It was an incredible game for the Big Ten on February 26, 2025, when the No. 8 Michigan State won against No. 16 Maryland in a nail-biting finish, thanks to Tre Holloman, a sophomore guard, who scored a half-court buzzer-beater. Hosted at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland, this game resembled one of bitter rivalry, where both teams were tough in defense and terrific in clutch shots.
Game Highlights
The game was neck and neck from the start, with several lead changes and not much in the way of separation to be established. Standing at 55-55 and ticking away seconds in the game, Maryland’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie attempted a three-pointer that missed the mark. Jaxon Kohler got the rebound for Michigan State and instantly kicked the ball back to Holloman. Holloman made one dribble and launched a half-court shot with two seconds on the clock. The ball sailed through the air, swishing the net as the buzzer buzzed for the Spartan’s victory.
Holloman, who had all of his nine points in the second half, led a balanced bench-scoring effort that outscored Maryland’s reserves 23-0. “That’s a moment all players dream about,” Holloman stated. “When I looked up at the clock and saw Jaxon pass me the ball, I knew I was going to shoot it. I was just glad it fell and gave us the win.”
Key Performances
Michigan State’s redshirt freshman guard Jase Richardson was instrumental in his team’s cause, collecting a team-best 15 points. His performances towards the latter end of the game were significant in keeping his team in contention. Richardson described, “Games like this test our resilience. Everyone stepped up when it mattered most.”
On the Maryland side, sophomore guard Rodney Rice played well, leading the team with a game-high 20 points. The Terrapins were otherwise inept on offense, making 31.3% of their field goals and only 20% of their three-pointers. Rice stated, “We had our chances, but couldn’t capitalize when it counted. Give credit to Michigan State for making the big plays.”
Defensive Battle
Both teams put down harsh defense, to see some low scoring in this game. Michigan State, with a particularly physical defense, could shut down Maryland to a season-low of 55 points. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo didn’t mind giving kudos to his players and said, “Our defense kept us in the game. Close games like this are about defensive stops. If we can make the stops, we give ourselves a chance.”
Implications and Looking Ahead
This fourth-consecutive win has Michigan State defeating four ranked teams and has already beaten Maryland seven times in a row. The Spartans stand 23-5 overall and 14-3 in the conference and are favorites to continue with the league title.
Maryland, now 21-7 overall and 11-6 in the Big Ten, has to re-tool fast to get into the postseason. Head coach Kevin Willard emphasized the value of heart: “We’ve got to learn from this and push through. This is a learning experience with every game, and we will use that as stepping stones to improve.”
Both teams face equally tough competition in the near weeks ahead, with Michigan State studying to continue with the momentum and Maryland looking forward to bouncing back after this awful defeat.
