Izzo talked about his Spartans having strength in numbers to get off to their best start in Big Ten play since 2018-19. They entered the week with Jaden Akins as their only player averaging double figures at 13.8 points per game.

Meanwhile, Garcia was the hottest scorer in the league coming off Monday’s Big Ten player of the week honor after his 31-point game Saturday in an upset against No. 15 Oregon. Another Gophers streak kept going Tuesday with Garcia now at six straight 20-point games.

But the 6-11 senior didn’t score his first points until consecutive field goals to pull the Gophers within 21-12 with 3:26 left in the first half, but that’s when Holloman caught fire. He hit three-pointers on Mike Mitchell Jr., Garcia and Isaac Asuma to extend it to a 32-12 margin with 1:25 to play before the break.

Not only did the Gophers struggle to find their offense early Tuesday, but they also committed 11 of their 12 turnovers in the first half, which led to 10 points for Michigan State.

In the second half, Garcia helped the Gophers cut a 22-point deficit to 13 points twice, including with two free throws to make it 56-43 just under seven minutes to play.

Barely two minutes later, though, Michigan State’s crowd erupted after Coen Carr’s alley-oop dunk on Parker Fox plus the foul. Carr’s three-point play extended it back to a 20-point lead for the Spartans.