The revamped squad trailed the game for a large segment of the first half and in the same span were badly outrebounded by the Timberwolves.

Northwood announced its presence within the first portion of the first half, beginning the game on a 6-0 run and forcing two turnovers on the Spartans' first two possessions. Entering the year, the Timberwolves had lost 60 percent of their scoring after last season's 15-13 campaign.

MSU's first points came when junior point guard Lourawls 'Tum Tum' Nairn Jr. smoothly swished a left-sided three-point jump shot. Freshman forward Miles Bridges immediately followed it up with a right-corner three of his own that lapped around the rim before falling through the net.

Bridges, the most acclaimed recruit of the Spartans' 2016 class, only had more to come.

Cassius Winston tied the game 9-9 with just under 14 minutes remaining in the first half with a harangued layup conversion after a crafty steal on the defensive side.

MSU then finally gained the lead, 13-12, with 12 minutes remaining when junior guard Eron Harris dribbled into the lane, shrugged off a defender and rose to nail a 12-foot jumper.

Northwood hung within one point, though, with consecutive threes from David Jelinek and Zach Allread answering the Spartans' strikes.

Bridges extended the lead to six with under nine minutes remaining when the 6'7 forward plunged into the deep post to slam home a sordid slam in the face of a defender. After giving up a three, MSU responded in no time. Bridges again took fire from the right corner to set the score at 26-20 in favor of the Spartans.

Northwood was persistent in its quest for an upset, narrowing the Spartans' advantage to 33-29 with five minutes remaining following an on-the-line two from junior guard Nick Spitzley.

A pair of freshman forward Nick Ward free throws finally extended the Spartans' lead to 10 points with one minute remaining. MSU's advantage burgeoned to a climax 13 points on separate occasions in the first half, following a Ward follow-up and a Bridges layup that set the score at the halftime mark of 48-35.

MSU boasted five team blocks in the first half but trailed the rebounding battle 21-14. The Spartans also were the beneficiaries of 10 Northwood turnovers.

Bridges was the halftime standout, with 17 points, four blocks, two assists and three rebounds. Northwood's Allread entered the break with nine points and a three.

Allread resumed his sparkling shooting performance, opening the second half account with another three to draw the game back to 10. Again, Bridges had all the answers.

Three minutes in, Bridges gave the second half a signature moment as he climbed up a defender following Nairn's missed shot. Bettering his first-half feat, Bridges grabbed the ball with two hands and, in midair, cocked back a thunderous dunk to the delight of the Izzone. At that point, MSU's lead was 56-42.

Five minutes into the half, Nairn bulleted to the basket and converted a layup on the fast break. His free throw made the game 59-44.

Northwood encroached on the lead with 12 minutes remaining, however, as senior PJ Weaver laid in a right-handed shot over the reach of Bridges. Freshman Kyle Lamotte cut the deficit to seven, 61-54, with a fallaway fader.

Bridges again had the solution. From the opposite right corner, Bridges again repudiated the run with an on-target three to make the score 64-54.

With nine minutes remaining, MSU again stung on the fast break. Winston flung up an alley-oop over his head to Ward, who delivered the corollary dunk.

With 7:51 remaining, MSU lead by 11, but a free throw from junior Brad Schaub cut the lead to 10, 70-60. The Timberwolves then were plagued by a bad case of foul trouble.

Allread committed his fourth foul of the game--his team's eighth. Bridges converted both free throws, but more importantly, Allread was removed from the game to save him from an expelling fifth foul.

The second case of foul trouble wasn't a warning for Northwood. Schaub picked up a fifth foul with 6:25 remaining, and MSU went on a 10-4 run.

Following a string of free throws, the lead hit 16 when junior senior Alvin Ellis III converted two free throws for MSU with just 3:20 remaining. Bridges again splashed a right-corner three following a Timberwolves offensive foul, and MSU clinched a quite comfortable 88-69 lead at the 2:32 mark.

After a Kenny Goins layup, Bridges added three points to his total from the right side, prompting head coach Tom Izzo to finally send in the subs. The game finally ended 93-69 in favor of MSU, with the Spartans scoring the game's last 10 points.

Bridges scored 16 second half points, closing his total tab at 33 points in 29 minutes. He shot 12-14 and 5-5 from three, while contributing eight rebounds. Ward ended the game with 19 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes, the only other MSU player in double-figures.

Freshman shooting guard Joshua Langford did not play for the Spartans.

Next up, MSU will play Saginaw Valley State in its final exhibition on November 2.