McQuaid, Winston lead Michigan State over Michigan 65-60
AP
Mar 17, 2019
CHICAGO (AP) Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo had one simple question for his team. He got the answer he wanted, and the sixth-ranked Spartans picked up their sixth Big Ten Tournament championship.
Now, they'll try to bring home the biggest prize of all.
Matt McQuaid scored a career-high 27 points, Cassius Winston converted the go-ahead layup in the closing minute, and the Spartans rallied to beat No. 10 Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the Big Ten final on Sunday.
Top-seeded Michigan State (28-6) scored the game's final 10 points to capture its first championship since 2016. No other program has won the conference tournament as many times as Michigan State, and this one was particularly sweet.
After all, the Spartans prevented a championship three-peat by Michigan (28-6) and beat their rivals for the third time this season.
''I asked them all today, `What do you want to do?''' Izzo said. ''Pregame meal, `What do you want to do? You want to play for the (NCAA) Tournament or you want to play the game?' That sounds like a stupid question, but if you knew where my guys were at as far as physically, it was a good question to ask. Once they said `We want to play the game,' I said, `You just gave me a license for 40 minutes of hell, so you better get going because I'm not letting up.'''
''They responded and I think they enjoyed it,'' he continued. ''So did I.''
McQuaid nailed a personal-best seven 3-pointers. Winston, the Big Ten Player of the Year, had 14 points and 11 assists as Michigan State won for the 10th time in 11 games.
''It's always big,'' McQuaid said. ''Michigan's a really good team. Beating them three times ... it's hard to do.''
Both teams were awarded No. 2 seeds in the NCAA Tournament and will play Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa. Michigan State faces Bradley in the East Region, while Michigan goes against Montana in the West. The Wolverines beat Montana last year on the way to the national championship game.
Ignas Brazdeikas led Michigan with 19 points. Jordan Poole scored 13. Jon Teske had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Zavier Simpson added 10 assists.
But the third-seeded Wolverines fell again to Michigan State after blowing their chance to win the league by losing to their rivals twice in the final four regular-season games.
''You lose three times in a season to your rival, it's gonna hurt'' Isaiah Livers said. ''But we'll use it as motivation for the NCAA Tournament. I'm glad we don't have a week or two weeks to sit there and think about that last game. We can get right back to playing.''
Michigan led by 13 early in the second half, but Michigan State went on a 13-4 run to tie it at 48 with just over seven minutes remaining.
The Wolverines were up 60-55 after Livers hit a 3 with 2:29 left, but they didn't score again. McQuaid answered with one of his own to start the game-ending run and Xavier Tillman made a tying layup for Michigan State.
After Simpson missed a 3 for Michigan, Winston drove to his left for a layup - which Teske thought he blocked - to put the Spartans on top 62-60 with 28 seconds left.
Brazdeikas then missed a pull-up jumper that got tipped by Aaron Henry with 14 seconds to play. Teske and Tillman went up for the rebound, the ball got knocked out of bounds and the referees gave possession to Michigan State after a review as Michigan coach John Beilein screamed on the sideline.
Henry made a free throw and missed the second, making it a three-point game. Poole then appeared to get bumped by Winston - Michigan State had a foul to give - just before he launched a long 3 off the dribble, but there was no call.
The Spartans' Kenny Goins hit two free throws to make it 65-60 with two seconds left.
AHRENS INJURED
Michigan State forward Kyle Ahrens was relieved X-rays showed his left ankle wasn't broken after he was taken from the court on a stretcher in the first half, though the extent of the injury was not clear.
He expects to have an MRI once the softball-sized swelling goes down.
Ahrens landed awkwardly when he collided in midair with Goins going for a defensive rebound with 4:34 left in the first half.
He clutched his lower left leg as he screamed in pain. Medical personnel placed an air cast on his leg and teammates gave him hugs before he was wheeled away, pounding his chest as he was taken to the back. He returned to the sideline on crutches in the second half.
