Photo: Nick King ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING, Dec. 20, 2023 ~ The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Oakland Golden Grizzlies 79-62 in the Spartans return to the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Oakland has never beaten Michigan State, but there was a sliver of hope in the game’s opening half for the Golden Grizzlies. Oakland’s Blake Lampman kept them within eight points going into the half. The Spartans didn’t shoot their best performance in the first half, ringing in around 38% from the field.
Coming out of the second half, Michigan State was able to go on a 12-1 run, establishing a 20-point lead that the Golden Grizzlies were unable to recover from. Oakland’s Trey Townsend and Rocket Watts combined for 33 points in the game. However, the Golden Grizzlies were only able to come within 18 after Michigan State’s run.
Michigan State’s Tyson Walker would once again lead in scoring. Despite Walker only having two points in the first half, he ultimately finished with 14. Roughly halfway through the second half, Walker made a basket that gave him his 1,000-career point at Michigan State.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
One of 54 Spartans to ever score 1,000 points in the green and white 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vfViIQr0BP
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) December 19, 2023
(CONTINUED) Walker was aided by A.J. Hoggard and Jaden Akins, both scoring 11 points in the game. With eight rebounds, Carson Cooper was also an asset for the Spartans. Michigan State had 19 assists between their four guards: Walker, Hoggard, Tre Holloman, and Jermey Fears Jr.
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo offered postgame comments on Tyson Walker’s play:
“It’s a treat to have a kid who hardly got a shot early, didn’t let it get to him, didn’t bother him at halftime. Second half we told him we got to go to you more…Once he started hitting some shots then he was harder to guard. He has been everything and more than I thought.”
Michigan State looks to continue their winning streak as they remain at home to face off against Stoney Brook on Dec. 21. Coverage starts at 5:30 p.m. on 760 WJR.
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