EAST LANSING, Mich. — It was a fleeting moment, buried in an avalanche of noise and energy during a college basketball game. Yet, the subtle gesture revealed much about senior forward Draymond Green’s importance to Michigan State.

Green trudged to his team’s bench during a momentary break in play and reached out his hand to coach Tom Izzo.

Izzo grabbed Green’s hand and held it for a few seconds while talking to his third-year captain during the second half of Michigan State’s 77-57 victory over Penn State on Wednesday night.

The coach and player were connected, as they are in spirit, and that partnership explains a big reason why the 11th-ranked Spartans (19-5, 8-3) can claim a share of first place in the Big Ten if they win at No. 3 Ohio State (21-3, 9-2) on Saturday.

“He has a lot of trust in me, but his trust in me doesn’t mean anything unless I trust him,” Green said. “That rubs off on the team, especially when it’s crunch time and time to go to war.”

Numbers easily define what Green means to Michigan State. He leads the Spartans in scoring (15.2 points a game), rebounding (10.6), minutes (32.7), steals (35) and blocks (24) and ranks second on the team in assists (3.6). He is trying to become the first Spartan to average a double-double since Mike Peplowski in 1993.

Green’s versatility and deft passing belie his hulking stature (6 feet 7, 230 pounds). Green, a native of Saginaw, Mich., can shoot from the outside (28 three-pointers) and muscle his way in traffic as the league’s leading rebounder.

All those impressive statistics have Green mentioned, along with OSU forward Jared Sullinger, as Player of the Year candidates in the Big Ten, which will be a story line for Saturday’s game even though the two aren’t expected to guard one another.

“This game is about winning a championship, winning a game for this team and program,” Green said. “I’m not worried about trying to outplay him.”

The response from the player known as “Day-Day” is indicative of his intangibles, which can’t be measured in numbers but is treasured by teammates and the coach.

“He’s been everything I can ask for and more,” Izzo said. “I’ve got something I’m not sure anybody has in this league. We’re not as talented (a team) as some, but I’d like to see a better leader than Draymond.”

Izzo, whose program has long been defined by toughness and rebounding, recently called Green “the perfect Spartan,” as well as “my voice” and “my personality.”

Green’s warrior mentality showed after a loss on Jan. 31 at Illinois, when he suffered a sprained left knee. He left the arena on crutches, but when asked what would keep him from playing the next game against Michigan, he replied: “Death.”

Five days later, after not missing a practice, Green started against the Wolverines. He played 38 minutes in a 64-54 victory and led the Spartans with 14 points and 16 rebounds — the same number of rebounds totaled by Michigan.

“He is a very, very tough kid, physically extremely tough and mentally not far behind,” Izzo said.

Penn State can attest. The Nittany Lions had cut a 22-point deficit to 52-47 with nine minutes remaining on Wednesday when Green took over. In the next eight minutes, he had 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.

“That’s what great players do,” Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said. “That’s what seniors do. That’s what winners do. He’s a winner.”

The box score showed Green finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds against Penn State for his Big Ten-best 13th double-double of the season and 31st in his career.

His fellow Spartans, however, know they can count on Green for more than just statistics at Ohio State.

“He takes everybody under his wing,” center Adreian Payne said.

And sometimes by the hand, too.

tjones@dispatch.com