. 30, took the lead less than a minute in and looked like it was going to roll, going up by 18 points just 18 minutes into the game. The Spartans stormed all the way back, fueled by a 29-13 burst and even took a brief two-point lead. It lasted just 24 seconds.

The two sides remained within one possession for the next four minutes but with U-M up one, Morez Johnson Jr. threw down a monster slam and on the next possession Elliot Cadeau drilled a 3 to go up six and Michigan held on from there to beat MSU, 83-69.

It is the Wolverines’ first win in East Lansing since 2018, the last time Michigan reached the national title.

Michigan (20-1, 10-1 Big Ten) now moves into first place in the Big Ten with a half-game lead and tied its best start through 21 games in program history. Michigan State (19-3, 9-2 Big Ten) now has an uphill climb if it is to defend its Big Ten title.

Here are the winners and losers from the game:

Winners

Morez Johnson Jr.

Johnson didn’t pop off the stat sheet with 12 points and four rebounds, but defensively he was a menace. He switched beautifully, sometimes guarding Jaxon Kohler, other times Jeremy Fears Jr., and consistently bothered whoever he drew. On one possession, he forced two Fears pump-fakes and then swiped the ball at the top of the key. On the next, Fears tried to fire over him and he altered his line and forced an airball. Later in the half, he swatted Jordan Scott’s 3-point attempt, then raced down court as he caught an outlet from Aday Mara for a jam. Later, he helped from the weak-side and swatted a Kohler put-back layup attempt. With Michigan up one with 5:50 to play, Johnson hit two massive free throws to build Michigan’s lead back to three and then threw down a poster over Jaxon Kohler to go up three. Last but not least, he hit the layup to go up eight with 1:27 to play to end things.

THE GAME STORY: Michigan basketball fights off epic Michigan State rally for 83-71 win

Yaxel Lendeborg

Lendeborg entered Friday having made six of his last 37 3-pointers. Naturally, he canned his first. His five points in two seconds changed the entire game, while he was active on the glass all night. Lendeborg’s 22 points were his most since scoring 29 nearly seven weeks ago while his 12 rebounds represented his fourth double-double on the year (first since November) and tied a season-high. MSU scored the first six of the second half and seemingly had momentum, before Lendeborg swatted a Fears 3, then got the outlet pass up court for the slam. MSU had cut its deficit to 3, when Lendeborg got an offensive rebound and put-back to go back up five minutes later. After MSU got its first lead of the game, Lendeborg hit two clutch free throws to tie it with 7:19 to play. Late, he made a slashing layup to go up six with 2:33 to go and got an offensive rebound with 1:50 left which set up Johnson’s dagger layup.

Jeremy Fears

Even in a loss, Michigan State’s point guard continues to play his way into the All-American conversation and Friday was another example scoring a game-high 31 points with seven assists. Fears did what he’s known to do, maneuvering his body to force Michigan into a number of fouls and capitalized at the free-throw line, going 12-for-14. He was the spark plug for MSU’s comeback, pushing in transition whenever he could and it was a steal and coast-to-coast layup to put the Spartans up 57-55 for the first time all night. With MSU down three, he threw a lob to Cooper to get back within one, 64-63, and on the next possession he grabbed an offensive rebound, but Kohler missed a 3. From there, Michigan State ran out of juice, despite a sensational night from Fears.

Losers

Carson Cooper

The MSU senior picked up two fouls early, which rendered him essentially moot in the first half as he scored two points and grabbed no rebounds in nine minutes. His offensive foul on a moving screen with 11:52 left in the second half also halted MSU’s momentum as it had clawed back in the game within five. Cooper couldn’t contend with Michigan’s bigs, who combined for 42 points as he finished with just six points and two boards.

MSU shooting

The Spartans made just 36.7% of their shots (22-for-60) and though it was better in the second half at 44.1%, going 7-for-26 in the first 20 minutes loomed large. The real issue was 3-point shooting. The Spartans went just 4-for-22 on 3s, making only two in each half. There were multiple chances in the second half for momentum 3s, but only one fell, a Kohler long ball to tie it, 55-55.

Michigan veterans

There’s no apologizing for a win, but the Wolverines could’ve cruised to this one if it got anything from the four guys who’ve played at Breslin before. Nimari Burnett, Will Tschetter, Roddy Gayle Jr. and L.J. Cason combined to make just 3 of 9 shots for 10 points. While six of those points were big (Cason and Tschetter each hit 3s in the middle of the second half), the veterans were far too quiet for too long. That said, nobody in maize and blue will lose much sleep over it.

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball shooting the big loser vs Michigan