Michigan State holds Georgia Southern to 11 first-half points and wins 86-55
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Jaden Akins scored 14 points, Tyson Walker added 13 and Michigan State used a big first-half run to beat Georgia Southern 86-55 on Tuesday night.
Michigan State, which entered ranked No. 6 in the country in field-goal percentage defense (35.5%), held Georgia Southern to 34% shooting in the first half to build a 38-11 lead. The Eagles finished at 40%.
The Spartans had their early lead trimmed to 13-9 with 11:58 remaining in the first half before closing on a 25-2 run for a 27-point lead. Georgia Southern made just one of its last 14 field-goal attempts before halftime. The Eagles were just 5-of-27 shooting in the half, including 1 of 12 from 3-point range, with 11 turnovers. The Spartans also struggled from behind the arc, making 2 of 10.
A.J. Hoggard added 12 points, Malik Hall had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Mady Sissoko scored 10 for Michigan State (4-3), which was coming off a 74-68 loss to No. 3 Arizona. Tre Holloman had 10 assists to go with seven points and Jeremy Fears Jr. grabbed 10 rebounds.
Walker, second in the Big Ten in scoring and No. 14 in the country at 22 points per game, was just 6 of 14 from the field. Michigan State shot 52%, despite 5 of 18 from 3-point range.
Tyren Moore scored 15 points, and Deuce Dean and Eren Banks each had 12 for Georgia Southern (0-7).
Georgia Southern coach Charlie Henry is a native of Canton, Mich. and played college basketball at Madonna University
NEW FOOTBALL COACH
Michigan State’s new football coach Jonathan Smith addressed the crowed midway through the first half.
“I’m so excited about coming to a place and being the head coach at a place so passionate about football. So passionate.”
UP NEXT
Georgia Southern has games against Jacksonville and North Florida before facing another Power Five opponent, No. 10 Tennessee, on Dec. 12.
The Spartans play six of their next seven games in the state of Michigan before the start of the new year, including five at the Breslin Center and one against Baylor at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 |  | Carlos Curry vs. Mady Sissoko (Tre Holloman gains possession) | ||
| 19:50 | | +3 | Tyson Walker makes three point jump shot (Tre Holloman assists) | 0-3 |
| 19:15 |  | Deuce Dean misses two point jump shot | ||
| 19:13 | | Jaden Akins defensive rebound | ||
| 18:47 | | +2 | Mady Sissoko makes two point turnaround hook shot (Tre Holloman assists) | 0-5 |
| 18:16 | | +2 | Tyren Moore makes two point layup (Deuce Dean assists) | 2-5 |
| 18:09 | | Mady Sissoko turnover (traveling) | ||
| 17:55 | | Tyren Moore turnover (out of bounds) | ||
| 17:36 | | Malik Hall misses two point jump shot | ||
| 17:34 | | Nate Brafford defensive rebound | ||
| 17:26 | | +2 | Deuce Dean makes two point driving layup | 4-5 |
| 16:55 | | Jaden Akins misses two point jump shot | ||
| 16:53 | | Jamar Franklin defensive rebound | ||
| 16:43 | | Tyren Moore misses three point jump shot | ||
| 16:41 | | Tyson Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 16:30 | | Avantae Parker shooting foul (Mady Sissoko draws the foul) | ||
| 16:30 | | +1 | Mady Sissoko makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-6 |
| 16:30 | | +1 | Mady Sissoko makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-7 |
| 16:17 | | Carlos Curry misses two point jump shot | ||
| 16:15 | | Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 16:02 | | Tyson Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 16:00 | | Deuce Dean defensive rebound | ||
| 15:54 | | Jaden Akins blocks Deuce Dean's two point jump shot | ||
| 15:52 | | Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 15:34 | | Xavier Booker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 15:32 | | Jaden Akins offensive rebound | ||
| 15:31 | | Nate Brafford shooting foul (Jaden Akins draws the foul) | ||
| 15:31 | | TV timeout | ||
| 15:31 | | +1 | Jaden Akins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-8 |
| 15:31 | | Jaden Akins misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 15:31 | | Jamar Franklin defensive rebound | ||
| 15:20 | | Carson Cooper blocks Jamar Franklin's two point layup | ||
