Sparty wins over Grand Valley State in exhibition

Credit Source: Michigan State Athletics

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State took an 18-point lead at the half and extended it to nearly 32 points late in the second half en route to an 83-60 win over Grand Valley State on Thursday night in the second of two exhibition games before the 2021-22 regular season opener.

Freshman guard Max Christie (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows) scored 14 points to lead the way for the Spartans, while redshirt senior Joey Hauser (Stevens Point, Wis./Stevens Point/Marquette) added 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (Grand Rapids, Mich./GR Catholic Central) added 10 points, seven rebounds and six blocks, while senior forward Gabe Brown (Ypsilanti, Mich./Belleville) chipped in 11 points and six rebounds and sophomore guard A.J. Hoggard (Coatesville, Pa./Huntington Prep [W.Va.]) had nine points and five assists as 11 different players scored for MSU.

Recap

• Michigan Stated led by 18 points, 38-20, at the break and used a 16-7 run over the opening 5:11 of the second half to take a 54-27 lead on a pair of layups from Hoggard.
• Grand Valley State managed to cut the lead to 19 points, 59-40, after a layup from Jordan Harris with 10:52 to play, but that was as close as the Lakers would get.
• A layup from freshman guard Jaden Akins (Farmington, Mich./Farmington Hills./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]) made it 75-49 and a pair of baskets from Bingham Jr., first a dunk and then a 3-pointer from the top of the key, pushed the margin to 80-51.
• The Spartans took their biggest lead of the game, 83-51, on a 3-pointer from Brown with 3:20 to play in the game.
• The Spartans jumped out to a 38-20 lead at the break, connecting on 50.0 percent of their field goals (13-of-26) despite missing half of its free throws (8-of-16) and committing seven turnovers.
• MSU took an early 9-0 lead after a three from Hauser and a pair of baskets from sophomore forward Julius Marble (Dallas, Texas/Dallas Jesuit) and Christie at the 15:46 mark.
• Grand Valley State cut the lead to 13-8 on a 3-pointer from Jake Van Tubbergen with 12:19 to play before the half.
• The Spartans responded with a 13-0 run, holding the Lakers scoreless for 3:09, and took a 26-8 lead on a second-chance layup from sophomore center Mady Sissoko (Bafoulabe, Mali, West Africa/Wasatch Academy [Utah]).
• MSU went nearly three minutes without a field goal before a basket from Akins with 6:32 left, making it 29-13.
• The Spartans took a 38-20 lead at the break on a free throw from Bingham.

 

KeyStats

• Michigan State connected on 49.2 percent of its field goals (32-of-65).
• The Spartans had a 46-36 advantage on the boards and handed out 22 assists (on 32 made field goals).
• MSU committed 12 turnovers, seven in the first half.
• The Spartans blocked 11 shots, including six by Bingham Jr.

Notes

• This marked the sixth meeting between Michigan State and Grand Valley State in exhibition play.

 

Up Next

Michigan State opens the 2021-22 regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 9, playing Kansas in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tipoff at The World’s Most Famous Arena is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN.