Spartans open Big Ten play with rout of Northwestern

The No. 11-ranked MSU men’s basketball team shook off a frustrating first half Saturday against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., to rout the Wildcats, 91-70, in the Spartans’ Big Ten opener.

One game after a 5-point performance Tuesday against Texas-Arlington, senior forward Raymar Morgan broke out for 17 points, five rebounds and five assists against the Wildcats (10-3, 0-2). It was Morgan’s highest scoring night since he registered 19 points in a 72-60 victory over Wofford on Dec. 4.

Junior guard Kalin Lucas, who as expected was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench against Texas-Arlington, had 21 points, six rebounds and four assists.

MSU head coach Tom Izzo said Morgan was key against Northwestern’s extended zone, which gave the Spartans (11-3, 1-0) trouble in the first half.

A handful of lead changes and near total deadlock defined much of the first half, with the scoreboard stuck at 30-30 between the 4:34 and 3:18 mark. MSU broke the tie with a pair of free throws from junior guard Durrell Summers for two of his 17 points, and closed out the half on a 12-3 run to make it 42-33. The streak was capped by a Morgan 3-pointer at the buzzer.

“I thought we did an average job early (against Northwestern’s zone), then we put Raymar in the middle and did alright,” Izzo told the Big Ten Network after the game. “It is a tough zone and they play it very well.”

Izzo added that sophomore forward Draymond Green, who at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds might not look like he’s No. 15 in the Big Ten averaging 3.2 assists per game, was instrumental in breaking down the zone with his passing.

“He did an unbelievable job,” Izzo said. “Hopefully as this team grows, that’s what’s going to really make us better.”

The Spartans will next play Wisconsin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Breslin Center.