Post Game Notes: Providence
11/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Entering the game assisting on 148-of-184 made field goals (.804), the Spartans combined for 18 assists on 26 made shots against Providence. MSU tallied 11 assists on 12 of its first half buckets. Michigan State entered tonight's game No. 1 in the country, averaging 24.7 assists per contest.
With Sunday night's 77-64 victory against Providence, Michigan State claimed its second preseason tournament title in the past three years. In 2013, the Spartans defeated Columbia, Portland, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma in the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic. The final two rounds were played in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Denzel Valentine was named the Wooden Legacy Most Valuable Player, finishing the tournament averaging 26.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. Valentine tied the single game record for most 3-pointers in a game, knocking down seven against Boise State on Nov. 27 on his way to setting the event record for most 3-point field goals with 15 over the three games.
Bryn Forbes led Michigan State with season-best 18 points, 13 of which came in the first 20 minutes. Forbes' season high coming into the Wooden Legacy finals was 14 against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Nov. 20.
The Spartans took a 34-32 lead into the locker room against Providence. MSU has led six of its first seven games at the half. Michigan State trailed then-No. 4 Kansas, 41-35, at the half in the Champions Classic on Nov 17. The Spartans outscored the Jayhawks in the second half, 44-32, to win by six points. The Spartans have not been outscored in the second half this season.
Michigan State leads the all-time series against Providence 4-0.
MSU grabbed 25 of Providence's 28 missed shots (.893). Entering tonight's game, the Spartans pulled down 84.8 percent of their opponent's missed shots.
Spartans shot 53.3 percent from the floor throughout its trip to California and assisted on 69 of 88 field goals (.784) in the past three games.
Eron Harris' 12 points against the Friars marked his highest output since transferring from West Virginia. Harris' previous Spartan best was 10 points against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 23 of this season.
A trio of Spartans led the way in rebounding with six against Providence. Matt Costello, Denzel Valentine and Deyonta Davis all grabbed six boards. Each have led the team in rebounding at least once this season.
Deyonta Davis posted double digits in the scoring column for the fifth time in his freshman campaign, tallying 12 against the Friars off of 6-of-8 shooting.
Denzel Valentine led Michigan State in assists for the sixth time this season, dishing out five helpers on Sunday night.
Michigan State's starting lineup has remained unchanged throughout the first seven games of the season, as Javon Bess, Tum Tum Nairn Jr., Matt Costello, Bryn Forbes and Denzel Valentine have posted a 7-0 mark as the Spartan five.
MSU once again went to its bench, playing 11 different players, with nine different Spartans scoring. Tom Izzo has played double digit players in every outing this season.
