The No. 10 MSU basketball team won its third straight game to start the 2004-05 season, in 102-52 blow out of Nicholls State at the Breslin Center on Saturday.
But it wasn't pretty.
"I did not like the way that the team played, to tell you the truth," head coach Tom Izzo said.
The Spartans (3-0) were only up by 12 points with 9:28 left in the first half and clearly did not look like the team that had blown out Wisconsin-Green Bay just four days earlier.
MSU turned the ball over 16 times and looked sloppy on numerous occasions, leaving a sour taste in their mouths, despite the 50 point victory.
"The seniors were talking about it and we know that if we go out and play like we did today, on Tuesday, we're not going to have a chance," senior guard Chris Hill said. "From that respect, we are a little bit disappointed, because we wanted to sure up some things and gather some momentum going in (to the game with Duke)."
The noon start time was early for the Spartans, as it seemed they did not begin to "play" until five minutes left in the first half. The team will play only one more game at noon the rest of the season, Feb. 27 at Indiana.
"We weren't focused," Izzo said. "Maybe that is understandable, but I like the fact that our seniors were a little bit upset. That is the good news, so maybe they will take care of things."
Senior guard Kelvin Torbert and senior forward Alan Anderson took care of the Colonels (0-3), combining for 31 points and 12 rebounds. They got some help from junior guard Maurice Ager, who led all scorers with 19 points.
Ager and Brown led the way in the first half with 13 points and 11 points, respectively, helping the Spartans to a 48-16 halftime lead.
Torbert, who had only four points in the first half, came out shooting in the second half, firing in 12 points. All total, five Spartans reached double-figures, Ager, Torbert, Anderson, Brown and junior center Paul Davis had 11 points.
MSU also reached the 100 point mark for the third straight game. This time, on a three-pointer by freshman guard Drew Neitzel with 1:05 left in the game.
Nicholls State had no player bigger than 6-foot-6 and only 10 players total and dressed for the game. The Colonels struggled in their third game against a big conference school. They lost 98-69 to No. 14 Mississippi St. and 92-78 against Auburn.
"We told our kids it's a privilege and an honor to come play here," Nicholls State head coach J.P. Piper said.
When asked to compare MSU to Mississippi St. and Auburn, Piper said the Spartans were much better than both teams.
The Spartans travel to Durham, N.C. to play No. 9 Duke at 9 p.m. on Tuesday in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
For more on this story, please see Monday's edition of The State News.
