Michigan State University
St. Cloud State (exh.)
Spartans Cruise In 101-46 Exhibition Victory
11/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - With sizeable advantages in every department and a triple-double by junior guard Denzel Valentine, Michigan State concluded the exhibition portion of its schedule with a 101-46 domination of St. Cloud State Friday night in the Breslin Center.
The Spartans overpowered their Division II counterpart from Minnesota inside and outside while showing the defensive improvement coach Tom Izzo put at the top of his agenda after Monday's 97-56 victory over The Master's College.
Senior guard Travis Trice led MSU with 20 points on 4-for-8 shooting from 3-point range and Valentine added 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. The Spartan low-post tandem of Gavin Schilling and Matt Costello combined for 27 points and 15 rebounds. Schilling had 15 points off the bench and five rebounds and Costello scored 12 to go with 10 rebounds. Senior forward Branden Dawson chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Michigan State made 57.7 percent of its shots from the field (41 of 71), held the Huskies to 22.6-percent shooting (14 of 62) and outrebounded them 54-34.
Izzo will get a better idea how the statistical data and Michigan State's effort translates at the Division I level when it opens the season next Friday at Navy.
"We improved from the last game, defensively, a lot and this was a better team, offensively, by a long shot," Izzo said. "We've still got a long way to go but I feel we got something out of both exhibition games. There are a lot of teams around the country that struggled with theirs against similar competition. I thought we were pretty solid, steady.
"Are we ready for the schedule we've got in the next three weeks? No, not yet."
Nevertheless, Valentine looks like he's in midseason form, which based on how hard he worked this summer, doesn't come as a surprise to Izzo.
"There's not a kid I've had, not a one, who's worked as hard as he has," Izzo said. "He's working on ball-handing drills, he's working on passing drills, he's spent so many hours on his shot, and his shot to me looks so good. It's getting to be the same shot every time. I think he's confident.
"Denzel has earned everything. He's been pretty good defensively. He's just got to continuously remind himself that flash isn't as important because he's so good when he's solid. But he likes the sizzle once in a while."
Valentine committed just two turnovers, which he said he's trying to keep it under control.
"I was pretty consistent tonight," Valentine said. "I just had a couple plays where I got a little out of hand. If I just tone down those plays down that I turned the ball over down or not do a stupid dribble, it would have been a pretty great night.
"I'm just older and more experienced so I know the do's and don'ts. I've always been working on my shot but it's all about being comfortable with it in the game. I've just got to tone (the fancy plays) down and I have been. (Izzo) always lets me have it as long as I can make the plays."
Izzo was encouraged by the performance of Schilling, who did a better job of receiving the ball than he did last season, and Costello.
"If could get 28 points and 15 rebounds out of our center spot, I'll do cartwheels on that floor," Izzo said. "If we can get half that, I'll feel good about it. I was really happy (with Schilling) because he made some tough catches today, he finished, the left-hand hook looked nice and he got some big rebounds early. But, we've got to remember that team wasn't very big."
Schilling took his performance for what it was worth.
"You've definitely got to use this as a building block," he said. "We can only get better from here on out and keep progressively getting better each game. We took advantage of the size advantage, but I don't think it will be that much harder with people the same size. This gets us going and builds up our confidence for the future."
First-year St. Cloud coach Matt Reimer was an assistant coach the last time the Huskies played MSU, and marveled at how the Spartans played.
"We played them two years ago and I asked the guys who were on that team what the difference was," Reimer said. "The difference in athleticism was staggering. They are so fast up and down the court. Costello really dominated us inside, as did Schilling, and we had the same guys inside.
"Michigan State is dynamic. It's going to take a heckuva team to beat those guys."
