Where have you heard this before? March is less than two weeks away, and Tom Izzo has won five of his last six games, and eight of the last 10. And on Saturday night, when it got to crunch time, Michigan State closed the deal.
The Spartans held in-state rival Michigan scoreless over the final seven minutes at the Crisler Center, closing the game on a 10-0 run to take home a 73-63 win, their first in Ann Arbor in five years and the completion of a season sweep.
Was it always pretty for the Spartans? Far from it. Michigan State only shot 2-for-14 from beyond the 3-point arc, with Jaden Akins and AJ Hoggard struggling to find a rhythm. But when they needed to lock in defensively and make key plays, Tyson Walker and Malik Hall showed their senior leadership with a combined 37 points.
As for the Wolverines, it’s the latest stumble in a season filled with them. Juwan Howard’s team is last in the Big Ten standings, falling to 8-18 overall and 3-12 in conference play.
Here are three takeaways: