When the game began, the Spartans knew they had to show some energy to match a red-hot Minnesota team that pulled off an upset of Louisville behind some sharp-shooting in round one.
Michigan State answered the call.
In fact, the Spartans rushed out to an 11-2 lead and never looked back, pushing the lead to 20 in the first half before the Gophers chipped away and got it down to 14 at the half — but it sure felt like a 30-point lead.
The second half was more of the same as the Spartans allowed the Gophers to get within nine, but then Cassius Winston went on a one-man run, pushing it back to 16, and that was the ballgame.