Tom Izzo and the Spartans Open the 2013-2014 Season with a 101-52 Win Over Grand Valley

Breslin Center East Lansing, MI The 2013-2014 Michigan State Spartans kicked off what should be a magical season tonight here in East Lansing. It was an

Breslin Center

East Lansing, MI

The 2013-2014 Michigan State Spartans kicked off what should be a magical season tonight here in East Lansing. It was an exhibition game (one of two) to start the campaign, but with so much on the line, the Spartans used it as an early tune up.

In this type of game you got exactly what you wanted. MSU came in, took care of business and avoided injuries while playing 15 players. The Spartans in the end coasted to the 101-52 win.

The Spartans lost to GVSU just six years ago in another exhibition game. That double overtime win for the Lakers was an 85-82 cardiac inducing event!

He said after the game about the contest that, “There were a lot of positive things for us.  A couple of negatives: The dribble drive…and the free throw shooting. We lost a little focus there or a little bit. We played a bunch of different lineups.”

The Spartans shot 61% form the charity stripe.

GVSU head coach Ric Wesley said, ““I really appreciate the opportunity that MSU gave us to come over here and play. Hats off to Michigan State, this is my tenth year at Grand Valley and that is the best team I have seen.”

The Spartans were led in scoring by Keith Appling who had 17 and a team high four assists. Branden Dawson led the Spartans with seven rebounds. The Spartans shot a light out 62% from the field including 58% from the three point line.

Redshirt freshman Kenny Kaminski was suspended for this game. It was academic related, but not eligibility related. Tom Izzo has high demands in the classroom and Kaminski didn’t meet them. Izzo addressed the situation by saying, “Kaminski didn’t play for a couple of reasons, most of all for not meeting my expectations over the summer. Not eligibility issue. I told him he is going to miss the first two or three games. He is back on track and doing very well now.”

MSU returns to the hard court here at the Breslin Center next on November 4th, to take on Indiana, PA. That game is a 7pm tip.