Tre Holloman steps up, Michigan State basketball picks up big OT win over No. 12 in North Carolina

On By Littum

In big moments this season, the Michigan State men’s basketball team has longed for someone to emerge as a go-to guy. While there have been notable performances from key players — double-doubles, 20-point nights — they haven’t been as common in the big games this young season.

It took a start in the Maui Invitational for Tre Holloman to show the Lahaina Civic Center crowd that he could be that guy. Holloman led Michigan State (6-2) to a third-place finish in the tournament held in Maui, Hawaii, and Holloman’s career-high 19 points helped lead to a lopsided 94-91 overtime win over No. 12 at North Carolina (4-3). Most importantly for the Spartans, he showed he can be a difference maker.

BOX SCORE: Michigan State 94, North Carolina 91 (OT)

Make no mistake, Holloman has been important for Michigan State in all eight games of the season. He is a co-captain, after all, and MSU coach Tom Izzo has turned to Holloman in difficult moments. When Jeremy Fears Jr. showing his inexperience? Insert Holloman. If the Spartans can’t settle? Insert Holloman. And Wednesday in Maui, want a different look for the starting lineup? Holloman, you’re in.

And Holloman jumped at the chance. He put together a remarkable first half, making all five shots he took, including three from deep, to total 13 points. He even made a deep three he launched to end the first half, but it didn’t count on review due to a shot clock violation. That call would prove important at the end of regulation.

Much of that offense came in the halfcourt, where the Spartans haven’t been all that pristine this season. With North Carolina set up in structure, Holloman nonetheless made tough outside shots to carry the offense. He was a go-to shooter, a player his teammates turned to when they needed someone to make a shot. And Holloman hit every single one he took.

Michigan State also found some scoring from the former starter Holloman replaced. Forward Frankie Fidler had seven points in nine minutes off the bench and looked more comfortable in that role. Holloman’s emergence and Fidler’s contribution combined with strong work by forward Coen Carr on the fastbreak to give Michigan State a 43-34 lead at the half.

But in the second half, Holloman and the Spartans as a whole cooled off early. Two back-to-back fouls five minutes later benched him, and North Carolina attacked in transition during that span to take its first lead 6:35 into the half.

Nine seconds later, Fears drew a foul and North Carolina coach Hubert Davis called a technical foul and argued the call, the Spartans regained the lead and Holloman took the field again. His leadership showed when he got back on defense and battled through screens. And even though he missed all three shots in the half — no one was going to lose track of him this time — Holloman took care of the ball and fed his teammates a light transition offense with three assists in the second half. Like the first-half scoring, Holloman flexed its veteran lead in the second.

At this point, the Spartans saw another positive development from forward Xavier Booker, who put together a dominant stretch that saw him score six straight points, grab an offensive rebound and attack the paint with an aggression that has been too rare in his game. While two errors benched him, it was the kind of play Michigan State has been looking for from Booker, who lost his starting spot earlier in the season.

As North Carolina tried to fend for itself with guard Elliott Cadeau scoring 11 of his 15 points in the second half, the Spartans maintained a multi-possession lead most of the way. Guard Jaden Akins picked up 10 points in the second half and found some tough buckets along the way.

But in the final minute, North Carolina pulled within a single point after a bad turnover by Fears. And with pressure mounting, the Spartans kept turning to Holloman. Akins tried to drive for a layup and turned the ball over on a swipe, giving North Carolina a chance to take the lead. Instead, Cadeau missed an open layup. Taking the ball up the court, Holloman made two free throws to take a three-point lead, which guard Seth Trimble erased with a game-tying three. When Holloman took the ball back down the field with a chance to win the game, Fears ran into him, forcing overtime.

In overtime, Holloman again got to the free throw line to sink two more free throws and take the lead. On the next offensive possession, he hit Carr with an assist on a dunk. An offensive and defensive error on Akins gave UNC the lead, but Booker scored four straight points to take back the lead. And when Holloman stepped to the free throw line again, he threw the game away for real this time to set a career high in scoring.

Not only does the Spartans leave Maui with a 2-1 record against a difficult tournament field, but its win against North Carolina should age well later in the season. Meanwhile, Holloman showed he’s someone Michigan State can rely on in big moments.

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@ConnorEaregood