PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Michigan State basketball’s return to competition could not have started much worse.
Rutgers scored the first 15 points in 15 minutes and dominated defensively. After 20 days off, the Spartans looked equal parts rusty and flat at both ends.
Yet they clawed back to make it a one-possession game just before half, only to emerge from the locker room plagued by the same issues — turnovers, shots getting blocked and defensive breakdowns.
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There was little Tom Izzo could do on the sideline as he watched MSU come back after nearly three weeks off with a lifeless 67-37 defeat Thursday night at Rutgers, the Spartans’ lowest scoring output since 2008 and their first loss to the Scarlet Knights in 12 meetings.