Jaden Akins grabbed a long rebound and spotted Max Christie on the run.
A quick pass, a mad dash, a layup at the buzzer. Too late.
The first-half clock expired before the ball left Christie’s hand. It summed up another abysmal start for Michigan State basketball.
The Spartans showed minimal energy and offensive rhythm from the outset, with no answers in the paint against Hunter Dickinson. Michigan blitzed them with sizzling shooting and robust emotion, continuing the up-and-down roller coaster season for No. 25 MSU with an 87-70 thumping Tuesday night at Crisler Center.