Michigan Takes Down Michigan State 83-71

No. 3 Michigan just made a big statement in the Big Ten, taking down No. 7 Michigan State 83-71. Yaxel Lendeborg led the charge with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Elliot Cadeau and Morez Johnson added 17 and 12 points respectively.

The Spartans had a disastrous start, missing 14 of their first 18 shots and finishing the half with more turnovers (11) than field goals (7). They trailed by as much as 18 points, but managed to pull within three early in the second half.

A Back-and-Forth Battle

Jaxon Kohler made a tying 3-pointer with 7:57 left, and Jeremy Fears gave the Spartans their first lead with a steal and layup. But Michigan responded with clutch shooting, making 5 of 6 shots while holding Michigan State scoreless for over three minutes.

Kohler had 12 points, while Coen Carr and Jordan Scott scored 10 points each for the Spartans. Michigan had a big advantage in outside shooting, making 8 of 21 on 3-pointers while Michigan State missed 19 of 23 shots from beyond the arc.

The sold-out game at Breslin Center was a big deal, with Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell and two-time World Series champion Kirk Gibson in attendance. Michigan will host Michigan State again on March 8 to close the regular season.

Next Up

Michigan hosts Penn State on Thursday night, while Michigan State heads to Minnesota on Wednesday night. It’s going to be a big few days in the Big Ten.