Tre Holloman scored a career-high 20 points and No. 8 Michigan State led virtually from start to finish in a 79-62 victory over No. 17 Michigan at East Lansing on Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans (26-5, 17-3 Big Ten), who clinched the Big Ten regular-season title in their previous win at Iowa, extended their winning streak to seven games heading into the conference tournament.
Jase Richardson supplied 18 points for Michigan State, which led by as much as 25 points. Jaden Akins added 11 points, and Jaxon Kohler chipped in nine.
Vladislav Goldin led Michigan (22-9, 14-6) with 29 points, and Danny Wolf contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Wolverines made just three of 24 3-point attempts while losing their third straight game.
An early 12-1 run gave Michigan State a 20-6 lead. Holloman had two baskets during that stretch, including a 3-pointer, and Akins also knocked down a shot from beyond the arc.
Nimari Burnett ended that run with a 3-pointer. The Spartans had an 8-0 run to stretch their lead to 33-15 as Holloman and Richardson hit 3-pointers after Michigan turnovers.
A Richardson dunk with 1:48 remaining in the half pushed the advantage to 20. Kohler had a dunk off an Akins steal and assist, and Holloman drained another 3-pointer. Burnett dunked for the final points of the half, but Michigan still trailed at the break, 50-28.
At the half, the Spartans scored 18 points off the Wolverines’ 11 turnovers. Michigan State also made seven 3-pointers off 18 attempts. Holloman and Richardson each had 11 points, while Goldin scored half of Michigan’s points.
Richardson scored the first points of the second half on free throws. The Spartans’ lead fluctuated between 21 and 25 points until the Wolverines scored 14 unanswered points. Goldin scored seven points during that span and Wolf scored five.
Richardson ended Michigan State’s drought with a 3-pointer to make it 64-50. The Wolverines never got closer than 12 points again.
–Field Level Media
