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V-Cast: Michigan State passes biggest test so far in push for Big Ten regular season championship

On3 imageby:Paul Konyndyk•about 16 hours•

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan State overcome a four-point halftime deficit and fatigue from playing three games in seven days to become the first team to defeat the Wolverines at the Crisler Center this season in Friday night showdown on national television.  The Spartans defeated their in-state rival with guards Jase Richardson and Tre Holloman combining for 39 points in the 75-62 win, which gave the Spartans sole possession of first place in the Big Ten with four regular season games remaining.

After the game, SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk checked in from courtside with the latest V-Cast:

V-CAST TOPICS

Jase Richardson goes off for 21 points: Jase Richardson grew up in the Michigan State rivalry given that his dad is an all-time great from the Tom Izzo era. Friday’s game at Crisler Center, however, was the first time Richardson faced his in-state rival in a competitive setting. Richardson scored the first five points of the game for Michigan State and kept on going, scoring a team-high 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Richardson was the best player on the floor for Michigan State in a disappointing first half and one of the reasons why the Spartans trailed by just four points at halftime despite shooting less than 40 percent during the first 20 minutes of this game. Richardson opened the second half the way he started the first half by knocking down a 3-pointer.

Tre Holloman sparks the Spartans in the second half: Tre Holloman missed too many open jumpers during the first half but bounced back strong in the second half. During a critical sequence in the second half, Holloman buried three 3-pointers in a short span of time to help the Spartans take control of a game that had been close until that point. Holloman and Richardson combined for 39 points against the Wolverines and were among four Spartan players to score in double figures. Jaden Akins and Jeremy Fears also scored in double figures.

Defending Danny Wolf: Michigan State threw a committee of defenders at Wolverine star Danny Wolfe. That group included Szymon Zapala, Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr, and Xavier Booker. Carr played 19 strong minutes in this game. In the first half, Carr made a statement with several athletic rebounds. In the second half of this game, Carr made a statement with his defense against Wolf. Carr alone wasn’t responsible for holding Wolf below his season scoring average. Carr did, however, show growth as a defensive asset for Michigan State in this game. This is not a match-up that he could have successfully taken on at the beginning of the season.

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