Led by Lucas’ 18 points and 6 assists, MSU (1-0) beat Eastern Michigan (0-1), 96-66, Friday at Breslin Center.

MSU’s 96 points came despite turning the ball over a total of 20 times, and Lucas said that shows how dangerous the Spartans can be.

“We should have had 115 (or) 120 (points),” Lucas said. “But at the same time, we’re just going to keep getting better.”

Sophomore center Garrick Sherman got things going early for the Spartans on Monday night, scoring five points and bringing in two rebounds as MSU took a 7-3 lead in the first two minutes.

Eastern Michigan kept the game close in the beginning stages of the game before the Spartans went on a 12-2 run, sparked by six points by Lucas. The run gave MSU a 19-8 lead with 13:27 left in the first half, and although the Eagles were able to cut the deficit down to eight a few minutes later, they wouldn’t get any closer.

Scoring 12 consecutive points in less than three minutes, the Spartans extended their lead to 22 at the eight-minute mark of the first half. Senior guard Durrell Summers scored five points on the 12-0 run, including his first three made three-pointers.
However, Eastern Michigan used six first-half three-pointers of its own to fight its way to a 49-33 halftime score.

Eagles forward Brandon Bowdry, who averaged a double-double last season, was another reason Eastern Michigan was able to keep the first-half score respectable. Bowdry scored 16 points in the first half, and gave MSU problems all night.

“I applaud his effort,” Eastern Michigan head coach Charles Ramsey said. “That’s what he is capable of, but we need to get people to give him more assistance.”

Although Bowdry finished the game with 32 points, MSU head coach Tom Izzo said he wasn’t too upset with the way the Spartans defended him, as he shot 36 percent from the field.

“Hey, he played good, but he took 28 shots to get those points,” Izzo said. “If we can get guys taking 28 shots and making 10 of them, I think we’re going to win more than we’re going to lose.”

The second half saw some sloppy play from each team, as both MSU and Eastern Michigan had at least 10 turnovers and combined for 31 fouls after the break.

“It ws a weird game,” Izzo said. “There was not a lot of flow, because of all the fouls.”

After trading baskets with the Eagles in the first couple of minutes following the break, the Spartans were able to build a 73-45 lead with almost 12 minutes remaining. MSU extended its lead to as much 33, before coasting to the 30-point win.

Other than Lucas and his 18 points, five other Spartans scored in double digits, including Summers with 17. Junior forward Draymond Green chipped in with 12 points and was three assists and two rebounds away from a triple-double.

As a team, MSU shot the ball well, going 31-for-59 froom the field (52.5 percent) and 6-for-13 (46.2 percent) from behind the arc.

Izzo said he was happy with most of the things he saw from his team Monday, especially the shooting. But much like Lucas, Izzo said his Spartans have a lot of room to improve as they prepare to take on South Carolina at 10 p.m. Tuesday at Breslin.
“I thought there were some bright spots,” Izzo said. “We got so much work to do yet.”