Spartans Down Boston College 77-70

The Spartan Nation invaded New York City with a vengeance tonight. In an important game here at the fabled Madison Square Garden, the Spartans face #6 Boston College in yet another key early season game.

The Spartans, being watched closely by Rev. Al Sharpton, (sitting next to MSU trustee and his friend Joel Ferguson) and the millions on nationwide T.V. wanted to make a statement but needed to have someone step up at the all important fours spot (power forward) and the Spartan Nation was not disappointed.

Having what many felt was a “coming out” party, the green nation was not sad to see Matt Trannon and Marquise Gray step up and make a statement to the nation that those who felt MSU was a power forward short of dominance were simply wrong.

Trannon played 21 minutes here tonight that dazed and confused the Eagles and Gray played with style and flair that matched finally the hype that he arrived with here at MSU from the pipeline in Flint.

Both young men played with a fire and ice combination that gave a very happy Tom Izzo something to smile about. The fire? It was Marquise Gray showing some flair on the offensive end and the ice was the tough as nails Trannon flustering the Eagles with a closer then skin defensive approach that made the Eagles unable to push the Spartans around.

I asked MSU star center Paul Davis in the locker room after the game about what Trannon’s play did for him, he said: “it is really nice because now people can’t just focus on one person.” Mo Ager told me “it is really nice to see him playing the way he does.”

One thing is for sure. Tonight’s win was nice and needed in the grand scheme of what MSU is doing, but much bigger then the win, was the fact that MSU came out of here with two key players at perhaps the most concerning position, that have stepped up.