5 Observations: Michigan State blows out Stony Brook for 3rd straight win

After dropping five of their first nine games to start the 2023-24 season, Michigan State men's basketball is starting to find its groove. The Spartans cruised to their third straight victory on Thursday with a decisive 99-55 win over Stony Brook.

MSU led this one wire-to-wire and head coach Tom Izzo got to play everybody in the Spartans' final game before Christmas break. Michigan State outscored Stony Brook 20-2 to start the game and, after a quick 5-0 spurt for the Seawolves, ended the first half with a 28-5 run to take a 48-12 lead into halftime.

Stony Brook scored the second half's first five points, drawing a quick timeout from head coach Tom Izzo, but it was all MSU from there. Michigan State outscored the Seawolves 51-43 in the second half to put this one away. Here are five observations from tonight's action...

1.) Jaden Akins finding his groove

After a slow start to his junior season, Jaden Akins appears to be finding his groove. In MSU's last game against Oakland, the junior knocked down a trio of 3-point baskets on his way to 11 points. Tonight, Akins stayed hot from outside and scored a career-high 22 points.

Akins shot 9-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-7 against Stony Brook and played with an assertiveness that has been missing for much of this season. The competition level of MSU's opponent might have had something to do with that, but this is the kind of "pick-me-up" game that can give Akins some confidence with Big Ten play looming in 2024. Akins rounded out his night with three assists.

2.) Career nights for Jeremy Fears, Xavier Booker

Point guard Jeremy Fears has had the most consistent role on this team among MSU's freshmen, and he had the best game of his young career tonight. Fears handed out a career-high 10 assists and added five rebounds and a steal. The freshman had just one turnover in 21 minutes played. Fears' outside shooting will need to improve as his career continues, but he is already an advanced defender for a freshman and he's got the tools and mental makeup to be Izzo's next great point guard.

Fellow freshman Xavier Booker has had to slowly work his way into Michigan State's rotation early in his career, but the former 5-star got some extended run tonight with the Spartans taking control early against the Seawolves. Booker scored a career-high 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, and added seven rebounds and three blocked shots. The freshman's slight frame is holding him back from getting more minutes as of now but, like Fears, the tools of a future star are here.

3.) MSU's 3-point shooting is improving, but limitations are visible

Michigan State is starting to shoot the ball better from outside and that's unlocked more of their potential in the halfcourt offense. Tonight, the Spartans went 12-of-31 from 3-point range and shot 59% overall from the floor.

MSU's guards will have to carry the shooting load, as power forward Malik Hall continues to struggle from outside. The fifth-year senior was 1-for-4 from deep tonight, bringing his season-long 3-point shooting numbers to 5-for-25 on the year. Hall is at his best offensively with his back to the basket in the low-post, and he's never going to be able to space the floor like Joey Hauser did a year ago. Michigan State will have to find way to work around that.

4.) Walker, Hoggard play like veterans should

It should come as no surprise given the level of competition, but both Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard played very well tonight, continuing Michigan State's improved play in the backcourt.

Walker has been great all season, and he was on top of his game again tonight. The fifth-year senior scored 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, despite going 2-of-7 from deep. Walker added two rebounds, two assists and two steals to his stat line.

Meanwhile, Hoggard's improved focus and intensity has been noticeable in these last three outings and its a big part of why the Spartans have looked so much better as a whole. The senior had a double-double tonight with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and he added a pair of steals. Hoggard is at his best when he gets downhill and causes damage or creates from the paint. He's been able to do that in these last three games and that's a big reason MSU's offense has started to click.

5.) Nick Sanders scores first career points

The son of Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders scored his first career points as a Spartan tonight on Michigan State's second-to-last possession of the game. Nick Sanders, who walked on at MSU last season, hit a corner 3-pointer in the final minute to send the Spartans bench and the Breslin Center into a frenzy. Sanders' field goal, the first of his career, came off the third career assist of fellow walk-on Steven Izzo.

It's always cool to see the walk-ons get some run at the end of these lopsided outcomes, and moments like these are fun. Steven Izzo gave a big fist pump and yell when the shot went down, Tom Izzo had a huge smile on his face, and Nick Sanders flashed a grin as well. Just a cool moment at the Breslin.

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