VIDEO: Nick Sanders, son of Barry, hits a 3 for first career points at Michigan State
Michigan State men's basketball rolled to an easy win over Stony Brook on Thursday night, but the game's best moment came in the final minute with the outcome already long decided.
Fifth-year senior walk-on Steven Izzo grabbed a defensive rebound, the eighth of his career, and dribbled quickly up court in transition. Driving to the top of the key, Izzo found fellow walk-on Nick Sanders in the corner next to the Spartans' bench. After a brief hesitation to size up his defender, Sanders — the son of Detroit Lions legendary running back Barry Sanders — let a 3-point attempt fly.
His shot hit nothing but net and Michigan State's bench, along with the rest of the Breslin Center, erupted.
It was the first career field goal and the first career points of Sanders' career at MSU. It also gave Steven, son of head coach Tom Izzo, the third assists of his career.
"I think Steven was more excited than Nick," Tom Izzo said after the game. "That was pretty cool...Barry was in the locker room with his sons. Those are cool moments, man. Those are really cool moments."
It was the kind of moment Michigan State earned after handing business throughout the night against the Seawolves. The Spartans never trailed on their way to a 99-55 win and their third consecutive victory heading into Christmas break.
A former walk-on himself during his playing days at Northern Michigan, Izzo has an appreciation for what his non-scholarship players have brought to his program over the years.
"Nick is an incredible student, and so much like his dad with his humbleness and his humility," Izzo said. "I've had some good walk-ons over the years. It started with Mat Ishbia way back. Davis Smith has been so good for our program. Nick Sanders has been unbelievable. I think you can tell by the bench, those guys have a real love for him because they know what he does every day. They were happier than he was. He's got the Barry 'coolness', but Steven and the bench went crazy, so that was cool."
Here's another angle of Sanders' shot, with the voice of Michigan State men's basketball, Will Tieman, providing the call on the Spartan Media Network:
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