EAST LANSING, Mich. — Tre Holloman put in all of his 12 points during the first half, while Jaden Akins contributed 10 of his 12 points after the break, aiding No. 7 Michigan State in a commanding 73-51 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night.
With this win, the Spartans improved their record to 18-2, remaining unbeaten in Big Ten play at 9-0. They have now achieved a 13-game winning streak, marking their longest since the 2018-19 season, which notably culminated in Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo’s eighth and most recent appearance in the Final Four.
On the other side, the Golden Gophers, holding a record of 11-10 and 3-7 in the conference, recently enjoyed a three-game winning streak against Big Ten opponents, including victories over ranked foes like then-No. 15 Oregon and then-No. 20 Michigan.
Dawson Garcia was the standout for Minnesota, scoring 21 points, yet he lacked support from his teammates, as no other Gopher managed to score more than eight points in the game.
Michigan State showcased dominance throughout, establishing a 36-16 lead by halftime and leading by as much as 22 points in the first half. They maintained control in the second half, securing an effortless victory.
Key observations from the game include Minnesota having hit a milestone with their longest conference winning streak in four years under coach Ben Johnson. The Gophers now have a favorable schedule, with eight of their last ten games lined up against teams positioned in the lower half of the conference standings, which may offer them opportunities for further success.
Meanwhile, Michigan State demonstrated a remarkable balance within their squad, boasting a unique trait among AP Top 25 teams: only one player averages at least 10 points per game. Their roster features seven players scoring over seven points per game each.
A notable moment in the game was when Holloman scored three 3-pointers in just a 53-second stretch during the first half, expanding Michigan State’s lead dramatically from 11 to 20 points.
A curious statistic to highlight is that Minnesota did not score until the 14:10 mark of the first half, showcasing the defensive strength of the Spartans at the outset.
Looking ahead, Michigan State will face USC in their next game, while Minnesota prepares to host Washington on Saturday.
