Walker scores 21, leads No. 18 Michigan State to a 74-54 win over Butler
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Tyson Walker scored 21 points, including 16 in the first half, and A.J. Hoggard added 14 on Friday night to lead No. 18 Michigan State to a 74-54 victory over Butler in the Gavitt Tipoff Games.
Malik Hall scored 12 for the Spartans (2-2) who moved to 4-0 in the Gavitt Games and have won four of the last five meetings with the Bulldogs. Michigan State avoided starting the season 1-3 for the first time since 1976.
“We took a step in the right direction against a team that's playing awfully well,” said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. “I thought we did a hell of a job defensively in the first half, especially.”
Unlike their previous three games, Michigan State started out strong, hitting four of its first six field goals, including three 3-pointers. With the game tied at 14, the Spartans took control by holding Butler to three field goals over the final 12:44 of the first half.
“I think we were more aggressive on both ends of the floor and it helped translate to our offense,” said Hoggard who also added six rebounds and four assists. “We shot the ball better tonight. Not to our capability still, but we're definitely growing and going in the right direction.”
The Spartans continued to dominate in the second half, and led by as many as 24 points. Michigan State made 47% of its field goal attempts, compared to 29% for Butler.
Izzo said the Spartans' performance strengthens his belief that this might be one of his best defensive teams.
"Want to know what the funny part is?" Izzo said. "I thought it would be one of my better offensive teams. And so, it shows you how dumb I am, at least so far.
“There's nothing like hanging your head on defense.”
Jahmyl Telfort scored 15 points for Butler (3-1) which came into the game holding opponents to only 30.6% from the field. Pierre Brooks, who transferred from Michigan State following last season, had 13 points.
“I told the guys I don't know if there was a team in the country tonight with where they were and the way they played,” said Butler coach Thad Matta. “For us, we had opportunities. We struggled to put the ball in the basket and I think they had a lot to do with that.”
UNWELCOMED RETURN
Despite playing his two previous seasons at Michigan State, Spartan fans booed Brooks many of the times he touched the ball. The junior guard hit only four of his 11 shots and was called for a technical foul in the first half.
“I thought Pierre played well,” Matta said. “He was very cool, very calm for the game. Even leading up to it, I mean he was excited to get up here and play.”
BIG PICTURE
Hoggard finally had the type of game that was expected of him this season. Much of Michigan State's success as the year moves along will hinge on the performance of the senior guard. In the first three games, he had only scored 15 total points.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Following Michigan State’s 74-65 loss Tuesday to Duke, the Spartans will likely fall in the AP Top 25 poll. They began the season ranked No. 4.
UP NEXT
Butler: The Bulldogs head to Orlando to compete in the ESPN Events Invitational. They’ll open against No. 10 Florida Atlantic on Thursday and could face No. 13 Texas A&M on Friday.
Michigan State: The Spartans host Alcorn State on Sunday before playing a Thanksgiving Day game against No. 3 Arizona in Palm Springs, Calif.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Jalen Thomas vs. Carson Cooper (Jahmyl Telfort gains possession) | |||
19:35 | Pierre Brooks II misses two point jump shot | |||
19:33 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
19:24 | +2 | Malik Hall makes two point jump shot (A.J. Hoggard assists) | 0-2 | |
19:04 | Jahmyl Telfort misses two point layup | |||
19:02 | Carson Cooper defensive rebound | |||
18:51 | +3 | Jaden Akins makes three point jump shot (Malik Hall assists) | 0-5 | |
18:28 | Tyson Walker personal foul (Jalen Thomas draws the foul) | |||
18:28 | +1 | Jalen Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-5 | |
18:28 | +1 | Jalen Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-5 | |
18:15 | A.J. Hoggard turnover (traveling) | |||
18:05 | +3 | Pierre Brooks II makes three point jump shot (Jahmyl Telfort assists) | 5-5 | |
17:32 | +3 | Tyson Walker makes three point jump shot (A.J. Hoggard assists) | 5-8 | |
