Michigan State Basketball: Spartans Blow Out #24 Minnesota
The Michigan State Spartans picked up a big conference win on Wednesday, knocking off the #24 Minnesota Golden Gophers, 65-47.
The Michigan State Spartans got their first top-25 win of the season on Wednesday as they routed the #24 Minnesota Golden Gophers 65-47 at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State, wearing their Michigan Agricultural College throwbacks, jumped out an early lead and never looked back. Minnesota did not crack double-digits until the 8:33 mark of the first half and the Spartans ended the half on a 15-0 run to take a commanding 39-17 lead into halftime. Michigan State shot 50% (15/30) in the first half and outrebounded Minnesota 22-14.
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Minnesota cut the lead to 19 early in the second half but did not get any closer until their last basket of the game. The Spartans built a 26-point lead at one point and dominated the game until the final whistle. Michigan State continued to outrebound Minnesota, grabbing 42 total rebounds to Minnesota’s 29 as they rolled to a 65-47 win.
Bridges leads offense as MSU defense shuts down Minnesota
Miles Bridges led the Michigan State offense with 16 points and Josh Langford added 13. Nick Ward scored nine points and led the team in rebounds with eight. Michigan State did not have a great night shooting (23/54, 42.6% from the floor), but made up for it by grabbing 11 offensive rebounds and shutting down the Golden Gophers on the other end of the court.
Minnesota struggled to score throughout the game, shooting 33.3% (19/57) from the floor and 18.8% (3/16) from beyond the arc. The Spartans blocked seven shots and picked up six steals as they kept the Golden Gophers’ offense at bay from the get-go, limiting Minnesota to their lowest point total of the season. Minnesota was led by Nick Mason, who scored 14 points. Dupree McBrayer scored 11 for the Golden Gophers.
The win is Michigan State’s first against a top-25 opponent this season after losing their first four such matchups out of conference (Minnesota was unranked when the two teams last met). The win also puts the Spartans back into first place in the Big Ten, leading four other teams by half a game.
| Score | FG | 3P | FT | OR/DR | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FOULS | |
| MSU | 47 | 23/54 | 5/14 | 14/17 | 11/31 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 14 |
| MINN | 65 | 19/57 | 3/16 | 6/7 | 7/22 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 16 |
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The Spartans will visit Ohio State on Sunday with tip scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS.