Photo: Nick King ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING, MI, November 18, 2023 ~ The Michigan State Spartans dominated the Butler Bulldogs 74-54 in former Spartan-turned-Bulldog Pierre Brooks’ return to East Lansing.
Michigan State came out with a new starting lineup tonight as they added center Carson Cooper to the starting five. Also of note, the Spartans faced off against a former teammate in Pierre Brooks, who transferred to Butler after the 2022-’23 season, playing his first two seasons for Michigan State.
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(CONTINUED) As compared to the last few outings, the Spartans came out clicking. The Spartans were tied at 14 roughly halfway through the first half until Spartans’ Tyson Walker took control of the game with 16 points in the first half. Walker finished as the game’s leading scorer with 21 on the night. With Walker’s contribution, the Spartans led by 12 at the end of the first half.
The Spartans maintained control of the rest of the game with players like A.J. Hoggard and Cooper stepping up big. Hoggard had 14 points for the game and Cooper had 11 rebounds. Both players had season highs in those two categories.
Butlers’ Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort did their best to battle back for the Bulldogs, combining for 28 points but ultimately came up short.
Spartans Head Coach Tom Izzo offered comments on Michigan State’s early shot making:
“Making shots cures a lot of evil. It rejuvenates the crowd which rejuvenates the players, which means everybody’s happier, including even the coach.”
The Spartans look to continue to dominate as they have another game at the Breslin Center, this time against Alcorn State, on Sunday Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. Coverage starts at 5 p.m. on 760 WJR.
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