17:09 | DJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
17:07 | Carson Cooper defensive rebound | |||
17:01 | DJ Davis personal foul (Jaden Akins draws the foul) | |||
16:54 | Tyson Walker misses three point jump shot | |||
16:52 | Pierre Brooks II defensive rebound | |||
16:38 | +2 | Jahmyl Telfort makes two point layup | 7-8 | |
16:23 | Jeremy Fears Jr. misses two point layup | |||
16:21 | Jalen Thomas defensive rebound | |||
16:08 | Posh Alexander misses two point layup | |||
16:06 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
16:06 | +2 | Tyson Walker makes two point layup | 7-10 | |
15:44 | Jalen Thomas personal foul (Tyson Walker draws the foul) | |||
15:44 | TV timeout | |||
15:44 | +1 | Tyson Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 7-11 | |
15:22 | Andre Screen turnover (lost ball) (Malik Hall steals) | |||
15:14 | Jaden Akins misses two point layup | |||
15:12 | Andre Screen defensive rebound | |||
14:51 | Jahmyl Telfort misses two point jump shot | |||
14:49 | Mady Sissoko defensive rebound | |||
14:42 | +3 | Jaden Akins makes three point jump shot (Tyson Walker assists) | 7-14 | |
14:20 | +2 | Posh Alexander makes two point layup | 9-14 | |
14:20 | Mady Sissoko shooting foul (Posh Alexander draws the foul) | |||
14:20 | +1 | Posh Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-14 | |
14:14 | A.J. Hoggard turnover (traveling) | |||
14:10 | Pierre Brooks II misses three point jump shot | |||
14:08 | Mady Sissoko defensive rebound | |||
13:38 | Posh Alexander personal foul | |||
13:38 | Tre Holloman misses two point jump shot | |||
13:36 | Landon Moore defensive rebound | |||
13:30 | Posh Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
13:28 | A.J. Hoggard defensive rebound | |||
13:20 | Xavier Booker turnover (traveling) | |||
13:06 | A.J. Hoggard shooting foul (Posh Alexander draws the foul) | |||
13:06 | +1 | Posh Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-14 | |
13:06 | +1 | Posh Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-14 | |
12:49 | Carson Cooper turnover (lost ball) (Posh Alexander steals) | |||
12:42 | +2 | Posh Alexander makes two point layup | 14-14 | |
12:21 | A.J. Hoggard misses two point jump shot | |||
12:19 | Finley Bizjack defensive rebound | |||
12:11 | Coen Carr personal foul (Landon Moore draws the foul) | |||
12:06 | Carson Cooper blocks Jahmyl Telfort's two point layup | |||
12:04 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
11:58 | Posh Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
11:56 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
11:56 | Boden Kapke personal foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul) | |||
11:54 | TV timeout | |||
11:33 | Jaden Akins misses three point jump shot | |||
11:31 | Carson Cooper offensive rebound | |||
11:22 | A.J. Hoggard misses two point jump shot | |||
11:21 | Carson Cooper offensive rebound | |||
11:21 | Boden Kapke personal foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul) | |||
11:11 | Malik Hall misses three point jump shot | |||
11:09 | Jalen Thomas defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | Finley Bizjack turnover (bad pass) (Jaden Akins steals) | |||
10:50 | A.J. Hoggard turnover (lost ball) (Pierre Brooks II steals) | |||
10:41 | Pierre Brooks II misses two point layup | |||
10:39 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
10:30 | Jalen Thomas blocks Tyson Walker's two point layup | |||
10:28 | Pierre Brooks II defensive rebound | |||
10:24 | DJ Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
10:22 | A.J. Hoggard defensive rebound | |||
9:54 | A.J. Hoggard misses two point layup | |||
9:54 | Malik Hall offensive rebound | |||
9:54 | +2 | Malik Hall makes two point layup | 14-16 | |
9:27 | Carson Cooper blocks Posh Alexander's two point layup | |||
9:25 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
9:24 | Landon Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
9:22 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
9:04 | Tyson Walker misses two point jump shot | |||
9:02 | Jalen Thomas defensive rebound | |||
8:41 | Jaden Akins personal foul (Pierre Brooks II draws the foul) | |||
8:31 | DJ Davis misses two point layup | |||
8:31 | Posh Alexander offensive rebound | |||
8:31 | Malik Hall shooting foul (Posh Alexander draws the foul) | |||
8:31 | Posh Alexander misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:31 | +1 | Posh Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-16 | |
