Michigan State University
Nicholls St
No. 24 Spartans Sink Nicholls State, 92-38
12/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 9, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Adam Wolfe can score. Now he's hitting the boards as well.
The sophomore forward recorded his first double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds Sunday in No. 24 Michigan State's 92-38 rout of Nicholls State.
"I thought I did well on the boards, and that was something I was kind of pressured into today," Wolfe said. "Coaches have really emphasized that the last few days of practice. Something I really wanted to do was get rebounds for the team."
Michigan State (5-3) took Nicholls State out of the game from the start, as the Spartans extended their home winning streak to 49 games, the longest in the nation. The Spartans built a 27-2 lead, and the Colonels (1-5) never got closer than 24 points.
Wolfe scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half as the Spartans built a 53-12 halftime lead.
"Adam played well early, and then he went into a mini-slump," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "He brought some energy, got all those offensive rebounds early and ran the court pretty well. Getting 12 rebounds was impressive."
Wolfe wasn't worried about his individual performance.
"I don't really rate my games. I either just say they are good or bad," Wolfe said. "I think I did well on the boards."
Five of the 12 rebounds from the 6-foot-9, 230-pounder came on the offensive end. And while the game was never in question, Wolfe didn't seem to lose energy. He was 6-of-10 from the field in 23 minutes.
Nicholls State started three freshmen because four players were academically ineligible. Ronnie Price led the Colonels with 10 points.
Nicholls State coach Ricky Broussard was impressed with Michigan State.
"They didn't take us lightly in the least," Broussard said. "I'm really sorry we couldn't play harder or better. I don't know what Tom (Izzo) got out of this."
Spartans point guard Marcus Taylor had 18 points, seven assists and three steals.
Taylor said the game should lead into a good week of preparation for Saturday's matchup against No. 7 Arizona.
"I think this will be a confidence builder," Taylor said. "We have to make sure to carry it into the Arizona game. We have to make sure the long week doesn't make us play slow."
Taylor also was impressed by Wolfe's energetic play.
"He played great," he said. "But he's been playing like that all season."
