No. 1 Michigan State completes incredible comeback, beats Northwestern, 65-60

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Everything was rounding into form for Michigan State.

A No. 1 ranking. Upsets in the Big Ten. A chance for a championship.

And then Northwestern erupted for a first half that looked like all of those dreams would be vaporized, putting the Spartans down by as many as 27 points.

But momentum is a strange thing. And MSU rode a virtual home crowd and its own big run to perhaps one of the greatest comebacks in program history.

The Spartans used a 24-0 run in the middle portion of the second half to get back in it and recover for a stunning 65-60 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday at Allstate Arena.

Cassius Winston scored 13 of his 17 points during the furious second-half rally, including all four of his 3-pointers.

MSU (25-4, 13-3 Big Ten) now has won 10 straight games. Nick Ward had 11 of his 15 points in the first half to keep MSU from being completely blown out. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored nine of his 11 after halftime, including a three-point play with 5:26 remaining that gave the Spartans the lead for good.

Vic Law led the Wildcats with 21 points, Gavin Skelly scored 11 before fouling out and Anthony Gaines added 10.

MORE:Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's 65-60 win at Northwestern

MORE:Michigan State basketball's path to Big Ten title clears after Purdue, OSU lose

Stunning comeback

Trailing, 49-27, at halftime, things looked bleak for MSU.

But Ward and Jackson sparked the Spartans by scoring their first eight points of the half. And then Joshua Langford drained a 3-pointer to pull MSU within 15, and it got the crowd ignited in the Spartans’ favor.

Northwestern then missed 17 straight shots during the Spartans’ long run, going without a field goal for more than 14 minutes and scoreless for more than 11 minutes during MSU’s big comeback.

Winston hit two 3-pointers and Matt McQuaid hit another to pull the Spartans within single digits.

Miles Bridges, who had just two first-half points, hit a jumper, then Winston hit his third 3-pointer. Ward’s tip-in with 8:48 to play tied the score at 53, then Jackson’s three-point play gave the Spartans the lead.

Winston drained his fourth 3-pointer of the half with 4:53 to play, then made two free throws with 25.8 seconds left. Bridges went 4-for-4 at the line in the final 41.7 seconds to seal the win.

MSU was 12 of 22, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range, after halftime. The Wildcats went just 3 for 26 in the second half. Law’s 3-pointer with 11.4 seconds left was their only one in the final 20 minutes after a sizzling start.

What it means

The Spartans move a half-game ahead No. 9 Ohio State in the Big Ten standings and 1 1/2 games in front of No. 7 Purdue. MSU had been in a tie with the Buckeyes after their loss at Penn State on Thursday.

MSU last won the Big Ten regular season title in 2012, sharing it with Michigan and Ohio State, and last won it outright in 2009.

Ohio State (22-6, 13-2) plays at Michigan and Purdue (23-5, 12-3) hosts Penn State on Sunday.

With its win on Jan. 7, Ohio State still holds a tie-breaker over the Spartans for the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Big Ten tournament in New York if they share the league title. Both teams also beat Purdue in their lone meetings.

(Fans sing the Michigan State fight song at Steakhouse Philly Bar & Grill in Lansing after it completed the biggest comeback in Big Ten history on Feb. 18, 2018, in beating Northwestern 65-60.)

Falling behind

Northwestern (15-13, 6-9), while playing without guards Bryant McIntosh (shoulder) and Jordan Ash (lower-body), ripped off a monster start and led by 27 points early.

Law scored 18 first-half points and made five of the Wildcats’ eight 3-pointers. Gavin Skelly scored 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and his three-point play with 4:18 left

The Wildcats were ablaze from 3-point range in the opening period, making 8 of 13 among their 18 of 30 shooting.

MSU, meantime, struggled to find the bucket. The Spartans were just 8 for 24 in the first 20 minutes, missing their first five 3-point attempts, and turning the ball over six times to the Wildcats’ one.

Ward was the only bright spot, scoring 11 points with four rebounds in 14 minutes. Bridges and Jackson had just two baskets and four combined.

What’s next

The Spartans return to Breslin Center on Tuesday to face last-place Illinois for senior night (7 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2). They will bid farewell to Tum Tum Nairn, Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter – and it potentially could be the final home game for Miles Bridges, a sophomore, and Jackson, a freshman, who are both considered potential NBA lottery picks. MSU then travels to Wisconsin next Sunday to wrap up the regular season.

The Illini and Badgers are a combined 7-22 in Big Ten play this season. MSU won at Illinois on Jan. 22 and beat Wisconsin at home on Jan. 26.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.