Bradley's four-guard lineup Sunday normally would have meant extended minutes for senior forward Matt Trannon, whose versatility has helped neutralize smaller post players in the past.
But Trannon didn't play a single minute Sunday and won't for the rest of the season — head coach Tom Izzo announced Friday that Trannon won't return to the basketball team and instead will prepare for the NFL Draft.
Trannon averaged 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds a game last season and was one of MSU's best defenders. But injuries plagued him during football this fall, causing him to miss two games and ultimately opt against the rigors of another dual season.
Without Trannon, Izzo had to look elsewhere to change his defense against the Braves. Sophomore Goran Suton started at forward but was replaced for much of the first half by sophomore Marquise Gray, who is more athletic.
"To be able to switch four guys like we did — Suton had a tough job early and he did a phenomenal job," Izzo said. "We just don't have that 'in-between guy' with Trannon not here, and when you get those four-men who can shoot threes, it can be hard."
Bradley's small lineup created some matchup problems. Eleven of the Braves' 17 baskets were 3-pointers, and Bradley finished 47.8 percent from behind the arc. Guards Jeremy Crouch and Daniel Ruffin led the team with three 3-pointers each.
But the Braves' height disadvantage proved too much to overcome. The Spartans had a 32-10 advantage in points in the paint, outrebounded Bradley 45-27 and limited the Braves to 6-for-34 shooting (17.6 percent) from inside the 3-point line.
Both Gray and junior center Drew Naymick were vital in a 27-5 run after halftime that put the game away. Naymick finished with six points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes of play, and Gray had 11 points, four rebounds and four blocks in 21 minutes. Both players saw more time off the bench than Suton did from the starting lineup — he managed only one point in 15 minutes.
"The guy I really feel bad for is (Suton)," Izzo said. "I think he was really ready to play today."
Heated play
Despite putting together one of his best performances of the season, Gray was berated by Izzo late in the second half after picking up a technical foul.
Gray received the call after confronting a Bradley player who fouled freshman forward Raymar Morgan hard as he was driving for a layup.
"I just told (the Bradley player) to chill out and the ref misunderstood me," Gray said.
As Gray pleaded his case with the official, Izzo angrily motioned for him to sit down. But after discussing the play with Gray, Izzo said he wasn't as upset.
"It was kind of not all his fault — he said something that wasn't a swear word, but it wasn't what the ref wanted to hear," Izzo said. "I didn't appreciate it, but also, after talking to him, we had an understanding. I'd make that smaller rather than bigger."
Immediate impact
Morgan tied a career high with 18 points Sunday, second only to junior guard Drew Neitzel's 20. The freshman forward scored in double figures in his first six games — the first MSU freshman ever to do so — and now has accomplished the feat in eight of MSU's nine contests.
Morgan's ability to repeatedly get to the basket and draw contact earned him 10 free throw attempts Sunday, almost as many as Bradley had as a team (13).
"I'm just trying to let the game come to me," Morgan said. "The guys have been doing a good job getting me the ball. I've been working hard in the gym, so it's paying off."
Morgan ranks second on the team in both scoring (11.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.6 rpg).
