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Michigan Defeats Michigan State In Monumental Night At Crisler

It was a monumental night at the Crisler Center, and for the Michigan community as a whole.

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Michigan defeats Michigan State
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

The past week has been hard on the Michigan community as a whole, though no one has felt its effects more than the residents of East Lansing and members of the MSU community. On Monday night, there was a tragic and horrific shooting at Michigan State University — it took the lives of three sudents, injured another five, and changed everyone in the Spartan community/state of Michigan forever. On Saturday night, the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor saw many monumental moments, headlines will read: Michigan defeats Michigan State, Michigan community comes together, 2013 team is honored, and so much more.

Michigan Defeats Michigan State In Special Night for Michigan Community

The Michigan-Michigan State basketball game on Saturday was massive for many reasons. On the surface, Michigan State was looking for the season sweep for the Wolverines for the first time since 2018-19, meanwhile the Michigan basketball team was hoping to throw itself back into NCAA tournament contention with a win. The more you look at this game, the more you’ll find that Saturday night was hardly about college basketball.

The Crisler Center — for the first time ever — was lit up Green and White to honor those who were impacted in the Michigan State tragedy earlier this week. Many more special moments and symbols — such as a momentum of silence, custom banners, signs, shirts and more — were also seen around Crisler and the Wolverines and Spartans clashed on the court.

We all know that basketball is “just a game,” but on Saturday night, fans of the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans showed the world that it is so much more than a college sports rivalry — we are family, one way or another.

All said and done, it was an incredible atmosphere, and likely the best all-around college basketball game that many Big Ten fans have seen this year. When the clock his all zeros, it read: MICHIGAN 84, MICHIGAN STATE 72. The Wolverines’ 12-point win was much-needed for their tournament hopes, though as I said, the night was about anything but basketball.

Wolverines Commemorate 2013 Team At Halftime

As most already know, 10-years ago the Michigan basketball community saw one of the most-special teams in Wolverine program history. Trey Burke, John Beilein, and so many others led the Wolverines to an incredible Final Four run, which eventually came to an end with a narrow loss to the Louisville Cardinals in the National Title game.

At halftime, Beilein, Burke, and many more were celebrated for the 10-year anniversary of this event.

Michigan basketball Sees Successful Maize Out

Everyone’s hearts may have been Green and White tonight, but at the Crisler Center, Michigan was set to host its annual Maize Out game. The Wolverines made special shirts as a shoutout to the Michigan State Spartans; however, fans were expected to show up in as much Maize as possible. Just as we saw last year (and for other sports such as hockey and football), the Michigan Wolverines pulled off the look — the Crisler Center was covered in bright Maize all over.

It was a special night at the Crisler Center — one that was full of emotions and bigger than basketball for the entire Michigan community.

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CJ has covered college athletics in paid roles for around five years, including numerous sports and beats. His most recent work revolves largely around Penn State and Michigan football and basketball as a member of the credentialed media at both schools. Right now, CJ writes for Blue by Ninety, where he also serves as the site's credentialed football reporter. He also does some credentialed basketball coverage. Previously, CJ has made stops with sites like GBMWolverine, Saturday Blitz, Steeler Nation, and more.

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