Overheard in Michigan State’s locker room: Mojo found after misses from dead nuts

On By Littum

EAST LANSING – A shaky start was followed by a dominant finish.

Michigan State (2-0) fell behind early but outscored Niagara (1-1) by 29 points in the second half for a 96-60 victory Thursday night at the Breslin Center.

Here are notable quotes from coach Tom Izzo and players following the game:

Izzo fell behind 9-2 early as Niagara made three straight 3-pointers: “I thought we were really average for the first few minutes.”

Izzo on not converting at the rim in the first 20 minutes: “It was a weird first half. We missed five dead nut layups.”

Izzo on forward Jaxon Kohler posts career highs with 20 points and 13 rebounds: “He just went. … Effort-related stuff is a choice, and I give him credit.”

Kohler on his performance: “Tonight it just worked, but it’s kind of my expectation of what it should be. I feel like I’m capable of it.”

Jaden Akins on Michigan State’s 56 bench points: “So far, we really have a great bench that comes in and provides immediate offense.”

Izzo recalls assistant coach Saddi Washington’s take on quick 3-point attempts in the first half: “A heat check means you hit three or four in a row and then you have the right to shoot it. Our guys have turned it up though, they must think a make is a heat check and then you’re going to shoot. We corrected that at halftime.”

Jeremy Fears at Kohler and guards Jase Richardson and Tre Holloman all score in double figures off the bench: “Our mojo is strength in numbers. We have a deep team.”

Izzo on naming Akins and Holloman captains for the season: “It’s going to be Jaden and Tre, and we’re going to do a little bit different and play football that every week we’re going to name a captain that’s going to do all the things that we need them to do in practice, on the field, off the field, in the classroom.”

Holloman at Michigan State is 9-for-36 from 3-point range in the first two games combined: “When that three-ball goes down, I think people are in trouble.”

Kohler on the 2-0 start before playing No. 1 Kansas Tuesday in the Champions Classic in Atlanta: “I’m glad we’re finding a groove, we’re finding what works and what doesn’t work, and we just can’t wait to take it from here.”