Holloman’s half-court heave lifts Michigan State over Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Tre Holloman hadn’t even reached the “M” logo at midcourt when he jumped off one foot and let the ball fly.
Somehow, it stayed on line before dropping through the hoop with a swish that reverberated across the Big Ten.
If Michigan State and coach Tom Izzo win yet another conference title, Holloman’s buzzer-beater might be the reason.
“Every day at home, the night before a game, that last practice, we have the guys go around. Everybody gets a shot at a half-court shot. The last two games, Tre has made two of them. He’s made one [before] each game,” Izzo said. “I thought that thing was in when it left. I really did.”
The Spartans might practice shooting from midcourt, but when Holloman left the ground on this game winner, he was closer to his own 3-point line — some 65 feet from the hoop. The shot gave No. 8 Michigan State a 58-55 win over No. 16 Maryland, plus a half-game lead over Michigan atop the Big Ten. It was a sensational finish to a game that was high on intensity but low on artistry.
“I felt we deserved to win the game,” Izzo said. “I don’t think it was a lucky shot at the end. I thought we played inspired basketball.”
It was Michigan State’s first game-winning buzzer-beater since Korie Lucious hit a 3 off a Draymond Green pass in the round of 32 in the 2010 NCAA tournament — also against Maryland.
If the game had gone to overtime, Holloman would have been largely to blame. With the Spartans up by two, his pass in the backcourt was intercepted, and then he quickly fouled Ja’Kobi Gillespie, whose two free throws with 42.1 seconds left tied it at 55. Then Jaxon Kohler missed for Michigan State, giving the Terrapins a chance to win with the shot clock off.
Gillespie missed a 3-pointer, and there was just enough time for Kohler to rebound and flip the ball to Holloman, who was 2-of-11 from the field at that point and 0-for-3 from 3-point range.
“Holloman hadn’t made a shot all night, so once he released it, I knew the thing was going in,” Maryland coach Kevin Willard said.
Willard wasn’t too hard on Gillespie after his missed 3 left Michigan State time for a final heave.
“Maybe if he waits, he doesn’t get an open look. I trust Kobi. He’s been great all year,” Willard said. “At the end of the day, the kid still had to hit a 60-footer to beat you. So, yes, do you want him to take the last shot? Absolutely. But it’s not like he took it at six seconds and Holloman was able to dribble up and get a layup.”
For Holloman, it was a chance to prove that shooting from midcourt isn’t just a way to goof around at practice.
“I knew that it was good,” Holloman said. “We practice those.”
And when it did go in?
“I just remember zeroes, and that we up.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tyrese Proctor is ruled out of the second half of the Duke-Miami game with a left knee injury. (0:20)
Tyrese Proctor is expected back for No. 2 Duke this season, coach Jon Scheyer said, after the guard hobbled off the court because of a left knee injury Tuesday night.
Scheyer said Wednesday night on his radio show that imaging showed Proctor sustained a bone bruise but no structural damage.
“Basically, it’s about his pain tolerance, and it’s about his movement and strengthening,” Scheyer said. “We’ll be very cautious with that and smart. I don’t want to give an exact timetable because it depends on how we can get him moving over the next days or weeks or however long it takes. But we’re going to get him back, which is the most important thing.”
Proctor was moving backward in an effort to defend against a Miami fast break when his left leg appeared to buckle while planting his foot. Proctor, in obvious discomfort, hobbled off the court and into a nearby tunnel with 36.3 seconds left in the first half.
He did not return to the game, finishing with seven points in 14 minutes to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for his Duke career as the Blue Devils beat Miami 97-60.
Isaiah Evans started the second half for Proctor.
Proctor has started 87 games for Duke over three seasons, all under Scheyer. He’s averaging 11.8 points this season, third best on the team behind Cooper Flagg (19.4) and Kon Knueppel (13.5), and he leads the Blue Devils with 64 3-pointers.
“He’s the guy that’s been through it all,” Scheyer said. “And vice versa. I’ve been right there with him. … Look, he’s had way more ups than downs. As a player, he’s 79-21. He’s been a key guy for us since the get-go.”
The Blue Devils already were without key reserve Maliq Brown, who dislocated his shoulder Feb. 17 in a win against Virginia but also is expected back this season.
Duke (25-3, 16-1 ACC and in first place in the conference) has three league games left to play (Saturday at home against Florida State, Monday at home against Wake Forest, March 8 at North Carolina), then would open ACC tournament play with a quarterfinal game March 13, with the potential of tourney games the next two days.
