Post Game Notes: Minnesota
1/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Michigan State leads the all-time series with Minnesota, 66-59, although the Gophers still own a 36-24 advantage in games played in Minneapolis after this season's loss to the Spartans. It had been three full calendar years since MSU last played at Williams Arena, where the Spartans have won six of the last seven and eight of the last 10. MSU has won 15 of the last 18, 20 of the last 24, and 25 of the last 31 meetings. Tom Izzo has a 28-10 all-time record against the Golden Gophers.
Michigan State has a 14-5 record as the No. 1-ranked team in the country all-time.
Just moments after checking into the game out of the first media timeout, freshman forward Deyonta Davis earned sole ownership of the MSU freshman block record, turning aside his 30th shot of the season. Davis surpassed Delvon Roe's mark of 29 set in 2008-09. He finished with three blocks to bring his season total to 32 and scored 10 points against the Golden Gophers.
Coming off a season-low scoring performance at Iowa, senior Bryn Forbes tallied seven of MSU's first nine points. Forbes finished with a game-high 20 points and six boards, matching a season-high in rebounds set back on Dec. 12 against Florida.
Senior forward Matt Costello posted his third double-double of the season and second in the past three outings. Costello finished the contest tying his career-high 17 points and posting a career-high 15 rebounds. Michigan State is 5-1 when he finishes with a double-double and 5-1 this season when Costello paces the team on the glass.
Costello ranks fourth in MSU history with 121 blocks. He needs 14 more to surpass Drew Naymick (2004-08) to crack into the top-three in Spartan history after tallying two against Minnesota.
Sophomore guard Tum Tum Nairn Jr. led MSU in assists for the fifth time this season, dishing out seven helpers. It was Nairn Jr.'s highest assist tally since posting seven against Binghamton on Dec. 5.
Powered by a 9-0 spurt over a 3:25 stretch in the second half, Michigan State took a double-digit lead, 51-41, for its largest in the contest.
Junior forward Gavin Schilling made his first start of the season, joining sophomore guard Tum Tum Nairn Jr., redshirt junior Eron Harris, senior forward Matt Costello and senior Bryn Forbes in the starting five.
