Friday night was supposed to be a statement game for Michigan. With a chance to take full control of the Big Ten race and separate themselves from a major rival, the Wolverines had everything in front of them. Instead, Michigan State stormed into Crisler Center and flipped the script, handing Michigan its first home loss of the season in a frustrating 75-62 defeat. The Wolverines, now 20-6 overall and 12-3 in conference play, saw their grip on the Big Ten’s top spot slip away as Michigan State (22-5, 13-3) claimed sole possession of first place.

In a game with massive implications for the conference title race, Michigan simply couldn’t get out of its own way. The Spartans, entering the game as the worst three-point shooting team in the Big Ten, somehow transformed into a lethal perimeter squad, draining 9 of 22 from deep (40.9%), including 6 of 12 in the second half. Meanwhile, Michigan’s guards went missing in action, and the Wolverines’ offense sputtered down the stretch. With a rematch looming in East Lansing on March 9, Michigan will need to regroup quickly if they want to take back control of their Big Ten destiny.

First Half: Michigan Wakes Up, Takes Halftime Lead

The Wolverines’ opening possession set the tone for their frustrating night—a turnover that led to a Michigan State three on the other end. The Spartans raced out to a 13-6 lead while Michigan clanked shots, missed free throws, and gave up second-chance opportunities.

Then, finally, the switch flipped. The Wolverines ripped off a 15-0 run, showcasing the brand of basketball that has made Dusty May’s first year a revelation. Nimari Burnett led the charge with nine first-half points, while big men Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf provided interior stability. At the break, Michigan led 38-34, despite some shaky shooting (4-for-11 from three, 6-for-11 from the line). The Spartans, meanwhile, looked like the team we expected, shooting 38.7% from the field and a pedestrian 3-for-10 from deep.

Second Half: Michigan State’s Guards Take Over

If the first half was an encouraging start for Michigan, the second half was a horror show.

Michigan State came out of the locker room firing, hitting a three on its first possession to set the tone. After a back-and-forth stretch, Tre Holloman decided to have himself a game, drilling three consecutive triples as part of a 9-2 run to put Michigan State up 57-49. That was the moment when Crisler Center collectively realized this wasn’t Michigan’s night.

The Wolverines fought back—because that’s what this team does. An 8-0 run, capped by a Goldin putback, cut the deficit to 62-59 with five and a half minutes to go. But that was as close as Michigan would get. The Spartans dominated the glass (outrebounding Michigan 34-25) and racked up second-chance opportunities while Michigan’s guards continued to fire blanks.

A travel by Roddy Gayle Jr. with 2:44 left led to another Michigan State three, stretching the lead to 71-62. Michigan then proceeded to fail to grab a defensive rebound, allowing MSU to milk the clock before icing the game at the free-throw line. A breakaway dunk by Jaden Akins in the final moments was the exclamation point on a frustrating night for the Wolverines.

Michigan’s Guards Go Missing

Goldin was a force, leading Michigan with 21 points, while Burnett chipped in 12 and Wolf added 11. But if there was ever a night to hammer home the importance of guard play, this was it. Tre Donaldson hit one shot all game (1-for-5). Rubin Jones had just two points. Roddy Gayle Jr. went 1-for-6 and might have misplaced the rim entirely on a his three-point attempts. When your backcourt is ice cold and the opposing team’s guards are red-hot, well, you get a night like this.

For Michigan State, Jase Richardson matched Goldin’s 21 points, while Holloman exploded off the bench for 18. Akins and Jeremy Fears Jr. combined for 21 more, completely outclassing Michigan’s perimeter players.

Looking Ahead

Despite the loss, Michigan still has everything to play for. A strong finish, a Big Ten Tournament run, and a deep March Madness push are all still on the table. But if the Wolverines want to be taken seriously in March, their guards need to step up—period.

Next up, Michigan travels to Nebraska on Monday before facing Rutgers, Illinois, No. 20 Maryland, and the much-anticipated rematch at Michigan State. With the Big Ten crown still within reach, the Wolverines will need to shake this one off quickly.

One thing’s for sure—March is coming, and it’s going to be a wild ride.