Spartans Decimate Lowly Rutgers 71 to 51

The RAC Schenectady, New Jersey The Michigan State Spartans came in to the RAC tonight here on the campus of Rutgers University facing what I felt was the

The RAC

Schenectady, New Jersey

The Michigan State Spartans came in to the RAC tonight here on the campus of Rutgers University facing what I felt was the first must win game of the season. Well they must have felt the same because they demolished the Big Ten’s worst team 71 to 51. Where have these Spartans been all year?

The Spartans improved their season record to 14-7 (5-3) and continue to march towards another NCAA dance ticket. Rutgers is in the process of a major rebuilding job, while their Coach Eddie Jordan (One of basketball’s all time good guys) attempts one of the biggest rebuilding efforts in college basketball history. It won’t be easy, but this Rutgers alum and ICON may be the one to do it.

Jordan has high praise for Tom Izzo and his Spartans, “They are really good. They were really good tonight and they were really good in the second half. Their defense really got into us. They are just a better team all the way down the line. He’s a mentor (Izzo), he’s a legend. They’ve got a good way of playing. They are good, they are physical and they have a great pace.”

For Izzo he had his usual post game blunt analysis, “The bright spot I thought we got back to our roots. We defended well, we rebounded well and we fast broke well.”

Branden Dawson continued his quiet, but highly effective senior B1G campaign. He accrued yet another double double with 17 points and 11 boards. Bryn Forbes added 18 points in a return to the starting lineup and Travis Trice added 10. Trice also led the way with five assists and Matt Costello had a very productive evening adding nine boards and five assists.

Izzo praised Dawson and Costello saying, “I thought Dawson he did things the numbers won’t show and I think Costello did also. Those two guys set some unbelievable screens.” He added about Dawson specifically, “We are starting to do more with him because he is responding. I would say it was his most complete game that is a good way to say it.”

The Spartans shot 50% from the field and an abysmal 64% from the free throw line. It wasn’t an effort issue as their defense held the Scarlett Knights to just 29% shooting.

Izzo said of the turnovers, “Very concerning because it was just sloppy. We lost some focus there. Everybody wonders why we don’t do more, but there are other parts of the game.”

Earlier this week Izzo revealed Travis Trice popped out a rib, but on this night he hurt his shoulder. Izzo didn’t think it popped out tonight. Javon Bess didn’t start (he had the last three) and Izzo divulged that he had sprained his ankle this week in practice.

On Friday Tom Izzo turns 60 years old and he reflected on his long time in the B1G, “I’ve been in this league 32 years and I’ve never seen the league so strange. Tonight they didn’t play good and last week against Nebraska we didn’t play good. Teams are winning by 30 and then losing by 20.”

The Spartans return to action after a quick two day turnaround to face arch rival Michigan at the Breslin Center at 1 PM. That is a nationally televised game on CBS.