Here's an overview and analysis of both sides ahead of Tuesday night. 

Scouting Samford

Through five games, Samford has averaged 97.6 points per game while allowing 75.2, both numbers good for a conference-best. The Falcons have shot 46.4% from the field and 35.1% from three-point land.

Samford averages 42.6 rebounds per game, just two less than the physical MSU, and a staggering 12 steals per game.

Samford will likely attempt to beat MSU from distance as Bowling Green did early on Saturday.  

Jaden Brownell and Trey Fort are the Bulldogs' high-volume scorers. Brownell has averaged 15.6 points and five rebounds per game and made 10 threes out of 18 attempts. Fort has averaged 12.4 points per game and five rebounds per game. 

On paper, Samford is not a team that will threaten MSU on the boards. Brownell and Fort are its best rebounders so far.

Outside of Brownell and Fort, the Bulldogs are a balanced group. Samford has stuck to its rotation so far with its six main faces starting in four out of five games. 

Expect Samford to use that lineup again. In its 97-82 win against Texas Southern, the 6-foot-9 Brownell started and put up 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting  and three rebounds in 14 minutes. 6-foot-11 Riley Allenspach came off the bench and scored 15 points on a perfect 3-for-3 night behind the arc. Allenspach has averaged 11.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Scouting MSU

MSU has averaged 83 points per game, a 16.5-point difference from its opponents through four games. The Spartans have shot 45.3% from the field and a measly 16-for-80 (20%) from deep, the worst three-point percentage in the Big Ten. On the other hand, the Spartans have shot 80% from the free-throw line, only behind Wisconsin in the Big Ten. They’ve grabbed 44.5 rebounds per game, the second-best in the conference. 

MSU's forte has been its deep roster and variability between lineups. Head coach Tom Izzo has nine or 10 guys that can make a significant impact. Seven Spartans scored in double-digits and eight recorded 15 or more minutes of play. The Spartans have nine players averaging more than 5.5 points per game and six players averaging 3.5 rebounds per game or more.

MSU’s starting lineup Tuesday will likely be guards Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jaden Akins, forwards Frankie Fidler and Szymon Zapala and either Jaxon Kohler or Xavier Booker. Kohler, who has recorded two consecutive double-doubles and is averaging 11.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, made his first start against Bowling Green and scored 10 points. Booker's length and shooting ability was a major storyline for MSU entering the season, but the 6-foot-10 sophomore forward has averaged just 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. 

Michigan State and Samford will tip off at 8 p.m. at the Breslin Center. Peacock will air the game.