Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo threatened to bench some upperclassmen after the Spartans’ loss to unranked James Madison on Monday in East Lansing, Mich. File Picture by Invoice Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 7 (UPI) — Veteran faculty basketball coach Tom Izzo threatened to bench upperclassman who have been in Michigan State’s beginning lineup for his or her season-opening upset loss to James Madison, citing turnovers, lack of effort and extra.
Izzo made the feedback at his postgame information convention after the No. 4 Spartans’ 79-76 setback to the unranked Dukes on Monday in East Lansing, Mich.
“I haven’t got a very good reply why three juniors and seniors performed like they performed, however I additionally do not care, as a result of I am going to play some freshmen then,” Izzo advised reporters. “Let the controversy start.”
Redshirt junior guard/ahead Terrence Edwards Jr. and freshman ahead T.J. Bickerstaff scored 24 and 21 factors, respectively, to guide the Dukes to the primary main upset of the 2023 males’s faculty basketball season.
The Spartans made simply 1 of 20 makes an attempt from 3-point vary within the additional time loss on the Breslin Heart. The Dukes made eight photographs from downtown, led by as many as 13 factors and allowed only one Spartans starter to succeed in double figures in scoring.
“What a heck of a sport for the primary sport of the yr,” Dukes coach Mark Byington advised reporters. “I’d have been happy with our guys if we received or misplaced that.
“I used to be simply happy with the best way we had resilience, caught collectively and believed in one another. I realized rather a lot about our crew.” The Dukes raced out to a 7-2 run off the tip off. They pushed their result in 20-7 about seven minutes later. The Spartans rallied, however nonetheless trailed 37-33 at halftime.
Spartans senior ahead Malik Corridor made the primary two photographs of the second half, tying the sport. The Spartans took their first lead on a jumper from junior guard Jade Akins about 5 minutes into the second half.
They later used a 10-0 run to take a 54-48 edge. The Dukes rallied with an 8-2 run and went on to drive additional time on a Bickerstaff jumper with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
Senior guard Tyson Walker made two free throws for the primary factors of additional time. Edwards answered with a 3-pointer for the Dukes. He then made two free throws for a 73-70 edge and the Dukes by no means trailed once more.
Spartans freshman ahead Coen Carr tied the rating with a free throw with 1:18 remaining. Edwards responded with a layup for a two-point edge. Walker made a free throw 19 seconds later, however Dukes junior ahead Raekwon Horton made a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining for the ultimate edge.
Bickerstaff sank a free throw with two seconds remaining earlier than the Dukes compelled a steal on the Spartans’ last possession, icing the upset victory.
Edwards made 5 of 13 photographs and was 12 of 13 from the free throw line for the Dukes. Bickerstaff totaled 14 rebounds, along with his 21 factors.
Walker made 12 of 26 photographs and 11 of 17 free throws en path to a game-high 35 factors for the Spartans. He additionally logged six steals, 5 rebounds and three assists. Carr scored 14 off the Spartans bench. “I hope they reply by being ticked off,” Izzo stated of the Spartans. “I hope they reply by taking part in tougher and extra bodily.”
The Spartans (0-1) will host Southern Indiana (0-1) at 7 p.m. EST on Thursday in East Lansing. The Dukes (1-0) will face Kent State (1-0) at 7 p.m. Thursday in Kent, Ohio.