The Blue Devils — a likely No. 1 seed and national title contender — would then open NCAA tournament play on either March 20 or March 21.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Michigan State basketball vs Maryland final score, highlights: Tre Holloman wins it for Spartans
With the calendar shifting to March in just a few days, Michigan State basketball found itself in contention for its first Big Ten regular-season title since 2020.
The Spartans got one step closer to that feat on Wednesday thanks to star guard Tre Holloman.
In a moment when it looked like the game was heading to overtime, Holloman hit a half-court 3-pointer as time expired to give No. 8 Michigan State a gutsy 58-55 win on the road against No. 15 Maryland at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.
Holloman’s heroics Wednesday night helped Michigan State avoid a possible upset on the road, one that it led by four points with 48 seconds remaining in the second half.
REQUIRED READING:Michigan State basketball cracks No. 15 Maryland in second half of 58-55 road win
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With the win, Michigan State has now taken down three consecutive ranked opponents for the first time since 2020, per the Big Ten Network.
Wednesday’s game was far from the prettiest for Michigan State and Maryland, as both teams shot under 35% from the field and combined for 23 turnovers on the night.
As alluded to, Michigan State and Maryland appeared to be heading to overtime after Holloman turned over the ball on an inbound pass at the 43 mark and was called for the foul. This led Ja’Kobi Gillespie to head to the free-throw line to shoot two free throws to tie the game at 55-55, which he ended up doing.
“That’s a lucky shot, but nobody can say we didn’t deserve to win this game. I mean, we made some bad mistakes. Give them credit. We threw the ball away a little bit and everything, but we deserved to win this game. To come into this place (and win) I’m so proud of my guys,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo told the Big Ten Network’s Andy Katz after the game.
He added: “We deserved to win. I’m not taking that as a lucky shot.”
Star freshman Jase Richardson led Michigan State in scoring for the third consecutive game, as he finished with 15 points on 6 of 14 shooting from the field with eight rebounds and an assist.Holloman added nine points himself on 3 of 12 shooting. All 10 players that touched the floor on Wednesday for Michigan State scored at least two points.
With the win, Michigan State earned its ninth Quad 1 win of the season, an important statistic for the NCAA Tournament selection committee to consider come Selection Sunday, and fourth consecutive Quad 1 win. The Spartans entered the day as No. 2 seed in both USA TODAY’s and Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology predictions.
Here is how it all went down with highlights and analysis of Wednesday’s Michigan State vs. Maryland basketball game:
(This section has been updated with new information)
Onions! Onions! Onions! Tre Holloman saves it for Michigan State as he stuns the Xfinity Center with a half-court 3-pointer just before the buzzer. Michigan State beats Maryland 58-55.
A costly possession here for Michigan State as the Spartans turn the ball over on the inbound and Tre Holloman is called for the foul. Maryland hits both free throws at the line from Ja’Kobi Gillespie to tie the game at 55-55 with 42.1 seconds left.
The Terps call a timeout on the floor to get Selton Miguel back on the floor in a four-point deficit to the Spartans. Jase Richardson couldn’t get back-to-back shot attempts in on the other end of the floor for Michigan State.
A big defensive possession here for Michigan State with 56.5 seconds remaining in the game.
A Michigan team that already has eight Quad 1 wins on its NCAA Tournament resume is just over two minutes away from adding its ninth of the season, and a big one that it would be indeed.
The Spartans lead the Terrapins 55-48 at the under-four media timeout after Jeremey Fears hits a big 3-pointer to stop a brief Maryland run. Fears had missed five shots from the field before hitting that 3-pointer, which Maryland left him open near the Michigan State bench for.
Jase Richardson is starting to heat up in the second as he drains a jumper from the free-throw line, giving him 11 points on the night. Richardson, who has the last six points for Michigan State, gives the Spartans their largest lead of the night at 52-43 with 5:15 remaining in the second half.
Maryland calls a timeout as Michigan State is on a 7-0 run over the last 1:37.
After Jaden Akins hits a big 3-pointer right in front of the Michigan State bench, Szymon Zapala picks up his second foul of the game and sends this one to the under-eight media timeout with the Spartans up 45-41. Zapala is now the fifth Michigan State player with at least two fouls with 7:30 remaining in regulation.
We’ll see how Izzo uses Zapala, who has been a force inside the paint tonight for Michigan State with six points and five rebounds.
