#2 Michigan State Win Streak Grows to 11 with a 102-60 Win Over Long Beach State

#2 MSU Win Streak Grows to 11 with a 102-60 Win Over LBS

Breslin Center

East Lansing, MI

The #2 Michigan State Spartans extended their winning streak to 11 games with their 11th straight win by double digits tonight with a 102-60 win over Long Beach State. It was a mismatch, as expected from the start.

The Spartan starters led the way for Michigan State. All five made double digits on the score sheet. Miles Bridges led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds. Joshua Langford put in 17 points and had two rebounds. Nick Ward dropped 16 points and also grabbed six rebounds. Cassius Winston and Jaren Jackson, JR (3J) each had 13 points. 3J also nabbed six boards. On the night the Spartans had 12 players play and ten scored.

How bad was this beat down? Where I am from they would call this an old fashion butt kicking. It wasn’t even as close as the score. Houston Baptist without their best player gave MSU more of a fight.

Tom Izzo at this point knows how good the Spartans are and he has to invite things to be angry about. He said of his incredible team, “I have a lot of things to be thankful. Almost six guys in double figures. I guess Nick (Ward) is like 16 of 17 in two games and playing very well. Other than giving up some layups, for the most part, we were OK.” OK?

Dan Monson the head coach of Long Beach State was having a kind of homecoming. He was the head coach at Minnesota for many years and his father Don was a longtime assistant for Jud Heathcote.

I asked Coach Monson about this Spartan team under the microscope of all the great MSU teams he has seen. He told me, “This is a tough place to play and a tough place to win. I was very impressed with Michigan State. They are very unselfish. They carved us up and got what they wanted. I told Coach (Izzo) before the game that I thought he had his best team. Time will tell. We never challenged or got them frazzled or frustrated. Personnel-wise they are as good as they have been. Those guards are playing as well as anyone and that front line is good and we know their coach is.”

MSU cut back on turnovers but still had too many. In total, the Spartans had 12 turnovers compared to Long Beach State’s 17. MSU won the battle of the boards 36-25. The Spartans had another stellar night blocking shots. On the night they swatted away 10. MSU also had 28 assists on 39 baskets and shot an astounding 61%.

Monson added of the MSU assists, “I know Tom (Izzo) is always negative and wants more, but what does he want 30 assists?”

Izzo added, “28 assists on 39 baskets is good to see. The unselfishness continues, but still, have needs for improvement. The fumbling of the ball is a little hard to understand.”

With the win, the Spartans record improves to 12-1. There is no foreseeable challenge to the Spartans until well into the next year. That makes it critical now for each game, that the Spartans engage themselves and expectations.

How good is this team? Here is a great stat. This was the third time this season that the Spartans have had five players in double digits. That speaks to how unselfish this group is.

The Spartans return to action in eight days on December 29 right back here at the Breslin Center against Cleveland State. That game tips off at 6 PM and can be seen on BTN.

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