Walker Scores 21, Michigan State Beats Nebraska, 74-56

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State opened up a 22-point lead at halftime and put three players in double figures en route to a 74-56 win over Nebraska on Tuesday night at the Breslin Center.

Senior guard Tyson Walker scored 21 points, including 16 in the first half, to lead the Spartans

Graduate forward Joey Hauser had his second-straight double-double, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals, while freshman forward Jaxon Kohler scored 10 points and had three rebounds off the bench. Junior forward Mady Sissoko added five points, 10 rebounds three blocks, while junior guard A.J. Hoggard finished with two points and a game-high nine assists.

Records
Michigan State improves to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, while Nebraska falls to 8-7 and 1-3 in league play.

Recap

The Spartans went into the break leading by 22 points, 39-17, but Nebraska scored the first six points of the second half and cut the margin to 39-23, on a Derrick Walker layup.
A 3-pointer from sophomore guard Pierre Brooks II pushed the lead back to 20 points, 53-33, but the Cornhuskers used a 13-5 run and pulled to within 12 points, 58-46, on a layup from Wilhelm Breidenbach with 8:44 left to play.
MSU responded with a 10-0 run, triggered by a basket from Kohler and then followed by a layup and a conventional three-point play from senior forward Malik Hall, with Walker hitting a 3-pointer from the corner to push the lead back to 22 points, 68-46, with 4:16 left.
Michigan State took its biggest lead of 23 points, first at 70-47 on free throws from Hoggard with 3:19 left and then on a jumper from Walker, making it 74-51 with 1:35 to play.
The Spartans went into the break connecting with a 39-17 lead, thanks in large part to Walker, who led all scorers with 16 points.
Tied at 11-all midway through the first 20 minutes following a layup from Nebraska's Wilhelm Bridenbach, the Spartans used a 15-2 run over 3:25 and took a 26-13 lead on a 3-pointer from Walker at the 9:22 mark.
Nebraska cut the lead to 26-17 on a basket from Derrick Walker, but the Spartans responded with a 7-0 run took a 33-17 lead on a second-chance layup from Hauser with 3:30 to play in the half.
MSU extended its lead to 39-17 over the final minutes of the half after baskets from freshman guard Tre Holloman, sophomore guard Jaden Akins and Walker.

Key Stats

Michigan State shot 47.7 percent from the floor for the game (31-of-65), including 50.0 percent in the first half (17-of-34).
MSU held Nebraska to just 17 points in the first half, limiting the Cornhuskers to 27.6 percent shooting from the floor (8-of-29), including 9.1 percent from 3-point land (1-of-11).
The Spartans held a commanding 46-29 advantage on the boards, had 14 offensive rebounds and scored 18 second-chance points.
MSU handed out 24 assists on 31 made field goals (77.4 percent).
The Spartans committed just nine turnovers, four in the first half.

Notes

Michigan State leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 22-29, including a 12-3 mark at home.
The Spartans have won the last 10 games in the series.
MSU is now 6-1 at home this season.
The Spartans are now 7-1 when scoring at least 70 points.
MSU held Nebraska to 56 points, the fifth time this season (5-0 in those games).
The Spartans are 8-1 when leading at the half.
Michigan State out-shot Nebraska (47.7% to 41.8%), the 10th time this season shooting better than the opponent (10-0).
MSU had nine turnovers, the seventh time this season with 10 or fewer.
The Spartans had a 46-29 edge in rebounding, the ninth time controlling the boards (9-0).
MSU handed out 24 assists, the fifth time with at least 20 assists.
Tyson Walker scored 21 points, his second game this season with at least 20 and the 13th of his career.
He has scored in double figures 11 times this season and 57 times in his career.
He has led MSU in scoring three times this year.
Joey Hauser had his second-straight double-double and his third in the last five games.
He has five double-doubles this season and 11 for his career.
It was his 12th game scoring in double figures this year and the 34th of his career.
It was his fifth game this season with at least 10 boards and the 13th of his career.
Jaxon Kohler scored a career-high 10 points, hitting a career-best five field goals.
Mady Sissoko grabbed 10 rebounds, his second game this season with at least 10 boards.
A.J. Hoggard led the team in assists for the 10th time this season and the 35th of his career.

Up Next
Michigan State closes out a five-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 7, hosting Michigan. The game will air live on FOX at 2:30 p.m., with Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson calling all of the action.

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Team Stats

Tyson Walker

Jaxon Kohler

Joey Hauser

Jaden Akins

Players Mentioned

Jaden Akins

Pierre Brooks II

Malik Hall

Joey Hauser

A.J. Hoggard

Tre Holloman

Jaxon Kohler

Mady Sissoko

Tyson Walker

Players Mentioned

Jaden Akins

Pierre Brooks II

Malik Hall

Joey Hauser

A.J. Hoggard

Tre Holloman

Jaxon Kohler

Mady Sissoko

Tyson Walker