HOLT, MI – East Lansing is Michigan State’s home turf, but Michigan head coach John Beilein could be spending more time there over the next couple of years.

East Lansing High sophomore sensation Brandon Johns (6-7, Rivals.com’s No. 20 sophomore nationally) would be the reason. The smooth shooting forward started and finished strong in a 56-53 win over Holt and 2017 three-star big man Jaron Faulds, another Beilein came to watch.

Johns scored eight of his 21 points in the fourth quarter – this after being held scoreless in the third -- to lead East Lansing back from 12 down.

“I challenged him at halftime for the first time this year,” East Lansing head coach Steve Finamore said. “I didn’t think he was giving everything he had. He was about 75 percent in the first half – in the second half he came alive.

“He’s a great player. He just needs a positive push every now and then.”

And there’s no questioning the skill. Johns came out firing and hit three, first half triples on his way to 13 points in a back and forth affair. Faulds, meanwhile, picked it up in the second quarter to score seven of his nine first half points and give Holt a 31-28 lead. He worked inside for his and scored on offensive putbacks, even drove the length of the court for a strong finish to keep the Rams ahead.

Holt led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, 40-28, before Finamore’s team came alive.

“A lot of people don't subscribe to the theory that you’ve got to yell at kids to get them going, but I told our kids they needed what we told them was a positive push,” he said. “We get on our guys, but they respond.

“I love our players … we made some adjustments, and it worked.”

He especially loved what he got from Johns in the fourth quarter. The sophomore’s steal and triple cut a 48-44 lead to one point … his offensive rebound and putback brought East Lansing (now 8-0, No. 10 in the state in Class A) all the way back, and his free throw on the next trip capped his own personal 6-0 run that made it 50-48.

Holt extended the lead to 54-48 on two more Johns free throws – he rebounded Faulds’ missed jumper and was fouled – but Faulds tip-in with 35 seconds remaining kept the Rams alive.

East Lansing, though, closed it out at the line. Holt, meanwhile, made only 4-of-14 from the stripe.

“I wasn’t feeling well in the first half,” Johns said, noting he was suffering from stomach cramps. “But when we got down I felt like I wasn't doing enough. I knew I had to pick it up and lead my team to a win.”

Johns also ripped down four rebounds in the fourth quarter in playing more aggressively. Faulds was a beast on the glass throughout, finishing with 16 caroms to go with 11 points and four blocked shots.

Johns’ recruitment is “wide open” – Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are among those on his list – while Faulds holds offers from CMU, Toledo, DePaul, Oakland and others and is hearing from Vanderbilt, U-M, MSU, Iowa, Northwestern and others.

Watch TheWolverine.com for film and recruiting updates in the days to come.