| 15:18 | | Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 15:14 | | Cam Bryant blocks Xavier Booker's two point jump shot | ||
| 15:12 | | Jamar Franklin defensive rebound | ||
| 15:03 | | Cam Bryant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 15:01 | | Jaden Akins defensive rebound | ||
| 14:47 | | +3 | Jaden Akins makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists) | 4-11 |
| 14:34 | | Jamar Franklin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 14:32 | | Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 14:17 | | Jaden Akins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 14:15 | | Carson Cooper offensive rebound | ||
| 14:01 | | Xavier Booker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 13:59 | | Avantae Parker defensive rebound | ||
| 13:52 | | +2 | Cam Bryant makes two point driving dunk | 6-11 |
| 13:33 | | Avantae Parker personal foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul) | ||
| 13:27 | | +2 | Jeremy Fears Jr. makes two point floating jump shot (Malik Hall assists) | 6-13 |
| 13:11 | | Mady Sissoko blocks Derrick Harris Jr.'s two point jump shot | ||
| 13:09 | | Eagles offensive rebound | ||
| 12:59 | | Derrick Harris Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Jeremy Fears Jr. steals) | ||
| 12:53 | | Coen Carr misses two point layup | ||
| 12:51 | | Malik Hall offensive rebound | ||
| 12:45 | | Coen Carr turnover (bad pass) (Cam Bryant steals) | ||
| 12:40 | | Cam Bryant offensive foul (Malik Hall draws the foul) | ||
| 12:40 | | Cam Bryant turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 12:29 | | Malik Tidwell shooting foul (Coen Carr draws the foul) | ||
| 12:29 | | Coen Carr misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 12:29 | | Coen Carr misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 12:29 | | Mady Sissoko offensive rebound | ||
| 12:27 | | Mady Sissoko turnover (David Jones steals) | ||
| 12:19 | | Malik Tidwell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 12:17 | | Malik Tidwell offensive rebound | ||
| 11:59 | | +3 | Eren Banks makes three point jump shot (Cam Bryant assists) | 9-13 |
| 11:34 | | +2 | Malik Hall makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Tre Holloman assists) | 9-15 |
| 11:05 | | Coen Carr personal foul (Malik Tidwell draws the foul) | ||
| 11:05 | | TV timeout | ||
| 10:52 | | Deuce Dean turnover (bad pass) | ||
| 10:40 | | David Jones blocks A.J. Hoggard's two point jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Eren Banks defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | Eren Banks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:20 | | Mady Sissoko defensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | +2 | Malik Hall makes two point hook shot (Tre Holloman assists) | 9-17 |
| 10:02 | | Cam Bryant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:00 | | Mady Sissoko defensive rebound | ||
| 9:54 | | A.J. Hoggard turnover (lost ball) | ||
| 9:30 | | Eren Banks misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:28 | | A.J. Hoggard defensive rebound | ||
| 9:15 | | Tre Holloman misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:13 | | Malik Hall offensive rebound | ||
| 9:13 | | Nate Brafford personal foul (Malik Hall draws the foul) | ||
| 9:12 | | Tyson Walker misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:10 | | Carson Cooper offensive rebound | ||
| 9:05 | | +2 | Carson Cooper makes two point putback layup | 9-19 |
| 8:45 | | Deuce Dean misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:43 | | Malik Hall defensive rebound | ||
| 8:33 | | +2 | Jeremy Fears Jr. makes two point jump shot (A.J. Hoggard assists) | 9-21 |
| 8:07 | | Carlos Curry misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:05 | | Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:51 | | A.J. Hoggard turnover (bad pass) (Nate Brafford steals) | ||
| 7:40 | | Nate Brafford turnover (lost ball) (A.J. Hoggard steals) | ||
| 7:31 | | Tyson Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:29 | | Carlos Curry defensive rebound | ||
| 7:17 | | Tyson Walker personal foul (Eren Banks draws the foul) | ||
| 7:17 | | TV timeout | ||
| 7:13 | | Avantae Parker offensive foul | ||
