GVSU Shocks MSU in Exhibition Opener at THE BREZ!!

Much like a year ago MSU found itself in a basketball game late in the second half against Division II Grand Valley State University. GVSU is a well-coached

Much like a year ago MSU found itself in a basketball game late in the second half against Division II Grand Valley State University. GVSU is a well-coached team that made a deep run into the “D2” Elite 8 and lost to the eventual D2 champion. Grand Valley with plenty of heart and lots of guts came into the Breslin Center tonight and beat top ten-ranked Michigan State.

One has to wonder if the score was an indication of lackluster MSU play or line-up experimentation. After watching these Spartans tonight, I would contend it was a little of both. The IZZONE commanded the atmosphere top and bottom at the Brez. The crowd was amazing, but their Spartans weren’t.

The fouls began to pile up for GVSU and MSU. I figured it was only a matter of time before MSU’s superior quickness and athletic ability began to wear down Grand Valley in the second half. It never happened. The three MSU superfreshmen were the lone bright spot. Kalin Lucas was clearly the quickest player on the floor. You can see why many analysts had Kalin as the top high school player in the state of Michigan one year ago. He does it all and takes the ball to the rack with authority. Kalin Lucas is going to be a great asset to this Spartan team during crunch time of the Big Ten season.

GVSU Senior Center Callistus Eziukwa made his presence felt on the interior for the Lakers. Eziukwa passed the ball out of a double-team deep in the paint at the 5:57 mark and hit his teammate for a wide-open three pointer. Give GVSU credit, the Lakers came in believing they could win and they did. Eziukwa battled it out with fellow Muskegon native Drew Naymick on the block throughout the second half. The Laker center was unable to cash in at the line with any regularity. Made Laker free throws would have certainly spelled doom for the Spartans in regulation.

With less than four minutes to play in the second half, MSU freshman Chris Allen was called for a key charge on a possession that MSU desperately needed to cut into the three-point deficit. There will be many more freshman mistakes throughout the season before Izzo gets this MSU team into Big Ten form.

Senior Laker Guard Jason Jamerson provided GVSU with 19 points while four other Lakers scored 12 or more. More than the balanced effort by GVSU was the lack of “Izzoball” played by Michigan State. MSU was beaten on the glass, which is something that coach Izzo will not tolerate. It doesn’t matter if you are GVSU or Arizona, Izzo will not accept being beaten on the boards by anyone.

Old-fashioned hustle and solid free throw shooting in the last minute allowed MSU to claim the lead. With 47 seconds left in the game, GVSU called a time out hoping to salvage such an incredible effort that the Lakers put forth this evening. The Lakers looked to be just another close casualty at the Brez until an errant pass was stolen away on the in-bounds play to Suton. GVSU took the ball straight to the rack to go up a deuce with 15 seconds left. MSU took the ball over half court and called a timeout. Neitzel was fouled with 4.7 seconds left and tied the game at the line.

The overtime started with a Laker basket after a strong rebound. Morgan finished at the other end for MSU and then was disqualified with his fifth foul on the defensive end of the court. MSU went to a small quick defensive line up with Walton, Lucas and Neitzel on the floor at one time. As the game wore on, MSU found foul trouble of its own. After stiff defense rendered MSU a desperate overtime shot attempt by Kalin Lucas, five more minutes was placed on the Breslin clock for a second overtime.

The tip was controlled by GVSU and baskets were traded. Once again Eziukwa found himself on the line for the Lakers and this time he found the net on both. The second overtime wore on. Neitzel’s bomb as time expired fell short and GVSU had a victory over Big Ten power Michigan State. The same Michigan State picked by coaches and media to win the Big Ten Championship.

I asked Laker Coach Ric Wesley about his rebounding preparation for Michigan State. “It comes down to desire and commitment to throwin’ bodies around,” Wesley stated. Well-said coach, your Laker men did just that and won the battle on the boards 44-41. Like any good basketball coach that knows and understands the game, Wesley was quick to compliment Michigan State afterwards. Thank-you Ric, you were a class act tonight.

Many will analyze the stat line and I expect a few Wolvies to goad me tomorrow on my way into Spartan Stadium. It will be deserved. I am a diehard whether it is exhibition or the real McCoy. Coach Izzo summed it up best. “They outrebounded us, outdefended us and outworked us.” With nothing but true Izzo class, he complimented GVSU and heaped the blame squarely on his shoulders. See you at the Final Four in March Tom.