12-10-2017, 03:15 AM
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State put four players in double figures and used a run in the late stages of the second half to break open a close game en route to an 88-63 win over Southern Utah on Saturday night at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State, ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls, improved to 9-1 overall with its eighth-straight win.
Sophomore guard/forward Miles Bridges scored 17 points, had 11 rebounds and tied his career high with six assists and freshman forward Jaren Jackson Jr. had 17 points and tied a career-high with 13 rebounds to lead the Spartans. Sophomore forward Nick Ward added 17 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots and sophomore guard Cassius Winston chipped in 15 points and five assists.
MSU led by 12 points, 42-30, at the break and were up 50-36 after a layup from Bridges at the 16:41 mark. A conventional three-point play from Ward with 15:13 left made it 54-41, but the Thunderbirds climbed back into it.
Southern Utah used a 10-2 run to pull within 56-51 on a 3-pointer from Jacob Calloway at the 12:25 mark. The Spartans went 4:58 without a field goal, but free throws from Bridges followed by a pair of layups pushed the lead back to nine points, 62-53.
The lead was again just five points, 58-53, after free throws from Dre Marin with just over 11 minutes left, but Michigan State used a 16-5 run over 4:56 - with six points from Bridges during that span - and took a commanding 74-58 lead after Ward hit a pair of free throws with 5:49 to play.
The Spartans went into the half with a 42-30 lead, keyed by their shooting from outside the arc, connecting on 7-of-10 3-point attempts.
The Thunderbirds had taken an early lead after a 3-pointer from Jacob Calloway and trailed by one, 7-6, after another trey, this one from Jadon Cohee. MSU used a 15-2 run over 3:47 and widened its lead to 24-10 after a 3-pointer from Winston and a layup from Bridges.
Michigan State took its biggest lead of the half, 38-23, when Ward hit a 3-pointer - the first of his career - as the shot clock wound down with 1:47 to play in the half. A 7-2 burst from SUU narrowed the gap to 40-30, but a pair of free throws from Gavin Schilling provided the 12-point margin.
The Spartans are off this week for final exams and return to action on Saturday, Dec. 16, playing Oakland University at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit Mich.
http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-bask...17aaa.html
Michigan State, ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls, improved to 9-1 overall with its eighth-straight win.
Sophomore guard/forward Miles Bridges scored 17 points, had 11 rebounds and tied his career high with six assists and freshman forward Jaren Jackson Jr. had 17 points and tied a career-high with 13 rebounds to lead the Spartans. Sophomore forward Nick Ward added 17 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots and sophomore guard Cassius Winston chipped in 15 points and five assists.
MSU led by 12 points, 42-30, at the break and were up 50-36 after a layup from Bridges at the 16:41 mark. A conventional three-point play from Ward with 15:13 left made it 54-41, but the Thunderbirds climbed back into it.
Southern Utah used a 10-2 run to pull within 56-51 on a 3-pointer from Jacob Calloway at the 12:25 mark. The Spartans went 4:58 without a field goal, but free throws from Bridges followed by a pair of layups pushed the lead back to nine points, 62-53.
The lead was again just five points, 58-53, after free throws from Dre Marin with just over 11 minutes left, but Michigan State used a 16-5 run over 4:56 - with six points from Bridges during that span - and took a commanding 74-58 lead after Ward hit a pair of free throws with 5:49 to play.
The Spartans went into the half with a 42-30 lead, keyed by their shooting from outside the arc, connecting on 7-of-10 3-point attempts.
The Thunderbirds had taken an early lead after a 3-pointer from Jacob Calloway and trailed by one, 7-6, after another trey, this one from Jadon Cohee. MSU used a 15-2 run over 3:47 and widened its lead to 24-10 after a 3-pointer from Winston and a layup from Bridges.
Michigan State took its biggest lead of the half, 38-23, when Ward hit a 3-pointer - the first of his career - as the shot clock wound down with 1:47 to play in the half. A 7-2 burst from SUU narrowed the gap to 40-30, but a pair of free throws from Gavin Schilling provided the 12-point margin.
The Spartans are off this week for final exams and return to action on Saturday, Dec. 16, playing Oakland University at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit Mich.
http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-bask...17aaa.html