Spartans show identity in 72-56 Maui Invitational win over Colorado

On By Littum

The Michigan State men’s basketball team isn’t a lights-out team — at least not yet. It’s a team that beats teams everywhere else by playing old school, physical basketball.

That identity was on full display Monday when Michigan State (5-1) shut out Colorado (4-1) to open the Maui Invitational in a 72-56 victory. The game showcased the tough-defense, paint-dominant, fast-break identity the Spartans have thrived on six games into the season.

“It wasn’t like we were great and it wasn’t like they were terrible,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo told reporters after the win. “They just missed some shots and I thought we executed and did some things with our fast break that bothered them.”

Don’t let the palm trees and beaches fool you—Michigan State’s trip to the Maui Invitational was a true business trip. Facing a crowded field of major non-conference opponents, the Spartans had their hands full right out of the gate against Colorado. Both teams came out scoring possession after possession and stayed within a shot of each other for the first 12 minutes of the game.

As has been the case all season, the Spartans came out shooting poorly from the perimeter. In fact, Michigan State missed all nine of its three-point attempts in the first half. Forward Xavier Booker and guard Jaden Akins each missed three. Guard Jase Richardson scored the team’s first three more than six minutes into the second half on his team’s 15th overall attempt, three of his game-leading 13 points overall.

“You know, guys, I don’t make fun of it,” Izzo said. “But to think we were up 13 in the first half and went on a pretty good run at the end and we were 0-for-9 from the three.”

BOX SCORE: Michigan State 72, Colorado 56

Like so many games with this year’s Spartans, the poor shooting didn’t really matter because they won elsewhere. Strong defense held Colorado to just 25 points in the first half and just 2-for-12 outside shooting alone. By the end of the game, Colorado improved to just 4-for-19 from deep.

Inside, Michigan State held Colorado star big man Elijah Malone to just four shots and just two makes. Center Szymon Zapala and forward Jaxon Kohler played especially well against the 6-foot-10, 268-pound center.

“We really had to fight,” Zapala said. “We knew they were physical so we tried to battle, bring it to them sooner, strike first, be the more physical on the court.”

The Spartans as a whole also outscored the larger Colorado group 22-12 in the first half and 42-29 in the game, a strong indicator of both the effort and execution of the defense.

And it certainly helped that Michigan State finished the game shooting 70% inside the arc. Players completed a number of difficult marks during contact that contributed to the comfortable victory.

By the end of the game, the Spartans had scored 50 points in the paint and 22 points at halftime, with another 10 points coming off free throws. It was expensive points, paid for with bumps and bruises.

“With Michigan State, if you’re not tough, you have no chance to beat them,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. “And we weren’t very tough and we had no chance to beat them.”

A play with just over six minutes left in the first half epitomized this approach as a number of players from both teams scrapped for a loose ball on the floor. Kohler came up with it and dished it to point guard Tre Holloman, who hit Richardson on the break for a score. That bucket sparked a 13-2 run to end the half that put the Spartans up 38-25 at the half.

Colorado came out a little tougher in the second half and cut the lead to single digits, but it didn’t last as Richardson scored the Spartans’ first three — a feat that sent Izzo celebrating on the bench. Forward Frankie Fidler followed with a three of his own as part of a nine-point half, making it a 15-point Michigan State lead.

The Spartans maintained a big lead the rest of the way, fighting Colorado’s shots with strong defense. After Fidler’s three — one of just two teams makes in 21 attempts — his team’s lead never fell below 14 points.

“There’s something to be said for us averaging 80 points a game and not making any shots,” Izzo said.

Michigan State used a deep bench to lead the way and leaned on a number of players to contribute to the victory. While only Richardson reached double figures in scoring, 10 players recorded at least four points and eight scored five points or more. Zapala and Kohler grabbed eight and seven rebounds, respectively. Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. led with six assists.

Using that many players bodes well for the Spartans’ rest and recovery in a tournament that features them in three games in three days.

Michigan State might not be a great shooting team right now, but it can defend, attack the paint and get out on the break. Those three factors led the way against Colorado, giving the Spartans a strong start in the Maui Invitational.

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@ConnorEaregood