“It creates belief”: Gophers upset No. 10 Michigan State 76-73 for third win over ranked foe

The Gophers’ frustrating and potential-filled season took another dramatic turn Wednesday night, Feb. 4, when they rained threes all over the 10th-ranked Michigan State Spartans during a 76-73 victory at Williams Arena.

Maroon and gold faithful leapt from their seats to storm the court for the third time this season after the win, the team’s first over a top-10 opponent since it upset No. 7 Michigan in January 2021.

The win arrived when Minnesota needed it most.

The Gophers (11-12, 4-8 Big Ten) stopped a seven-game losing streak and provided tangible proof that first-year coach Niko Medved’s group is heading in the right direction after multiple close losses. Junior forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson paced the Gophers, breaking out of a shooting slump with a game-high 22 points.

“It creates belief,” said Medved, whose shirt was still soaked from the postgame celebration. “I hope for us, this year, that we’re creating belief with those guys and we’re creating belief in our program that: ‘Hey, we’re on the right track. We’re doing the right things. Our culture is good, and this is the way if we keep staying with it and keep going, we can win this way.’”

Wednesday’s win was the Gophers’ third over a ranked team at home this season, joining the Jan. 6 victory over then-No. 19 Iowa and the Dec. 3 triumph over then-No. 22 Indiana. Minnesota is 3-3 against ranked opponents in Medved’s first season.

The Spartans (19-4, 9-3) lost back-to-back games for the first time this season after falling 83-71 to No. 3 Michigan on Jan. 30.

But it wouldn’t be the Gophers without a little drama.

The Spartans put together a 20-6 run in the closing minutes, which had Crocker-Johnson and his teammates talking about not blowing another lead. Guards Isaac Asuma and Langston Reynolds eventually put the win on ice with clutch free throws.

“Stay together,” Crocker-Johnson said. “We gotta lock in, stay together through these moments, because obviously they’re a great team. Credit to them, they’re going to make a run.”

BOXSCORE: Gophers 76, No. 10 Michigan State 73

Junior forward Coen Carr led Michigan State with 16 points.

Fans stood multiple times to applaud efforts by Crocker-Johnson, senior forward Cade Tyson (17 points) and Reynolds (14 points), who fought through a Spartans foul to hit a bucket with 4:08 remaining. Reynold’s subsequent free throw gave Minnesota a 67-51 lead.

Medved said he was “really proud” of Reynolds, the senior transfer from Northern Colorado who has grown into a vocal leader.

“That stretch in the second half, he really got going offensively,” Medved said. “He was able to attack the rim, he got fouled, made a couple of key baskets, and he also created a lot of shots for us.”

The Gophers jumped on Michigan State early, building a 15-5 lead while shooting 6-for-10 from the field. They took advantage of a sloppy Spartans squad that entered the night committing the second-most turnovers in Big Ten play. Michigan State turned it over twice in the first two minutes at Williams Arena and finished with nine turnovers.

The Spartans also missed five of their first seven shot attempts.

They carried a 32-21 lead into halftime. Crocker-Johnson busted out of his shooting slump at the right moment. The junior forward went 3-for-5 from deep in the first half, reversing the trend that had seen him go just 5-for-24 (20.8%) in the previous 2½ games.

That included a forgettable loss Feb. 1 at Penn State.

“He’s such a special guy,” Medved said. “I got on him pretty hard after the Penn State game. What was funny, I watched the game and I was like, ‘Maybe I was too hard on him.’”

“He’s like: ‘Coach, man, I was awful. I needed that,’” Medved recalled. “What does he do? He responds.”

The Gophers’ teamwide response might have a lasting impact.

Up next, the Gophers stay home to host Maryland at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8.