Michigan State University
Spartans Put On Show In Exhibition
11/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 6, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Jason Richardson, ruled eligible to play on Thursday by the NCAA, celebrated with a series of acrobatic dunks and layups as Michigan State won its exhibition opener Friday by beating the California All-Stars 115-66.
"I guess now you know why he was kind of important to get back," coach Tom Izzo said after Richardson's 25-point performance. "He could be an exciting player before he's done here."
The NCAA declared Richardson ineligible in July, ruling he had not taken an acceptable core of high school courses. Michigan State appealed and the NCAA ruled in its favor.
Fellow freshman Aloysius Anagonye grabbed 10 rebounds and added 12 points. Junior Mike Chappell, also playing in his first game with Michigan State after transferring from Duke, scored 17.
"We accomplished the things we wanted to," Izzo said. "We got lot of people a lot of minutes."
Willie Coleman and Jaime Brandon had 12 points each for the All-Stars.
Because of a foot injury that will keep him out 8-10 weeks, Michigan State point guard Mateen Cleaves watched the exhibition game from the bench. Because the game was a blowout, the Spartans' starters sat next to him much of the time.
The Spartans committed 16 turnovers, but it didn't matter against the overmatched All-Stars, who shot just 33 percent from the field and were outrebounded 53-19.
Junior David Thomas took over at point guard for Cleaves, scoring four points and handing out three assists.
After the All-Stars took a 2-0 lead in the game's opening minutes, Michigan State scored 16 unanswered points. The Spartans led 53-26 at halftime and continued to build on that cushion behind 73 percent shooting in the second half.