| 7:13 | | Avantae Parker turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:03 | | Tyson Walker misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:01 | | David Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 6:49 | | Jamar Franklin turnover (lost ball) | ||
| 6:34 | | Jeremy Fears Jr. turnover (Nate Brafford steals) | ||
| 6:15 | | Nate Brafford misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:13 | | Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:08 | | +2 | Carson Cooper makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tyson Walker assists) | 9-23 |
| 5:53 | | Tyren Moore misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:51 | | Jeremy Fears Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:34 | | Carson Cooper misses two point dunk | ||
| 5:32 | | Tyren Moore defensive rebound | ||
| 5:25 | | Jamar Franklin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:23 | | Jaden Akins defensive rebound | ||
| 5:18 | | David Jones personal foul (Xavier Booker draws the foul) | ||
| 5:18 | | Xavier Booker misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 5:18 | | Cam Bryant defensive rebound | ||
| 4:57 | | Jamar Franklin turnover (traveling) | ||
| 4:45 | | +2 | Jaden Akins makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tre Holloman assists) | 9-25 |
| 4:26 | | Derrick Harris Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:24 | | Mady Sissoko defensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | +2 | Tyson Walker makes two point driving layup | 9-27 |
| 3:44 | | +2 | Tyren Moore makes two point pullup jump shot | 11-27 |
| 3:30 | | +2 | Mady Sissoko makes two point turnaround hook shot | 11-29 |
| 3:10 | | Tyren Moore misses two point jump shot | ||
| 3:08 | | Jaden Akins defensive rebound | ||
| 2:57 | | +2 | Tyson Walker makes two point stepback jump shot (Jaden Akins assists) | 11-31 |
| 2:53 | | Eagles 30 second timeout | ||
| 2:53 | | TV timeout | ||
| 2:53 | | Eagles 30 second timeout | ||
| 2:29 | | Jamar Franklin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:27 | | Jaden Akins defensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Cam Bryant shooting foul (Malik Hall draws the foul) | ||
| 2:05 | | +1 | Malik Hall makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-32 |
| 2:05 | | Malik Hall misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 2:05 | | Tyson Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 2:03 | | Jaden Akins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:01 | | Carson Cooper offensive rebound | ||
| 2:01 | | Malik Tidwell personal foul (Malik Hall draws the foul) | ||
| 2:01 | | Malik Hall misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:01 | | +1 | Malik Hall makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-33 |
| 1:38 | | Cam Bryant turnover (lost ball) (Malik Hall steals) | ||
| 1:38 | | Cam Bryant personal foul (Malik Hall draws the foul) | ||
| 1:38 | | +1 | Malik Hall makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-34 |
| 1:38 | | Malik Hall misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 1:38 | | Jamar Franklin defensive rebound | ||
| 1:18 | | Tyson Walker personal foul (Derrick Harris Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 1:16 | | Jamar Franklin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:14 | | Malik Hall defensive rebound | ||
| 1:10 | | +2 | A.J. Hoggard makes two point layup (Malik Hall assists) | 11-36 |
| 0:45 | | Carlos Curry turnover (lost ball) (A.J. Hoggard steals) | ||
| 0:40 | | Deuce Dean shooting foul (A.J. Hoggard draws the foul) | ||
| 0:40 | | +1 | A.J. Hoggard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-37 |
| 0:40 | | +1 | A.J. Hoggard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-38 |
| 0:40 | | Spartans 30 second timeout | ||
| 0:24 | | Jaden Akins blocks Jamar Franklin's two point jump shot | ||
| 0:22 | | Eagles offensive rebound | ||
| 0:17 | | Carlos Curry offensive foul (Jaden Akins draws the foul) | ||
| 0:17 | | Carlos Curry turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 0:03 | | Jamar Franklin blocks Malik Hall's three point jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Spartans offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |