Post-Game Notes: Boston College
11/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | USATSI Gallery 
Michigan State's 99-68 victory over Boston College marked the 500th career victory for head coach Tom Izzo. Izzo is the eighth-fastest coach to 500 wins among those who have done it all at one school and the 91st to 500 with at least 10 seasons in Division I. In his career, Izzo is 500-199 in 21 seasons. His first career victory was against Chaminade on Nov. 20, 1995. His 100th came on Jan. 11, 2000, in a 77-71 overtime victory over Indiana, while his 400th was on Jan. 25, 2012, versus Minnesota.
Senior guard Denzel Valentine recorded 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the second triple-double of his career and his second in nine days. Both of his triple-double performances have been highlighted by 29 points. The first came against then-No. 4 Kansas in the Champions Classic when he tallied 29 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists. Valentine is the third Spartan to achieve multiple triple-doubles. Earvin 'Magic' Johnson has eight, while Draymond Green recorded three.
Valentine is the first player to post a triple-double in the Wooden Legacy.
MSU's 99 points is the most scored in a Wooden Legacy contest. Michigan State set the Wooden Legacy record for largest margin of victory, as well, beating the Eagles by 31 points. The previous tournament best was a 30-point margin set by Arizona against UTEP in 2008.
Sophomore guard Tum Tum Nairn Jr. set a new career high, scoring 13 points against BC on Thursday night. All 13 of his points came in the first half. Nairn Jr. went 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. He also tied his career high in assists, dishing out eight helpers.
Denzel Valentine's 29 points matches his career high set back on Nov. 17 of this season against the Jayhawks. Both of Valentine's best-scoring nights have come in triple-double efforts.
Michigan State shot a season best 52.4 percent from 3-point range. The Spartans knocked down 11-of-21 from deep, led by Valentine's 6-of-9 performance. Tonight was the first time since March 22, 2015, against Virginia that MSU has shot better than 50 percent from the 3-point line.
MSU combined for a 62.7 percent from the floor, marking the best percentage this season and the first time shooting better than 60 percent since Feb. 17, 2015, at Michigan.
The Spartans' starting lineup of Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes, Tum Tum Nairn Jr., Javon Bess and Matt Costello is 5-0 this season.
