The 99-55 win marked MSU’s third straight after it dropped two straight in conference play to fall below .500 just two months after being ranked No. 4 to start the season. The Spartans have strung together their largest win streak of the season—jump-started by a 24-point statement win last Saturday against then-No. 6 Baylor—and appear to be back on track at 7-5 with eight days off before returning to action on Dec. 30

Junior guard Jaden Akins was the player he’s capable of being against the Seawolves, notching career-high scoring numbers and once again emerging as a major piece to MSU’s revived running game as of late with a number of alley-oop finishes in transition. He looked confident and comfortable offensively, which showed in his career-best 22-point output on 9-for-12 shooting. 

It’s no secret that Akins is as big a key to MSU’s production as anything, making his strong showing on Thursday an important one. The Spartans’ second-best shooter. He struggled in that regard early in the season but has since worked his way back to being a formidable threat on both ends of the floor. 

Graduate student Tyson Walker and senior A.J. Hoggard, Akins’ partners in the backcourt, both played a significant hand in MSU’s impressive start. Walker finished with 17 points and Hoggard pitched in 12 to go with ten assists. 

Stony Brook entered the Breslin Center winners of its last four following a four-point overtime triumph at Army West Point last Sunday. However, its chances for a fifth quickly dwindled away as the Spartans pounced from the jump. 

Michigan State more than set the tone in the first six minutes, establishing a 20-2 lead spurred by excellent play in transition along with made three-pointers by Walker and Hoggard. MSU’s determination not to let this one get interesting was on full display; it didn’t allow Stony Brook to establish any kind of rhythm before it was firmly in control. 

Just like they did against Baylor and Oakland, the Spartans made a point of getting off to a hot start by turning their defense into offense. They scored a total of 20 points off 11 Stony Brook turnovers, many of which came in the opening minutes when MSU established its dominance.

As Walker hit his second triple to put MSU up 36-9 through 15 minutes of play, it was clear that the mismatch was on.

It didn’t help that Stony Brook had a treacherous start shooting the basketball—it ended the first half with 12 points on just 5-for-37 shooting from the field. Part of it was MSU’s defensive pressure, but the Seawolves were simply ice-cold. 

They got it going in the second half to a certain extent, but nowhere near enough to make a dent in MSU’s lead. The Spartans did their job containing Stony Brook lead guard Tyler Stephenson-Moore, who finished just 3-for-12 from the field for eight points. They also held the 7-foot Keenan Fitzmorris to a manageable 10 points. Fitzmorris fouled out with just under seven minutes to play. 

Walker and Akins controlled MSU’s offense for most of the second half – a good sign for a duo that hasn’t completely put its efforts together for a full game thus far. On nights when Walker and Akins are playing their best basketball, MSU is a tough draw for any opponent. 

MSU forward Xavier Booker recorded 16 minutes, the most he’s played against a team since Southern Indiana on Nov. 9. Thursday was far and clear his best opportunity to see the floor for extended minutes in MSU’s string of games against mid and low-major teams, and he capitalized, tallying 11 points and seven rebounds.

MSU freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. had a productive night despite going 0-for 3 from the field, dishing out 10 assists and snagging five rebounds. 

While the Spartans still have their work cut out for them, things are looking up after an underwhelming start to the season. 

Michigan State will return from its holiday break on Saturday, Dec. 30, hosting the Indiana State Sycamores in a 1979 National Championship rematch at the Breslin Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.