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Michigan State Falls To Arizona In Final Seconds In Basketball Opener

By Colton Wesley

Nov 11, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; Arizona Wildcats hold up the trophy after winning against the Michigan State Spartans at the Stan Sheriff Center. Arizona defeats Michigan State 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; Arizona Wildcats hold up the trophy after winning against the Michigan State Spartans at the Stan Sheriff Center. Arizona defeats Michigan State 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 11, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Miles Bridge (22) dunks against the Arizona Wildcats at the Stan Sheriff Center. Arizona defeats Michigan State 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Miles Bridge (22) dunks against the Arizona Wildcats at the Stan Sheriff Center. Arizona defeats Michigan State 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Bridges up-and-down in debut, freshman all see minutes

11 Spartans played in Friday’s game and although head coach Tom Izzo only started Bridges among his freshmen, all four of Michigan State’s highly-touted freshmen entered the game early in the first half and played double-digit minutes. Bridges impressed early by getting above the rim and dunking less than two minutes after making a three-pointer, but he missed all of his other three-point attempts in the game, including an airball.

Bridges led the Spartans with 21 points on 9/19 shooting and also picked up seven rebounds in 37 minutes. Kenny Goins started and led Michigan State with eight rebounds. Sophomore Matt McQuaid also started and scored nine points, shooting three for eight from behind the arc. Nairn, who Izzo said earlier this offseason would be one of the team’s leaders, played 30 minutes and had four assists. Senior Eron Harris was the only returning starter from last season.

Arizona, without Allonzo Trier, only played eight different players in the game and shot only 20/52 (38.5%) from the floor. Freshman big man Lauri Markkanen led the unimpressive Wildcats offense with 13 points, but Arizona’s defense forced 19 turnovers, including 12 steals. Arizona also went to the free throw line 27 times, converting 20.

Score FGM/A FG% 3PM/A 3P% FTM/A FT% OR DR TR AST STL BLK TO FLS
MSU 63 25/58 43.1 8/25 32 5/9 55.6 12 22 34 15 4 1 19 23
Arizona 65 20/52 38.5 5/14 35.7 20/27 74.1 12 22 34 7 12 2 14 20

Full box score from ESPN here.

Next: Game-By-Game MSU Basketball Predictions

Up Next

Things do not get easier for the Spartans in their second game as they take on #2 Kentucky at the Champions Classic in New York on Tuesday at 7:00 on ESPN.

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