EAST LANSING, Mich. _ There was a basketball game at the Breslin Center on Sunday night, and while the blowout victory was nice for top-ranked Michigan State, it was hardly the focus for nearly everyone in the building.
Instead of worrying about wins or 3-pointers and slam dunks, the roughly 14,000 in attendance were there to support one player _ Cassius Winston.
The Spartans senior decided being on the basketball court was where he needed to be less than a day after learning that his 19-year-old brother, Zachary, had been killed on Saturday night when he was struck by a train in Albion. Chief of Public Safety Scott Kipp confirmed Zachary Winston's death and said the investigation, which included interviews with the train's engineer, indicated Winston intentionally stepped in front of the Amtrak train.
"We'll play with a heavy heart," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said before Michigan State went on to cruise to a 100-47 victory over Binghamton.
Zachary Winston was a sophomore guard at Division III Albion and had just joined Khy, the youngest of the three Winston brothers and a freshman at Albion, some two weeks prior when Michigan State hosted Albion in an exhibition game. A bad hamstring kept Zach Winston out that night while Khy and Cassius went head-to-head for stretches in the second half.
It was an amazing night for a tight-knit family. All three brothers part of the same college game as mom and dad _ Reg and Wendi _ watched from the stands.
On Sunday, with Reg and Khy both in the stands, Cassius Winston played what might have been the toughest game of life.
He first arrived for warm-ups along with Khy and the two sat courtside as warm-ups began. Khy draped his arm around Cassius as the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year had his hood pulled over head and stared at the ground. Then Cassuis jumped up, kissed Khy on the top of the head and hit the court to get ready to play.
As the clock wound down toward tip-off, the teams gathered on the court for a moment of silence. Tears were already flowing for Izzo and many in the stands. Cassius Winston stood between Kyle Ahrens and Joshua Langford. During the moment of silence, Winston kept his head down as Ahrens wrapped his arm around his longtime teammate. Later, during the national anthem, it was Langford, Winston's partner from the 2016 class, that put his hand on Winston's shoulder.
Once the game started, Winston was typical Winston, hitting his first 3-pointer from the top of the key then firing a one-handed, half-court bounce pass to a streaking Thomas Kithier for a slam dunk. It was part of a one-sided half for Michigan State, which led 54-23 at the break.
By the time the second half rolled around, Winston continued to spark a balanced Michigan State attack. He finished with 17 points and 11 assists, his 13th career double-double.
Winston's play led a balanced attack for Michigan State as five players scored in double figures. Junior Xavier Tillman scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Spartans while sophomore Aaron Henry scored 16 points on 5-for-6 shooting. Sophomore Marcus Bingham scored a career-high 13 points while sophomore Thomas Kithier chipped in 10 points, also a career high.
Sophomore Sam Sessoms scored 12 to lead Binghamton (0-2) while senior Richard Caldwell Jr. added 11 points for the Bearcats.
Michigan State now prepares to head to Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday for a matchup with No. 12 Seton Hall in the Gavitt Games.
