Michigan State University
Jacksonville State
No. 15 Spartans Sprint Past Jacksonville State, 76-52
12/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 28, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -
"The first game back after a break is always scary," he said following his team's 76-52 win over Jacksonville State.
The 15th-ranked Spartans, playing their first game in a week, won their sixth straight to improve to 8-2. The Gamecocks (6-3) lost their second in a row.
Izzo said his team played well in spurts, but still has a long way to go.
"We aren't playing the game enough yet," he said. "We're playing the score, and young teams will do that. It's a little frustrating, but that's part of the growing process."
Alan Anderson, one of the three sophomores in the starting lineup, was benched when Izzo felt he wasn't aggressively going after a loose ball late in the first half.
"He had a chance to dive after a ball, and he looked at it," Izzo said. "So I thought he should see the game from my angle on the bench."
Michigan State made the most of its size advantage, countering Jacksonville State's four-guard attack. The Spartans outrebounded the Gamecocks 42-23, including 28-12 on the defensive boards.
"When they needed to make plays, they did a good job of executing," Jacksonville State coach Mike LaPlante said. "They found the shots to knock down or they went to the glass and got their putbacks. Their size will wear you down after a while."
Jacksonville State led only once, 3-2, on Scott Watson's 3-pointer 46 seconds into the game. The Spartans responded with a 10-0 run to take control and the Gamecocks never got closer than seven.
The Gamecocks shot just 36 percent. Michigan State, which shot 38 percent in its last game, a 65-56 victory over South Florida on Dec. 21, shot 55 percent.
"We're still trying to find our way in the system," said Michigan State's Chris Hill, who had a team-high 14 points. "But we've had a couple of guys who have stepped up for us at times."
One of those was Kelvin Torbert, who had 13 points, 10 in the second half. Aloysius Anagonye also had 13 for the Spartans.
Michigan State, which shot 38 percent from the floor in its last game, a 65-56 victory over South Florida on Dec. 21, shot 55 percent against Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks shot 36 percent.
The Spartans also outrebounded the Gamecocks 42-23, including 28-12 on the defensive boards.