BIG PICTURE
Michigan: The Wolverines have their sights set on another big NCAA run after losing to Villanova in the championship game last year.
Michigan State: The Spartans head to the tournament with high hopes, though their rotation figures to be a little thinner after Ahrens went down.
UP NEXT
Michigan: NCAA Tournament.
Michigan State: NCAA Tournament.
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1st Half
MICH
Wolverines
31
MIST
Spartans
23
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Michigan State
19:37
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:35
Defensive rebound by Charles Matthews
19:12
Bad pass turnover on Ignas Brazdeikis
18:47
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:45
Defensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
18:23
+3
Ignas Brazdeikis made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
3-0
17:54
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:52
Defensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
17:22
Zavier Simpson missed reverse layup
17:20
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
17:14
Kenny Goins missed layup, blocked by Charles Matthews
17:12
Offensive rebound by Aaron Henry
17:03
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:01
Offensive rebound by Aaron Henry
16:44
+2
Xavier Tillman made layup, assist by Cassius Winston
3-2
16:18
Charles Matthews missed fade-away jump shot
16:16
Defensive rebound by Aaron Henry
16:10
+3
Matt McQuaid made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
3-5
15:49
Shooting foul on Xavier Tillman
15:49
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 1st of 2 free throws
15:49
+1
Ignas Brazdeikis made 2nd of 2 free throws
4-5
15:32
Personal foul on Zavier Simpson
15:15
Nick Ward missed hook shot
15:13
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
14:59
Jordan Poole missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:53
Offensive rebound by Michigan
14:40
+3
Ignas Brazdeikis made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Charles Matthews
7-5
14:13
+2
Nick Ward made hook shot
7-7
13:51
Jon Teske missed jump shot
13:49
Defensive rebound by Matt McQuaid
13:32
+2
Aaron Henry made driving layup, assist by Nick Ward
7-9
13:04
Eli Brooks missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:02
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
12:54
Cassius Winston missed driving layup
12:52
Offensive rebound by Nick Ward
12:51
Nick Ward missed dunk
12:50
Offensive rebound by Michigan State
12:31
+3
Kyle Ahrens made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Foster Loyer
7-12
12:10
+2
Ignas Brazdeikis made layup, assist by Jordan Poole
9-12
11:41
+2
Nick Ward made jump shot, assist by Foster Loyer
9-14
11:12
Jon Teske missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:10
Defensive rebound by Matt McQuaid
10:48
Lost ball turnover on Foster Loyer, stolen by Isaiah Livers
10:37
Shooting foul on Matt McQuaid
10:37
+1
Jordan Poole made 1st of 2 free throws
10-14
10:37
+1
Jordan Poole made 2nd of 2 free throws
11-14
10:16
Kyle Ahrens missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:14
Defensive rebound by Eli Brooks
10:08
Jordan Poole missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:06
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
9:57
+3
Cassius Winston made 3-pt. jump shot
11-17
9:26
Isaiah Livers missed jump shot
9:24
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
9:11
Xavier Tillman missed layup
9:09
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
9:03
Offensive foul on Xavier Tillman
9:03
Turnover on Xavier Tillman
8:50
Shooting foul on Aaron Henry
8:50
+1
Jon Teske made 1st of 2 free throws
12-17
8:50
+1
Jon Teske made 2nd of 2 free throws
13-17
8:34
Aaron Henry missed running Jump Shot
8:32
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
8:25
+2
Jordan Poole made layup, assist by Zavier Simpson
15-17
8:04
Bad pass turnover on Cassius Winston, stolen by Zavier Simpson
7:48
Bad pass turnover on Ignas Brazdeikis
7:25
Aaron Henry missed running Jump Shot
7:23
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
7:00
+2
Jon Teske made reverse layup, assist by Zavier Simpson
17-17
6:54
Aaron Henry missed floating jump shot, blocked by Jon Teske
6:52
Defensive rebound by Zavier Simpson
6:48
+2
Zavier Simpson made reverse layup
19-17
6:20
Matt McQuaid missed jump shot
6:18
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
5:56
Jordan Poole missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Aaron Henry
5:53
Defensive rebound by Michigan State
5:36
Nick Ward missed hook shot
5:34
Defensive rebound by Zavier Simpson
5:22
+2
Jon Teske made layup, assist by Zavier Simpson
21-17
4:59
Bad pass turnover on Cassius Winston
4:38
Zavier Simpson missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:36
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
4:25
+3
Matt McQuaid made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
21-20
4:09
+2
Isaiah Livers made driving layup, assist by Charles Matthews
23-20
3:56
Lost ball turnover on Matt McQuaid
3:35
+3
Isaiah Livers made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
26-20
3:14
Offensive foul on Thomas Kithier
3:14
Turnover on Thomas Kithier
3:00
Jordan Poole missed driving layup, blocked by Thomas Kithier
2:59
Offensive rebound by Michigan
2:47
+2
Zavier Simpson made hook shot, assist by Jordan Poole
28-20
2:23
+3
Matt McQuaid made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
28-23
1:53
Zavier Simpson missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:51
Defensive rebound by Aaron Henry
1:46
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:44
Defensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
1:27
+3
Ignas Brazdeikis made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
31-23
59.0
Kenny Goins missed fade-away jump shot
57.0
Offensive rebound by Thomas Kithier
50.0
Cassius Winston missed floating jump shot, blocked by Jon Teske
48.0
Defensive rebound by Jordan Poole
30.0
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 3-pt. jump shot
28.0
Defensive rebound by Matt McQuaid
1.0
Cassius Winston missed 3-pt. jump shot
0.0
Offensive rebound by Michigan State
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
MICH
Wolverines
29
MIST
Spartans
42
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:35
Jon Teske missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:33
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
19:19
+3
Matt McQuaid made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
31-26
18:51
Zavier Simpson missed hook shot, blocked by Xavier Tillman
18:50
Offensive rebound by Michigan
18:43
+3
Jordan Poole made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jon Teske
34-26
18:32
Xavier Tillman missed layup, blocked by Jon Teske
18:30
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
18:16
Ignas Brazdeikis missed layup
18:14
Defensive rebound by Cassius Winston
18:08
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:06
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
17:53
+3
Ignas Brazdeikis made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
37-26
17:35
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:33
Defensive rebound by Zavier Simpson
17:12
Shooting foul on Cassius Winston
17:12
+1
Ignas Brazdeikis made 1st of 2 free throws
38-26
17:12
+1
Ignas Brazdeikis made 2nd of 2 free throws
39-26
16:53
Shooting foul on Jon Teske
16:53
+1
Xavier Tillman made 1st of 2 free throws
39-27
16:53
Xavier Tillman missed 2nd of 2 free throws
16:53
Defensive rebound by Jordan Poole
16:34
Jon Teske missed layup
16:32
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
16:16
Cassius Winston missed floating jump shot
16:14
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
16:08
Lost ball turnover on Jordan Poole, stolen by Aaron Henry
16:03
+2
Aaron Henry made driving dunk
39-29
15:40
+2
Charles Matthews made jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
41-29
15:28
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:26
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
15:25
+2
Xavier Tillman made dunk
41-31
14:57
Charles Matthews missed fade-away jump shot
14:55
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
14:44
+2
Matt McQuaid made layup, assist by Cassius Winston
41-33
14:44
Shooting foul on Ignas Brazdeikis
14:44
+1
Matt McQuaid made free throw
41-34
14:23
Bad pass turnover on Zavier Simpson, stolen by Kenny Goins
14:03
Shooting foul on Jordan Poole
14:03
+1
Aaron Henry made 1st of 2 free throws
41-35
14:03
Aaron Henry missed 2nd of 2 free throws
14:03
Defensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
13:39
Ignas Brazdeikis missed turnaround jump shot
13:37
Defensive rebound by Nick Ward
13:18
Nick Ward missed hook shot
13:16
Defensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
13:01
+3
Jordan Poole made 3-pt. jump shot
44-35
12:45
+3
Matt McQuaid made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
44-38
12:25
Personal foul on Nick Ward
12:14
Jordan Poole missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Matt McQuaid
12:12
Defensive rebound by Cassius Winston
12:08
+2
Cassius Winston made driving layup
44-40
12:12
Shooting foul on Jordan Poole
12:08
+1
Cassius Winston made free throw
44-41
11:37
+2
Eli Brooks made driving layup
46-41
11:26
Aaron Henry missed jump shot
11:24
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
11:23
Personal foul on Jon Teske
11:15
Kenny Goins missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:13
Defensive rebound by Zavier Simpson
10:52
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:50
Defensive rebound by Matt McQuaid
10:34
+3
Matt McQuaid made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
46-44
10:04
Bad pass turnover on Isaiah Livers
9:49
Cassius Winston missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:47
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
9:32
+2
Jon Teske made dunk, assist by Ignas Brazdeikis
48-44
9:12
Bad pass turnover on Cassius Winston, stolen by Jon Teske
8:43
Zavier Simpson missed floating jump shot, blocked by Cassius Winston
8:29
Bad pass turnover on Kenny Goins, stolen by Isaiah Livers
8:23
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:21
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
8:07
+2
Xavier Tillman made layup, assist by Cassius Winston
48-46
8:07
Shooting foul on Isaiah Livers
8:07
Xavier Tillman missed free throw
8:07
Defensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
7:47
Isaiah Livers missed jump shot
7:45
Defensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
7:16
+2
Cassius Winston made driving layup
48-48
6:47
Jordan Poole missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:45
Defensive rebound by Aaron Henry
6:20
Cassius Winston missed driving layup
6:18
Offensive rebound by Xavier Tillman
6:16
Matt McQuaid missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:14
Defensive rebound by Jordan Poole
6:08
+2
Ignas Brazdeikis made dunk, assist by Jon Teske
50-48
5:39
Xavier Tillman missed hook shot
5:37
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
5:24
+2
Jon Teske made alley-oop shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
52-48
5:00
Personal foul on Jon Teske
5:00
+1
Cassius Winston made 1st of 2 free throws
52-49
5:00
+1
Cassius Winston made 2nd of 2 free throws
52-50
4:43
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:41
Defensive rebound by Cassius Winston
4:33
Cassius Winston missed floating jump shot
4:31
Offensive rebound by Kenny Goins
4:30
Bad pass turnover on Kenny Goins, stolen by Jordan Poole
4:26
Shooting foul on Matt McQuaid
4:26
+1
Jordan Poole made 1st of 2 free throws
53-50
4:26
Jordan Poole missed 2nd of 2 free throws
4:26
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
3:58
+2
Cassius Winston made driving layup
53-52
3:43
Shooting foul on Matt McQuaid
3:43
+1
Jordan Poole made 1st of 2 free throws
54-52
3:43
+1
Jordan Poole made 2nd of 2 free throws
55-52
3:25
Cassius Winston missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:23
Defensive rebound by Jordan Poole
3:05
+2
Zavier Simpson made driving layup
57-52
2:45
Shooting foul on Jordan Poole
2:45
+1
Matt McQuaid made 1st of 3 free throws
57-53
2:45
+1
Matt McQuaid made 2nd of 3 free throws
57-54
2:45
+1
Matt McQuaid made 3rd of 3 free throws
57-55
2:29
+3
Isaiah Livers made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
60-55
2:04
+3
Matt McQuaid made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Cassius Winston
60-58
1:36
Jordan Poole missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:34
Defensive rebound by Kenny Goins
1:20
+2
Xavier Tillman made layup, assist by Cassius Winston
60-60
54.0
Zavier Simpson missed 3-pt. jump shot
51.0
Defensive rebound by Michigan State
28.0
+2
Cassius Winston made driving layup
60-62
15.0
Ignas Brazdeikis missed floating jump shot, blocked by Aaron Henry