The Spartans will be shooting free throws from here on out, as Frankie Fidler heads to the charity stripe for you. Fidler makes 1 of 2 at the line to give Michigan State a 40-39 lead over Maryland.
Jaden Akins makes his first shot of the night at 9:57 of the second half on a jumper, and it extends Michigan State’s lead to six at 39-33. The Spartans appear to be attempting to break this game open but can’t find a consistent rhythm or the shots to do so.
The Spartans are finally on the board from downtown as Xavier Booker hits a 3-pointer from the top of the key to extend Michigan State’s lead to 35-30.
After being scoreless in the first half, Tre Holloman makes his second shot of the second half on a mid-range jumper. Good signs for Michigan State’s offense.
Michigan State pushes its extended run to 6-0 with an explosive and athletic dunk from Coen Carr on the fast break, forcing Maryland coach Kevin Willard to call a timeout on the floor. Carr is up to four points on the day.
Maryland has missed each of its last four shots from the field.
A potential development early in the second half is Maryland’ foul trouble, as the Terrapins have gotten called for four fouls in the first four minutes of the half.
Both teams didn’t make a basket in the first three minutes of the second half, but since have waken up and exchanged baskets going into the under-16 media timeout. Maryland leads Michigan State 27-24 with 15:57 remaining in the second half, with Tre Holloman going to the charity stripes.
In a moment Michigan State needs a basket, Jaxon Kohler delivers as he gets the layup to roll in off the glass while drawing the foul. Kohler, who missed much of the first half due to foul trouble, completes the 3-point play as he hits the free throw.
Michigan State leads 24-23 in the second half. Maryland has not scored yet in the second half.
The Spartans trail the Terrapins 23-21 going into the locker room as Selton Miguel gets the shot off just before the buzzer.
While it was not the prettiest first half for either team, it was particularly a bit uglier for Michigan State, who turned over the ball nine times and shot 29% from the field. The Spartans also did not make a single 3-pointer in the first 20 minutes. Jase Richardson leads Michigan State with nine points.
Here’s a breakdown of both team’s stats from the first half:
It appears that Syzmon Zapala tapped the ball back in after grabbing the offensive rebound but officials on the floor waived it off. The call on the floor is offensive goaltending and it will be reviewed at halftime per the Big Ten Network’s Robbie Hummel. Michigan State is currently tied 21-21 with Maryland with 36.7 seconds remaining in the first half.
Hello Coen Carr! The Michigan State big man ends an over four-minute scoreless drought for the Spartans with an electric dunk on the fast break to tie the game at 19-19. Great find by Tre Holloman on the play as he sees Carr wide open down the other side of the court and behind Maryland’s defense.
The game has followed familiar trends so far for both teams. Michigan State will get a much-needed basket to end a scoreless drought and then fall back into an offensive woe, while Maryland responds with a shot that keeps it in it. At the under-eight media timeout, Michigan State leads Maryland 17-15 in what is turning into quite the defensive battle just outside the nation’s capital.
The Spartans’ defense has been a positive sight so far, as the Terps are 2 for their last 12 shots from the field. Tom Izzo tells the Big Ten Network’s Andy Katz that he doesn’t like how his team is not in control and that they need to do a better job at moving the ball.
Maryland takes slight advantage of Michigan State’s offensive struggles in the first half so far, as Maryland’s Rodney Rice hits a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 13-13.
With the Spartans in a 3:50 scoreless drought, Izzo made the rare full hockey shift swap and brought five new players off the bench just before the under-12 media timeout.
Since leading 11-4 at the 15:32 mark of the first half, the Spartans have given up a 6-0 run for the Terrapins and have missed each of their last seven shots from the field. Michigan State leads Maryland 11-10 with 11:42 remaining in the first half.
A duel of two top 20 teams also has brought a duel out between two of the top freshmen in the Big Ten in Michigan State’s Jase Richardson and Maryland’s Derik Queen, who have been a key focal point of their team’s offenses thus far tonight.
Here’s a breakdown of Richardson and Queen’s stats over the last five games:
Michigan State leads Maryland 11-6 at the under-16 media timeout with 15:15 remaining in the first half. Maryland freshman center Derick Queen will be at the free-throw line coming out of the break as he drew the AND-one foul on Xavier Brooker on the layup.
The Spartans defense has forced two turnovers in the first five minutes and held the Terrapins to no field goals for a near four-minute stretch. Jase Richardson has done much of the scoring for Michigan State as he has a game-high seven points and is a perfect 3-for-3 from the field.
