"I think I missed a couple free throws before that and coach was on me so I just had to get up try to knock them down," said Bess, smiling as he recounted the play.

Bess finished the night with 13 points and six rebounds, including a 9-for-12 performance from the free throw line. Thus far on the season, Bess is averaging 10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. And his performance on Monday night was his second consecutive game in double-figures after he put up 16 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday. 

Bess sat out most of last season with a foot injury and worked tirelessly this off season so he could make an impact on the 2015-16 squad. In MSU's first four games this year, Bess said he's tried to bring as much toughness and aggressiveness to the table as he can -- something he wasn't able to do last year with the foot injury.

"I think it was my (foot)," Bess said for why he wasn't able to be as aggressive last season. "But I think it was my mind. I think I was still kind of timid to do things that I'm not afraid of doing now."

And for MSU head coach Tom Izzo, he was very pleased with the energy and hustle he saw out of Bess against Eastern Michigan, especially at the beginning of the second half.

"He played aggressively; he did get to the line early, which is really great," Izzo said. "He was the difference to start that second half. ... Javon was definitely a bright spot."

Eastern Michigan head coach Rob Murphy also had a few things to say about the problems Bess posed for his Eagles' zone defense.

"He did a tremendous job of getting inside of our zone," Murphy said. "He did a good job of showing himself in the short corner and he made some really good decisions even when we defended him, he made the right passes that led to a 3-point shot or layup. I give Javon a lot of credit tonight. He excelled against our zone and he made it tough and made some second chance opportunities." 

Bess' play so far this season has also opened up things for other members of his team, and that's something senior MSU teammate Denzel Valentine certainly takes notice of and appreciates.

"He's been aggressive and he's a key piece that we need because we need somebody to be aggressive on offense," Valentine said. "It opens up things for me and Bryn (Forbes) and Eron (Harris) to shoot or to make plays if we've got somebody inside that's a threat."

But for Bess, he's just happy to be part of the success and the 4-0 start the Spartans are off to this season.

"I just feel like (I'm) another piece that we have," Bess said. "Just trying to use my versatility and do what I can do and listen to my coach ... he's been on me these last two practices about being aggressive and that's just what I try to do."