8:02 | +2 | Tyson Walker makes two point jump shot | 15-18 | |
7:44 | DJ Davis turnover (bad pass) (Jaden Akins steals) | |||
7:42 | Posh Alexander personal foul (Spartans draws the foul) | |||
7:42 | TV timeout | |||
7:18 | Jalen Thomas personal foul (Jeremy Fears Jr. draws the foul) | |||
7:15 | +1 | Jeremy Fears Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-19 | |
7:15 | +1 | Jeremy Fears Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-20 | |
7:01 | Landon Moore misses two point jump shot | |||
6:59 | Spartans defensive rebound | |||
6:38 | Jaden Akins misses two point jump shot | |||
6:36 | Andre Screen defensive rebound | |||
6:12 | Landon Moore turnover (out of bounds) | |||
6:02 | +2 | Tyson Walker makes two point layup | 15-22 | |
5:55 | +3 | DJ Davis makes three point jump shot (Landon Moore assists) | 18-22 | |
5:40 | Andre Screen personal foul (Jeremy Fears Jr. draws the foul) | |||
5:40 | +1 | Jeremy Fears Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-23 | |
5:40 | Jeremy Fears Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:40 | Coen Carr offensive rebound | |||
5:29 | Boden Kapke personal foul (Carson Cooper draws the foul) | |||
5:29 | +1 | Carson Cooper makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-24 | |
5:29 | Carson Cooper misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:29 | Jahmyl Telfort defensive rebound | |||
5:16 | Jahmyl Telfort misses two point layup | |||
5:14 | Carson Cooper defensive rebound | |||
5:07 | +2 | Tyson Walker makes two point layup | 18-26 | |
4:51 | +2 | Pierre Brooks II makes two point dunk (DJ Davis assists) | 20-26 | |
4:47 | Pierre Brooks II technical foul | |||
4:47 | +1 | Tyson Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-27 | |
4:47 | +1 | Tyson Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-28 | |
4:34 | Tyson Walker misses two point jump shot | |||
4:32 | Carson Cooper offensive rebound | |||
4:19 | Carson Cooper misses two point hook shot | |||
4:17 | Pierre Brooks II defensive rebound | |||
3:58 | Coen Carr personal foul (Boden Kapke draws the foul) | |||
3:58 | TV timeout | |||
3:58 | +1 | Boden Kapke makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-28 | |
3:58 | +1 | Boden Kapke makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-28 | |
3:35 | +2 | Tre Holloman makes two point jump shot (Jaden Akins assists) | 22-30 | |
3:17 | Jahmyl Telfort turnover (lost ball) (Coen Carr steals) | |||
3:17 | Andre Screen shooting foul (A.J. Hoggard draws the foul) | |||
3:17 | A.J. Hoggard misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:17 | +1 | A.J. Hoggard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-31 | |
2:59 | Jahmyl Telfort misses two point layup | |||
2:57 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
2:47 | +2 | Jahmyl Telfort makes two point hook shot | 24-31 | |
2:35 | Malik Hall misses two point layup | |||
2:33 | Andre Screen defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Pierre Brooks II misses three point jump shot | |||
2:15 | Posh Alexander offensive rebound | |||
2:08 | Andre Screen offensive foul (Spartans draws the foul) | |||
2:08 | Andre Screen turnover (offensive foul) | |||
1:59 | +2 | Tyson Walker makes two point layup (Malik Hall assists) | 24-33 | |
1:41 | Jahmyl Telfort misses three point jump shot | |||
1:39 | Tyson Walker defensive rebound | |||
1:25 | Tyson Walker misses three point jump shot | |||
1:23 | DJ Davis defensive rebound | |||
1:00 | Posh Alexander turnover (bad pass) (Malik Hall steals) | |||
1:00 | +2 | A.J. Hoggard makes two point jump shot | 24-35 | |
1:00 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
0:49 | Tre Holloman personal foul (DJ Davis draws the foul) | |||
0:49 | +1 | DJ Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-35 | |
0:49 | DJ Davis misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:49 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
0:34 | Spartans 30 second timeout | |||
0:27 | Landon Moore personal foul (A.J. Hoggard draws the foul) | |||
0:27 | +1 | A.J. Hoggard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-36 | |
0:27 | +1 | A.J. Hoggard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-37 | |
0:04 | Jaden Akins blocks DJ Davis's two point layup | |||
0:02 | Malik Hall defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Malik Hall turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:00 | End of period |