East Lansing – Michigan State opened the season in the fashion in it expected Monday night, overpowering Northern Arizona to a 73-55 victory at the Breslin Center.
The Spartans got just about everything they wanted on the offensive end, though they didn’t light the nets up, shooting 44.6% (29-for-65), including 33.3% (9-for-27) from 3-point range, allowing Northern Arizona to hang around before a second-half surge pushed the lead past 20, a margin the visiting Lumberjacks could not overcome.
Joey Hauser scored 18 to lead Michigan State (1-0), going 4-for-8 from 3-point range while Pierre Brooks scored a career-high 14 points, nailing four 3-pointers.