MSU beats Minnesota in B1G tourney
Purdue on tap today as Michigan State looks to make March Madness statement
Tom Izzo looked as mad as he’s been all season with his point guard late in the first half after A.J. Hoggard turned the ball over with Michigan State down by two.
“I was doing dumb s—,” Hoggard said. “It’s stupid s—.”
It’s the type of stuff he and Michigan State can’t afford to do if they want to go on any sort of a run this month.
But in the second half, Hoggard played the way the Spartans needed him to as he and the other veterans helped lead No. 8 Michigan State to a 77-67 win over No. 9 Minnesota in the second-round of the Big Ten Tournament.
With the win, the Spartans can go to sleep at night rest assured that Izzo’s NCAA Tournament streak will be extended to 26.
“It gave us a little breather, man,” Tre Holloman said.
Thursday was also one of their best collective efforts all season, with contributions coming from up and down the roster, which should bode well moving forward as they prepare for No. 1 Purdue today in the quarterfinals.
Hoggard didn’t miss all day, going 6-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. He scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the second half. He also handed out four assists with no turnovers over the final 20 minutes to help the Spartans eliminate the Gophers from the conference tournament and likely crush their hopes of going dancing.
Hoggard didn’t do it alone. The bench, notably Xavier Booker, Jaxon Kohler and Holloman, helped keep them in the game in the first half and for some of the second. But Hoggard, Tyson Walker, Malik Hall and Jaden Akins were critical down the stretch.