In what was one of the "hardest double-digit wins" MSU head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans have experienced in a while, here's what both MSU and Bowling Green did well — and poorly — Saturday night. 

Three-point shooting and open looks

MSU has been consistently poor shooting from beyond the arc this season. In its first three games, the team went a combined 12-for-60, or 20%. Against Bowling Green, MSU shot 4-for-20 from three and often missed wide-open looks throughout the game. 

In the first 12 minutes, the Spartans went 2-for-7 from three-point range and missed two more between then and halftime. Senior forward Frankie Fidler finished the game with zero made three-pointers out of five attempts and towards the end of the game, looked unconfident in his shot, often passing out to another guard. 

After 28 minutes, MSU went 3-for-13 from three and finished the rest of the game making only one more of its seven attempts.

Some of those shots didn’t make sense and there were quite a few wide-open shots that didn't fall, Izzo said postgame, including a layup and mid-range jumper from Akins, a missed jumper from sophomore forward Coen Carr and a three-pointer from Booker.

Bowling Green finished the game 5-for-26 from three-point range. Senior forward Marcus Johnson, the Falcons’ star player, made one out of 11 attempts. Though Bowling Green cooled off, especially in the second half, it started 3-for-5 from beyond the arc in the first eight minutes, helping the Falcons take a narrow 24-20 lead. BGSU’s sub-20% shooting from beyond the arc was 25% less than its average heading into the game. 

MSU finished 27-for-59 from the field, its second-worst shooting percentage of the season through four games. MSU also allowed its second-most points in a game this season.

Free-throw shooting

It took 10 minutes for MSU to get to the line, where Carr missed both opportunities. Despite a slow start, MSU won because of its free throws: in the second half, the Spartans drove into the lane more and were more physical, leading to 32 free-throw attempts. The Spartans made 28. 

Things came alive for the Spartans in the second half and they drew more fouls both in and outside the paint. With over 10 minutes left in the game, MSU reached the double bonus. Players like Fidler and junior forward Jaxon Kohler took trips to the line to regain and ultimately extend the MSU lead in the final minutes.

Late MSU momentum 

This season, MSU has utilized a fast-paced transition offense, totaling over 71 fast-break points in its first three games and causing 41 turnovers.

Saturday night posed a stark difference from this for a majority of the game. MSU struggled to rally momentum throughout the evening. 

Especially in the first half, the Spartans seemed frustrated, either due to their lack of momentum or other factors like officiating. That anger and emotion seemed to hold them back from busting the game wide open until very late.

"When the head dies, the body dies," Izzo said.

It didn’t have the feel of a typical MSU home game until one minute left in the first half when Carr slammed home a dunk, cutting the MSU deficit to 43-41.

Late in the second half, momentum shifted. Carr posted two more electric dunks to take a 66-64 lead, MSU’s second of the night and arguably the most important. Those two dunks were the last four points of MSU’s 10-0 run in just over a minute and a half, driving the Breslin into mayhem.

In the final seven minutes of the game, MSU went on an 18-0 run and Bowling Green finished the night 0-for-9 from the field. A sly pass from MSU freshman guard Jase Richardson, who finished with zero points, to Akins resulted in the senior's first three-pointer of the night to give MSU a 78-72 lead — a lead the Spartans never gave up. 

From there, Fears Jr. faked out defenders, Akins and Fidler made their free throws, and the Spartans made every stop that was possible. Those seven minutes showed pure success from MSU and gave fans a peek of its full potential. 

"Those stops were the biggest parts of the game," Carr said. "That helped our offense get going."

The 18-0 run helped secure the win for MSU, continuing its 34-year win streak against the Falcons.

Strength in numbers

Seven Spartans scored in double digits Saturday night. Richardson and freshman guard Kur Teng, who played less than two minutes, were the only players who finished scoreless. 37 of Michigan State’s 86 points came from the bench, proof of the team’s maxim this season: strength in numbers.

Holloman, who came off the bench, finished with 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting and four blocks in 24 minutes. Junior center Carson Cooper scored 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting and made all four of his free throws. 

"It’s amazing what we've done off our bench in different ways," Izzo said. "I think (Bowling Green) wore down a bit and I think that's what we can do with our strength in numbers."

MSU will play Samford on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Breslin. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Peacock will stream the game.