MSU basketball: Winston, Tillman hit reset button in second half rout
No. 10 Michigan State found its offensive rhythm with defensive dominance in the second half — and a heavy dose of Cassius Winston.
MSU basketball: Winston, Tillman hit reset button in second half rout No. 10 Michigan State found its offensive rhythm with defensive dominance in the second half — and a heavy dose of Cassius Winston. Check out this story on mycentraljersey.com: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2019/02/20/michigan-state-basketball-rutgers-70-60/2933426002/
Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press Published 8:45 p.m. ET Feb. 20, 2019 | Updated 10:45 p.m. ET Feb. 20, 2019
LSJ columnist Graham Couch, Freep beat writer Chris Solari and Freep columnist Shawn Windsor analyze MSU's chances against U-M Graham Couch and Chris Solari and Shawn Windsor, Lansing State Journal
EAST LANSING — Bring on Michigan.
It might not have gone as scripted, and it took some time to learn to live without Nick Ward. But No. 10 Michigan State found its offensive rhythm with defensive dominance in the second half — and a heavy dose of Cassius Winston.
The Spartans rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half with a 37-10 burst en route to a 71-60 victory over Rutgers on Wednesday at Breslin Center.
Winston finished with 19 of his 28 points in the second half, while sophomore forward Xavier Tillman — replacing Ward in the starting lineup — had a career-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Matt McQuaid finished with 11 points and five boards for MSU (22-5, 13-3), which took a half-game lead on Michigan heading into the Wolverines' game Thursday at Minnesota. The Spartans travel to Ann Arbor to face U-M at 3:45 p.m. Sunday at Crisler Center (CBS) in the first of two late-season showdowns.
Michigan State basketball 71, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 60: Photos
Michigan State guard Matt McQuaid reacts during the second half of the 71-60 win over Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at the Breslin Center. Mike Carter USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State guard Matt McQuaid and forward Kyle Ahrens react during the second half of the 71-60 win over Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at the Breslin Center. Mike Carter USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State guard Cassius Winston gestures during the second half of the 71-60 win over Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at the Breslin Center. Mike Carter USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo talks to forward Kyle Ahrens during the second half of the 71-60 win over Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at the Breslin Center. Mike Carter USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo reacts during the second half of the 71-60 win over Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at the Breslin Center. Mike Carter USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo talks to forward Aaron Henry during the second half of the 71-60 win over Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at the Breslin Center. Mike Carter USA TODAY Sports
Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his three-point basket in the second half with teammate Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
Foster Loyer #3 of the Michigan State Spartans looks to pass the ball while defended by Geo Baker #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
Montez Mathis #23 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights drives to the basket and draws a foul from Kyle Ahrens #0 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
Matt McQuaid #20 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his three-point basket in the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
Eugene Omoruyi #5 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights drives to the basket in the second half and draws a foul from Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
Eugene Omoruyi #5 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights shoots the ball in the second half while defended by Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
Michigan State's Nick Ward during warmups prior to the game against Rutgers at Breslin Center on Feb. 20, 2019 in East Lansing. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Montez Mathis #23 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knight in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball in the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball while defended by Montez Mathis #23 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio, Getty Images
Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Montez Mathis (23) is fouled shooting the ball during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center on Feb. 20, 2019. Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State Spartans forward Xavier Tillman (23) is defended by Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Myles Johnson (15) during the first half of a game at the Breslin Center on Feb. 20, 2019. Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports
Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Eugene Omoruyi (15) saves ball from going out of bounds during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center on Feb. 20, 2019. Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State Spartans guard Matt McQuaid (20) drives to the basket in front of Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell (22) during the first half of a game at the Breslin Center on Feb. 20, 2019. Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State Spartans forward Kenny Goins (25) is defended by Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Eugene Omoruyi (5) during the first half of a game at the Breslin Center on Feb. 20, 2019. Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports
Second half stars
Winston had nine points at halftime and McQuaid had eight, but the rest of the Spartans were struggling to score.
Tillman, who struggled offensively in the first half, came out of the locker room strong. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 15 of his points on 5-of-6 shooting. He drove twice from the free-throw line for layups, with the second becoming a three-point play with 1:16 to play after Rutgers had trimmed MSU's 16-point lead back to 10.
Junior point guard Winston, after going 3 for 9 in the first half, made 5 of 8 shots in the second period. He went 9 of 10 at the free-throw line, adding eight assists and five rebounds as the Spartans finished with a 45-31 edge on the glass against the bigger Scarlet Knights (12-14, 5-11).
Guard Geo Baker led Rutgers with 17 points, just four of them coming in the second half. The Scarlet Knights outscored the Spartans 34-28 in the paint and 21-20 on the break.
Michigan State Spartans guard Matt McQuaid (20) drives to the basket in front of Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell (22) during the first half of a game at the Breslin Center on Feb. 20, 2019. (Photo: Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports)
It was not a pretty start for the Spartans in their first game without Ward, who underwent surgery Sunday after suffering a hairline fracture on his left hand during their 62-44 win over Ohio State.
Tillman missed three early shots inside before finally connecting on a putback and getting a dunk off a wrap-around pass from Winston. The 6-8 forward was just 2-for-6 in getting those four points but had five rebounds at halftime.
Goins helped pick up the slack on the boards with seven, but he missed all three of his shots in the first half and had four turnovers without Ward's double team-attracting presence.
Kithier committed a Flagrant-1 hook-and-hold foul with MSU leading 15-9 with 11:50 left in the first half. The ensuing Shaq Carter free throws sparked a 19-3 run, including 14 straight points, that helped send the Scarlet Knights into halftime leading 32-25.
Despite having a 24-20 rebounding edge over the bigger Rutgers post players, the Spartans committed eight turnovers in the opening period. MSU shot just 30 percent in the first half, while its depleted bench got outscored 11-2. The Scarlet Knights also had a 16-8 edge in post scoring without Ward.
After getting to the free-throw line just four times in the first half, MSU went 17 of 18 there in the second half while making 52 percent from the floor after intermission. The Spartans finished 20 of 22 on foul shots overall while making 40 percent of their field-goal attempts.
More: Four Michigan State players who could step up in Nick Ward's absence
Renewed energy
It was as if the Spartans hit the reset button after halftime, though Rutgers scored the first four points to extend its lead to 11.
Tillman began attacking the rim offensively, getting a pair of free throws, a layup off a mid-air Winston lob pass and then taking a McQuaid dish and cutting into traffic for a two-handed dunk. Winston's free throws capped the 8-0 run.
After a pair of Rutgers baskets, Tillman caught a pass at the top of the key and drove for a layup. Winston lofted a driving floater over the long reach of Rutgers' Carter.
Then came the possession that changed the momentum.
Winston missed a 3, but Aaron Henry grabbed the board and put it back up, then grabbed his own miss and fed Goins. Goins missed a 3-pointer and grabbed his own miss as the crowd got loud. The ball went to McQuaid, who missed, but Henry grabbed his third offensive rebound of the sequence.
AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Montez Mathis #23 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knight in the first half at Breslin Center on February 20, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo: Rey Del Rio, Getty Images)
Off that, Winston fed McQuaid again on the left wing, and this time the senior drained a 3-pointer that sent the Breslin faithful into a frenzy.
That bucket tied the game at 40-all, and Winston drove the lane and flipped in an off-hand, odd-angle shot that gave the Spartans the lead for good.
Contact Chris Solari at csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.