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V-Cast: Michigan State closes Big Ten play with a culture-reinforcing win over Michigan

On3 imageby:Paul Konyndyk•03/09/25•

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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State swept its season series with its in-state rival on the final day of regular-season play in the Big Ten to win the conference championship outright by two games. The Spartans came out of the gate playing at a high level in this game, clamping down on defense and converting opponent turnovers into quality scoring opportunities. Michigan State played better in the first half than it did in the second but still managed to get enough offense from Tre Holloman and Jase Richardson to win this game convincingly, 79-62.

Afterward, SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk checked in from courtside at the Breslin Center for the final V-Cast of the regular season.

V-CAST TOPICS

SENIOR DAY INCIDENT: There have been a lot of dust-ups between Michigan State and its in-state rivals over the years, but this is the first time since Shawn Respert begin the tradition of kissing the mid-court Spartan logo on senior day that the Spartans and Wolverines have engaged in shoving over Michigan players apparently taking umbrage with the tradition and standing on the logo as a result. Wolverine coach Dusty May played dumb when asked about shoving that occurred between players from each team when Wolverine underclassmen LJ Cason and Phat Phat Brooks stood on the Spartan head logo, while Michigan State senior Frankie Fidler kissed the Spartan head and attempted to remain standing on the logo while Szymon Zapala was going to kiss the Spartan head logo before junior guard Tre Holloman intervened. Holloman was issued a technical foul afterward but later defended by Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo and his teammates. Holloman’s actions may have gotten him a technical foul, but they also endeared him to Spartan fans worldwide and also earned the praise of former Spartan players that reached out to thank him for standing up for a longstanding program tradition.

SLOPPY SECOND HALF: Michigan State outscored their in-state rival 50-28 an opening half in which a lot of things went right for the Spartans. Michigan State used a 14-2 advantage in fastbreak points and an 18-4 advantage in points off turnovers as fuel for its hot start. In the second half, the Spartans got caught up in trying to entertain the capacity Breslin Center crowd, which was hungry to see the Spartans dismantle their in-state rival. It didn’t help that Spartan point guard Jeremy Fears was on the bench with foul trouble for much of the half. One of the reasons for that foul trouble was the result of a double technical foul that went to Fears and Wolverine center Vlad Goldin.

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