After a shot clock violation on their first possession, the Spartans are on the board with a 3-point play from Jase Richardson as he drew the foul on the contested layup. He then follows it up with a mid-range jumper to give Michigan State a 5-0 run.
Here’s the Starting Five that Izzo is going with Wednesday’s game vs. Maryland:
The Spartans have taken the floor at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland for pregame warm-ups. Michigan State looking for its third road win in its last four games.
Here’s where several bracketologist have the Spartans projected for the NCAA Tournament:
Here’s who is wearing the zebra stripes for Wednesday’s game between Michigan State and Maryland:
The Big Ten Network will televise Wednesday’s Big Ten top 25 matchup between Michigan State and Maryland. Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the Big Ten Network and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
REQUIRED READING:Michigan State basketball’s ‘strength in numbers’ yielding rewards in heat of Big Ten race
Michigan State and Maryland are scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET from the XFINITY Center on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in College Park, Maryland.
As noted by Michigan State’s record book, the Spartans lead the all-time series against the Terrapins 16-8. Michigan State has won each of the last six meetings in the series. The Spartans are 5-3 on the road against the Terrapins.
Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal: Maryland 75, Michigan State 71
“Maryland can be a tough place to play when the Terrapins are winning. It’s a fickle fan base for a place that’s considered a basketball school. But times are good now and folks are excited about this team. It helps MSU that it’s a 6:30 p.m. start on a Wednesday. The Spartans need to win at least one of their two games this week to keep control of the Big Ten race. I think they’re more likely to beat Wisconsin on Sunday at home, though I’ve learned not to underestimate this group in difficult spots.”
Game lines and spreads courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Feb. 26
Here’s a look at Michigan State’s last five results. To view the Spartans’ full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
Here’s a look at Maryland’s last five results. To view the Terrapins’ full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
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Michigan State basketball vs Maryland score updates
Michigan State basketball vs Maryland live updates
Final: Michigan State 58, Maryland 55
Tre Holloman wins it for Michigan State
Michigan State turns over ball
Maryland calls timeout
Michigan State holding onto lead
Jase Richardson extends Michigan State lead to nine
Szymon Zapala picks up his second foul
Michigan State in the bonus
Jaden Akins extends Michigan State lead to six
Michigan State hits first 3-pointer of game
Tre Holloman gets going for Michigan State
Michigan State extends lead to three, Maryland calls timeout
Maryland in foul trouble at media timeout
Michigan State retakes lead
First Half: Maryland 23, Michigan State 21
Michigan State trails Maryland at halftime
Syzmon Zapala layup no good
Coen Carr DUNK!
Michigan State holding onto slight lead
Maryland tie game at 13-13
Michigan State struggling on offense
Jase Richardson vs Derik Queen stats
Michigan State leads Maryland at first media timeout
Jase Richardson goes on extended run
Pregame
Michigan State starters vs Maryland
Michigan State takes court for warm-ups
Michigan State basketball NCAA Tournament projections
Referees for Michigan State-Maryland
What channel is Michigan State basketball vs Maryland on today?
Michigan State vs Maryland basketball time today
Michigan State basketball vs Maryland history
Michigan State vs Maryland predictions, picks
Michigan State vs Maryland betting odds
Michigan State basketball schedule 2024-25
Maryland basketball 2024-25 schedule
| TEAMS | 1H | 2H | F |
| Michigan State | 24 | 37 | 58 |
| Maryland | 27 | 32 | 55 |
Michigan State basketball at Maryland tipoff: Matchup analysis and a prediction
• What: Michigan State at Maryland
• When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
• Where: Xfinity Center, College Park, Maryland
• TV/Radio: Big Ten Network/Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; SiriusXM Ch. 196 (MSU broadcast), 195 (Maryland broadcast)
• Records/Rankings: MSU is 22-5 overall, 13-3 in the Big Ten and ranked No. 8 in both the Coaches poll and The Associated Press poll, and is No. 10 per the college basketball analytics site Kenpom.com and No. 14 in the NCAA’s NET rankings. Maryland is 21-6 overall, 11-5 in the Big Ten and ranked No. 15 in the Coaches poll and 16 by the AP voters. The Terrapins are No. 15 nationally, per Kenpom, and 11 in the NET rankings.
