If Michigan State’s season had to come to an end, perhaps Saturday night’s loss to Texas Tech was the ideal way to conclude.

Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Of course the ideal way to go out would’ve been to be holding the national championship trophy while confetti rained down at U.S Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and One Shining Moment blaring in the background. We all understand that would’ve been the optimal way to end the year.

But, if Michigan State’s season had to conclude with a loss, Saturday night might’ve been the perfect way to end, as silly as it might sound. There wasn’t much excitement stemming from the 61-51 defeat at the hands of Texas Tech, and it was perhaps the most forgettable game of the year. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Michigan State wasn’t its usual self in Minneapolis, failing to establish any sort of tempo or rhythm throughout the game. The Spartans shot 31.7 percent from the field and had 11 turnovers to just six assists — numbers that can be attributed to a relentless Texas Tech defense. Cassius Winston didn’t have that scoring spurt in the clutch moment, a facet of his game we’ve become accustomed to seeing.

What we saw on Saturday night wasn’t Michigan State basketball. Instead, it was the type of performance we’d thought we’d see throughout the season, particularly when Joshua Langford suffered a season-ending injury in December. In a way, the loss to Texas Tech served as a reminder that the Spartans overachieved this season, and overcame the odds to put together a memorable run.

Isn’t that what we should take away from this season?

Michigan State’s final game won’t be overshadowed by a what-if moment. While the green and white diehards will certainly pick apart every mistake over the next few days, most will attribute the loss to Texas Tech’s smothering defense.

Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Imagine if the Spartans’ season ended the way Auburn’s did — a missed double-dribble call and a foul on a missed three-point shot. Or if Michigan State suffered the same heartbreak Purdue did, with Virginia knocking down a rushed jumper with a tenth of a second remaining to push the game to overtime in a game that should’ve been sealed away.

Those kind of moments tend to overshadow the accomplishments of a season. Auburn’s incredible tournament run and first Final Four appearance lost a little bit of its luster. Purdue’s B1G title took a backseat to the disappointment of failing to close out Virginia.

Michigan State didn’t endure one of those moments on Saturday night. Instead of dwelling on a critical missed call, a botched possession or a missed layup, the Spartans can reflect on a season in which they overcame a boatload of obstacles to enjoy success.

The Spartans claimed a B1G regular season and tournament championship without Langford on the floor and losing Nick Ward for a crucial stretch in the closing weeks of the regular season. They made a Final Four run without Kyle Ahrens and a depleted bench. Winston was the B1G Player of the Year and named an All-American. Michigan State ended the year with 32 wins, defeated rival Michigan three times — including the B1G Tournament title game — and slayed the beast that was Duke and superstar Zion Williamson.

A championship would’ve been a tremendous addition to the resumé, but Michigan State doesn’t need one to validate everything it accomplished this season.

Saturday night was a disappointing end to a memorable season. Michigan State had a chance to make one of the more improbable NCAA Tournament runs in recent memory, but ran into a red hot Texas Tech team in Minneapolis.

Things didn’t go the way Michigan State had hoped in the Final Four, but just getting to that level is what we’ll remember most about this season. That, and all the other achievements the Spartans enjoyed, even when nobody thought it was possible.