EAST LANSING – After a twenty-point victory over Butler on Friday, No. 18 Michigan State returned to action at Breslin Center on Sunday against Alcorn State. The Spartans dominated the Braves 81-49, to move to 3-2 on the season without senior guard Tyson Walker, who was out with an illness.
The Spartans started the game on a 14-5 lead. Sophomore guard Tre Holloman led the way with two three-pointers along with junior guard Jaden Akins, who added seven points in the first five minutes.
The Spartans’ success continued, extending their lead to 18 points, as MSU led 26-8 halfway through the first with Tre Holloman’s nine points.
Despite a shooting slump that saw no field goals for MSU in the final 6:28 of the first half, the Spartans headed into halftime with a 44-16 lead.
Tre Holloman led the Spartans with 12 points, going 4-for-4 from three-point range. Jaden Akins also contributed with seven points in the first half. MSU’s defense was dominant in the first half, holding the Braves to 14% shooting from the field.
The zone defense was effective for Alcorn State coming out of halftime, starting off on an 8-2 run before another three-pointer by Tre Holloman extended the Spartan lead to 25 early in the second half.
A 9-0 run gave MSU a 58-27 lead seven minutes through the second half. The Spartans outscored the Braves 38-27 in the second half.
The freshman shined for MSU in the second half. Freshman forward Coen Carr recorded eight second-half points, including a posterizing dunk that sent the Breslin Center crowd into a frenzy. Carr would finish the game with 11 points.
“It was cool. Everyone was almost on the court, I saw people’s faces, jaws dropping, it was real fun to see,” Carr said.
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Freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr also impressed, with nine points and five assists.
“It was great. Everyone had to step up a little bit since Tyson [Walker], a big piece of our offense, a big piece of our team was out. I had to come in and try to maintain and just hold the lead and keep doing us,” Fears said.
Tre Holloman led the Spartans with a career-high 17 points, going 5-for-5 from three-point range, while Jaden Akins also contributed with 13 points in the win.
“Give Tre Holloman a lot of credit, first start, I thought he played well, I thought AJ gave him some great passes,” said MSU head coach Tom Izzo.
The Spartans will next travel to Palm Springs, California to take on No. 3 Arizona in the Acrisure Classic on Thanksgiving Day.
“We’re gonna get a lot better by Thursday, tomorrow’s practice should be fun. We’re gonna have to get after it, they’re the most physical team we’re gonna play maybe all year,” said Izzo.