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• Betting line: Maryland -3.5
• Coaches: Michigan State — Tom Izzo is 729-300 in his 30th season as a head coach, all with the Spartans. Maryland — Kevin Willard is 326-245 in his 18th season as a head coach, including 59-36 in his third season with the Terrapins. He previously spent 12 seasons at Seton Hall, after three at Iona.
• Series: MSU leads 16-7 all-time, including two wins last season.
Projected lineups
MSU
C (10) Szymon Zapala (7-0) 5.0
F (0) Jaxon Kohler (6-9) 8.0
G (3) Jaden Akins (6-4) 13.0
G (11) Jase Richardson (6-3) 10.8
PG (1) Jeremy Fears Jr. (6-2) 7.1
Maryland
C (25) Derik Queen (6-10) 15.9
PF (10) Julian Reese (6-9) 14.0
G (9) Selton Miguel (6-4) 11.9
G (1) Rodney Rice (6-4) 13.7
G (0) Ja’Kobi Gillespie (6-1) 14.9
• MSU update: The Spartans are back in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten championship after an impressive week, featuring wins at Illinois, against Purdue and at Michigan, to retake the lead in the standings. Michigan has since tied the Spartans, with both teams sitting at 13-3, with a game between the two looming at Breslin Center on the final day of the regular season. However, what that game means will be determined in large part by a lot of basketball before then. For MSU, that begins Wednesday night in College Park against a Maryland team that’s won eight of its last nine games, before hosting Wisconsin, which until Saturday’s overtime loss to Oregon had played like the best team in the Big Ten for a while. A lot was made of how daunting last week’s schedule was. In terms of quality of opponents, this week is likely more difficult.
MSU’s Jase Richardson was named Big Ten freshman of the week for the first time. Amazingly, it was also the first Big Ten weekly award received by any of the Spartans this season. Richardson, who tallied 21 points, six rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes at Michigan, could make an interesting case for Big Ten freshman of the year in what’s a loaded pool, including three projected NBA lottery picks in Rutgers’ Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis and Maryland’s Derik Queen. If Richardson is the go-to guy down the stretch of a Big Ten title run — with wins over the other four — while at least two of the others don’t even make the NCAA tournament, Richardson deserves consideration.
MORE: Couch: Win at Michigan caps week in which MSU basketball proved it has what it takes to be dangerous in March
• Maryland update: The Terrapins have flown under the radar a bit this Big Ten season, perhaps because they began poorly — 1-3 and then 3-4, including early losses to Washington and Northwestern. But since then, they’ve won 8 of 9 games and 10 of 12. Among those wins: an 18-point win over UCLA, by 21 points at Illinois and by eight over Wisconsin. All five of Maryland’s starters average in double figures scoring and all five average more than 30 minutes per game in conference play. Freshman center Derick Queen and senior power forward Julian Reese are also two of the top four rebounding leaders in the Big Ten in league play, averaging 9.7 and 9.1, respectively.
• Matchup analysis: MSU’s depth has made a big difference in the second half of recent games. It could again Wednesday night at Maryland, which plays its starters a ton and does so for good reason — the Terrapins have a heckuva starting lineup (and not much behind them). That includes two big men who can score, rebound and protect the rim in Derick Queen and Julian Reese, and a backcourt with three high-volume 3-point shooters, all shooting 37% or better from beyond the arc, with Selton Miguel and Ja’Kobi Gillespie each above 42%. Miguel and Gillespie were both terrific evaluations in the transfer portal — coming from smaller programs, but with big-time game. Gillespie runs the show and is a good on-ball defender, too. The Terrapins are No. 2 in conference play in defensive efficiency, per Kenpom — behind only MSU — and lead the conference in block rate. I don’t love this matchup for the Spartans, which are at their best when they’re getting work done offensively headed toward the rim. MSU is the stronger rebounding team and if the Spartans can find a way to live in transition, that would be in their favor, both in terms of offensive efficiency and fresh legs.
• Prediction: Maryland can be a tough place to play when the Terrapins are winning. It’s a fickle fan base for a place that’s considered a basketball school. But times are good now and folks are excited about this team. It helps MSU that it’s a 6:30 p.m. start on a Wednesday. The Spartans need to win at least one of their two games this week to keep control of the Big Ten race. I think they’re more likely to beat Wisconsin on Sunday at home, though I’ve learned not to underestimate this group in difficult spots.
• Make it: Maryland 75, MSU 71
MORE: Couch: Inside Jase Richardson’s road from career-threatening surgery to MSU basketball revelation
— Graham Couch
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
