Basketball Battle: Michigan Vs. Michigan State, Who Won?

who won between michigan and michigan state basketball

The Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans have a long-standing college basketball rivalry, with both teams vying for recruits and resources. The rivalry intensified in the 2010s when the teams met seven times in a row as ranked opponents. On February 12, 2013, the Spartans won 75-52, but Michigan bounced back the following month with a 58-57 victory. In 2014, Michigan State won the Big Ten Conference tournament championship game, securing a 69-55 victory over Michigan. The Wolverines got their revenge in 2023, winning 84-72, but Michigan State responded with a victory of their own in 2024, marking coach Tom Izzo's 700th career win. The most recent matchup on March 9, 2025, ended with Michigan State defeating Michigan 75-62.

Characteristics Values
Date February 22, 2025
Teams Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans
Final Score 75-62
Winner Michigan State Spartans
Leading Scorers Jase Richardson (21 points), Tre Holloman (18 points)
Halftime Score 28-24 in favor of Michigan Wolverines
Wolverines' Leading Scorer Vladislav Goldin (21 points, 5 rebounds)
Wolverines' Record 20-6, 12-3
Spartans' Record 22-5, 13-3
Series History Michigan leads the series
Recent Streak Michigan State won 4 consecutive games

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Michigan State Spartans vs Michigan Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans have a long-standing rivalry in college basketball, with both teams being members of the Big Ten Conference. The rivalry extends beyond basketball, encompassing the broader athletic programs of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

On February 12, 2013, the teams met for the first time while both were ranked in the Top 10. The Spartans emerged victorious, winning the game 75-52. However, the following month, the Wolverines got their revenge, winning the rematch with a tight score of 58-57.

The rivalry continued to intensify in the following years, with both teams advancing to the championship game of the 2014 Big Ten Conference tournament. Michigan State secured the conference title with a 69-55 win over Michigan. The Spartans' success was short-lived, however, as Michigan defeated them in the 2013-14 Big Ten season matchup, marking the first time Michigan had defeated three consecutive AP Poll top-ten opponents.

The most recent games between the two teams took place in 2025, with Michigan State winning 75-62 on February 21, and the Wolverines bouncing back to win the next game on March 9, 79-62.

The rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans has produced numerous memorable moments and close games, with both teams trading wins over the years. The competition extends beyond the basketball court, impacting recruiting battles and intensifying the rivalry across other sports as well.

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February 2023 game

The Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans have a long-standing college basketball rivalry. On February 18, 2023, the Wolverines won their game against the Spartans with a final score of 84-72. This game was particularly notable as it took place less than a week after the 2023 Michigan State University shooting, with a moment of silence and displays of unity held by both teams.

The rivalry between the two teams extends beyond the basketball court and includes a broad spectrum of endeavours, including their general athletic programs. The Wolverines and the Spartans have competed for recruits and resources, with the most notable battle resulting in the University of Michigan basketball scandal. The rivalry intensified in the 2010s when the teams met seven times in a row as ranked opponents.

In the lead-up to the February 2023 game, the Wolverines held an eight-game winning streak, while the Spartans had won seven of their last eight games. The Wolverines started the game strongly, with Vladislav Goldin leading the way. Goldin, a 7-foot-tall player, dominated the first half, finishing with 21 points and five rebounds. However, their offense declined in the second half, with their shooting percentage dropping to 37.5%.

The Spartans made a comeback midway through the second half, with Tre Holloman drilling back-to-back threes to shift the momentum in their favour. Their defense also stepped up, holding the Wolverines without a field basket for nearly five minutes, forcing turnovers and allowing the Spartans to pull ahead. The Spartans dominated the boards, outrebounding the Wolverines 34-25, including 14 offensive rebounds that led to valuable second-chance points.

The final score of 84-72 gave the Wolverines a well-deserved victory in a game filled with emotion and unity between the two rivals in the wake of the recent tragedy.

