Michigan State rebounds past Toledo in 91-61 rout
The Spartans dominated the glass 52-27 and shot 60.5% from the free-throw line before facing No. 3 Duke in Chicago on Tuesday.
By Amina Yusuf ·
Michigan State men’s basketball players outboarded Toledo 52-27 Thursday night in East Lansing, a margin that helped secure a 91-61 victory and a perfect 2-0 start to the season. The defensive rebounding surge addressed concerns raised by head coach Tom Izzo during the preseason, who had previously expressed disappointment in the team’s early efforts on the glass.
The offensive line benefited from the height of two new centers, Anton Bonke and Ethan Taylor, both of whom stand taller than 7 feet. Despite their size advantage, it was 6-foot-8 guard Jordan Scott who led the squad with nine rebounds, using anticipation to control the perimeter. Scott’s energy set the tone for a balanced attack that included freshman Jasiah Jervis, who started at wing and hit three triples in the first half to establish the lead.
Jervis finished with a team-high 16 points, while Jeremy Fears Jr. and Scott each scored 12 points. The performance established the three guards as an early offensive core for the Spartans. The team also managed the game clock effectively, though they faced a high number of personal fouls.
Referees called 25 fouls against Michigan State, with five of those charges falling on Cam Ward in just nine minutes of play. The whistle was active on both sides of the floor, yet the Spartans capitalized on 23 of their 38 free-throw attempts for a 60.5% success rate.
The team now prepares for a stiffer test as they travel to their first away game. Michigan State will face No. 3 Duke at a neutral site in Chicago on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
