In a dramatic finish in College Park, Maryland, Tre Holloman delivered a thrilling victory for the No. 8 Michigan State Spartans with a half-court buzzer-beater, overcoming No. 16 Maryland 58-55 on Wednesday night.
The game took a nail-biting turn when Holloman committed a turnover in the backcourt, which allowed the Terrapins to level the score with 42.1 seconds to play. Although Michigan State’s Jaxon Kohler missed a crucial shot, Maryland had a chance to clinch the win as the shot clock wound down. However, Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s three-point attempt missed the mark, setting up Holloman for his spectacular midcourt heave that secured the win.
With the decisive victory, Michigan State edged ahead of No. 15 Michigan to claim a half-game lead atop the Big Ten standings. Holloman, despite struggling with his shooting, ended the night with nine points from 3-for-12 shooting. He was supported by Jase Richardson, who led the Spartans with 15 points, on a challenging night where both squads shot below 35%. For the Terrapins, Rodney Rice shone with 20 points, though Maryland’s comeback from a 55-48 deficit fell short in the final moments.
Key takeaways highlight the significance of Holloman’s remarkable shot in Michigan State’s pursuit of another Big Ten title under coach Tom Izzo. The Spartans’ defense effectively subdued Maryland’s starting lineup, infamously dubbed the “Crab Five.” Conversely, Maryland’s frontcourt players, Derik Queen and Julian Reese, struggled offensively, shooting just 4 for 18.
A pivotal moment came when Gillespie’s three-point shot fell short, providing the Spartans with just enough time to attempt one last, desperate shot. Michigan State enjoyed substantial advantages in bench and second-chance points, boasting a 23-0 edge in the former and a 10-0 edge in the latter.
Looking forward, Maryland will visit Penn State on Saturday, while Michigan State is set to host No. 11 Wisconsin on Sunday.