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2014 Big Ten Conference tournament

The 2014 Big Ten men's basketball tournament was the seventeenth annual tournament and was held from March 13 to March 16 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was the third and final year to feature 12 teams.

Both Michigan and Michigan State advanced to the championship game, marking the first time the two teams had faced each other in any postseason tournament. Michigan State won the game, earning their fourth tournament championship (tying them with Ohio State for the most championships at the time) and their second championship in three years. This win gave Michigan State an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Branden Dawson was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The Big Ten men's basketball tournament is held annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season and has taken place every year since 1998, except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The winner of the tournament is designated the Big Ten Tournament Champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The tournament usually takes place immediately before the NCAA Tournament field is announced. On seven occasions, the winner of the Big Ten tournament has gone on to reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, including Michigan State in 1999, 2000, and 2019.

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2013-14 Big Ten season matchup

The Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans have a storied history in basketball, with their rivalry intensifying in the 2010s.

The first 2013-14 Big Ten season matchup between the two teams took place on January 25, 2014, and it was a highly anticipated game. Michigan State entered the game with an 11-game winning streak, including seven in the conference, while Michigan had an eight-game winning streak, with six in the conference. This marked the first time in Big Ten history that two teams met with both teams having a 6-0 or better conference record.

Michigan ultimately emerged victorious, defeating the Spartans 80-75. This win was significant for Michigan as it marked the first time they had defeated three consecutive AP Poll top ten opponents. It also gave them consecutive road wins against top five opponents, ending a 36-game losing streak against them.

The rivalry between the two teams continued to intensify in the following years, with both teams meeting several times as top-15 opponents. Since 2013, they have met seven times as top-15 foes, with Michigan posting a 4-6 record in those matchups. The rivalry extends beyond the basketball court, with both schools being the only two to have had their hockey and basketball teams qualify for the final four of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship and NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in the same season.

The rivalry is also notable for its impact on player recruitment and the development of talented athletes. The schools have competed intensely for basketball recruits, with players like Mateen Cleaves, who was involved in a rollover accident during Michigan's recruitment, eventually matriculating at Michigan State. The rivalry has produced notable alumni, including Michigan's Nik Stauskas and Michigan State's Draymond Green, the 2014 and 2012 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Players of the Year, respectively.

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Tom Izzo's 700th career win

The Michigan–Michigan State men's basketball rivalry is a college basketball rivalry between Michigan Wolverines men's basketball and Michigan State Spartans men's basketball. This rivalry is part of the larger intrastate rivalry between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

On January 30, 2024, Michigan State defeated the Wolverines, marking coach Tom Izzo's 700th career win as head coach for the Spartans. This win was extra special as it was also Izzo's 69th birthday. The Spartans took down the Michigan Wolverines 81-62 in the Breslin Center. Jaden Akins scored 23 points with seven 3-pointers, both career highs, as the Spartans overcame a shaky start to pull away with the victory.

Izzo became the 38th coach in Division I history to win 700 career games, all with the Spartans. He achieved this feat without ever having a losing season as a head coach. Izzo has led the Spartans to eight Final Fours in the NCAA Tournament, which include the NCAA National Championship in 2000 and a Runner-Up finish in 2009. His teams have won 11 Big Ten regular-season titles and six Big Ten tournament titles in his 30 years at Michigan State.

Izzo has the most wins in school history and has appeared in 27 consecutive NCAA tournaments, the longest streak of tournament appearances ever by a coach at one school. On February 26, 2022, with a win over the No. 4-ranked Purdue, Izzo tied former Indiana coach Bob Knight for the most wins all-time at a Big Ten school. On March 8, 2022, he passed Knight for the most wins.

Frequently asked questions

Michigan State won the game 75-52.

The rivalry between the two universities is called the Michigan–Michigan State men's basketball rivalry.

The basketball rivalry is part of a larger intrastate rivalry between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, which includes athletics and other forms of achievement.

Michigan State won 75-62 on February 21, 2025.

Michigan State defeated the Wolverines 79-62 on January 30, 2024.

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