One player in particular, MSU senior center Drew Naymick, took advantage of Matta’s game plan, finishing with a season-high 11 points. After the game, Naymick said he and his cohorts knew the situation and he just rose to the occasion, becoming the difference-maker in a spotlight game.

Occasions like that night are what will get MSU through the season and a tough Big Ten schedule.

A lot has been said of the dependence on senior guard Drew Neitzel and emerging superstar status of freshman guard Kalin Lucas. But after each game, MSU head coach Tom Izzo reiterates that to succeed, both offensively and defensively, the “bigs” need to come to play.

Sometimes they’re garbage points. Junior center Goran Suton always seems to be in the right place at the right time for gritty rebounds or putbacks, leading the team in double-doubles.

Other times, like with Naymick’s 5-for-6 shooting night, it’s unexpected.

And still, it determines an outcome almost perfectly. The Spartans are 13-1 in games that junior forward Marquise Gray scores double figures.

They’re also 4-0 when he has 10-plus rebounds and 3-0 when he logs a double-double.

Neitzel may be the team’s MVP, Lucas may be the Second Coming and junior guard Travis Walton may be the glue guy, but if MSU’s bigs don’t come to play, Spartan victory is in jeopardy.

Joey Nowak is a State News men’s basketball reporter. He can be reached at nowakjo2@msu.edu.