Spartans, “Show Some Nuts,” Coming Back From Double Digit Deficit To Beat Kansas 79-73

United Center Chicago, Illinois Tonight the #13 Michigan State Spartans came into the House that Jordan built and had a player do something that hasn’t been

United Center

Chicago, Illinois

Tonight the #13 Michigan State Spartans came into the House that Jordan built and had a player do something that hasn’t been done since Magic Johnson was a Spartan in a thrilling 79-73 MSU win over the #4 Kansas Jayhawks. Freshman senior captain Denzel Valentine became only the fourth player in MSU history to record a triple double joining Magic Johnson, Charlie Bell and Draymond Green.

Another amazing stat is that in 1898 Dr. James Naismith the inventor of basketball started the basketball program at Kansas. In all of those years only two players have EVER recorded a triple double against them. The first was by a Spartan named Earvin “MAGIC” Johnson who did it on February 4, 1979 and the second was of course Valentine tonight.

Valentine had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists prompting Kansas head coach Bill Self to declare, “He (Valentine) just took the game over and he was great tonight. Tonight he proved he is an exceptional player.” Self wasn’t the only one praising the Spartan star.

Kansas guard Wayne Selden, Jr. added, “He a good player and we didn’t play good D.” Jayhawk senior forward Perry Ellis expounded saying, “He is a good player. Give him credit, he facilitated his team well.”

With 6:35 left in the 1st half the Spartans had a 13 point deficit, but credit the Spartans who never quit. Valentine said of his team’s refusal to give in simply, “Credit out coaches. Coach Izzo is always challenging me.” Matt Costello said of the win that it, “Gives us a little bit of momentum for now. Our goal (Costello & Valentine) is to get to 33 wins (That would make them the winningest Spartan class of all time) and we now have two.”

The Spartans record on the season improves to 2-0. The Spartans had 16 turnovers compared to Kansas with an anemic six. MSU crushed the Jayhawks on the boards grabbing 45 to their 35. Another stat that tells you how unselfish this Spartan team is simply tells you that MSU made 28 baskets on 20 assists. MSU also shot 47% while holding Kansas to just 34%.

Izzo said of the game that, “What a big win for us and our program.” Coach Self added, they made some tough threes and they made us pay for every mistake down the stretch.”

With all due respect to the amazing performance by Valentine the biggest play of the night belonged to Spartan freshman sensation Matt McQuaid. With 3:56 left in the game and the Spartans trailing 66-65 he nailed a three pointer. Valentine said of the Texan sharp shooter, “He showed some nuts on that one.” Izzo said of the young McQuaid that, “He’s really athletic. McQuaid played awfully well and some decent defensive plays.”

McQuaid finished the night with nine points in 22 minutes going three for three from three. He said of the above mentioned three that, “It gave me confidence.”

While Valentine was quick to praise his teammates he was not quick to wallow in the joy of victory. When pressed to talk of his triple double he humbly said, “I didn’t know it would come this early (in the season) or on this stage, but credit my teammates.” Izzo added, “While everyone will be impressed by the triple double, I am impressed that he only had one turnover,” while playing 38 minutes.

The Spartans will return to action on Friday at 7PM at the Breslin Center taking on Arkansas Pine-Bluff.