No. 2 Michigan State continues home court dominance with 75-62 win over Toledo

No. 2 Michigan State rolls past Toledo, 75-62

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Draymond Green had 15 points to lead a balanced attack, and No. 2 Michigan State kept up its home court mastery with a 75-62 win over Toledo on Friday night.

The game was a regional matchup in the Legends Classic. The Spartans (3-0) host Valparaiso on Sunday before heading to Atlantic City, N.J., for a date next Friday with Florida in the tournament semifinals.

The Spartans won their 42nd straight home game against a nonconference opponent, extending a streak that started after a loss to Duke on Dec. 3, 2003. Coach Tom Izzo improved to 37-0 at home in November and won his 339th game in 15 seasons at Michigan State.

Izzo is one win shy of his mentor Jud Heathcote for the most in school history.

Chris Allen had 14 points for Michigan State while Kalin Lucas scored 12. Delvon Roe had 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Durrell Summers added 10 points.

Stephen Albrecht scored 20 points for Toledo (0-3), which trailed by as many as 20 in the second half.

Toledo is one of the few non-Big Ten teams to beat Michigan State at Breslin Center on Izzo’s watch. The Rockets defeated the Spartans 81-76 in 2002 — their last trip to East Lansing.

But the talent gap was much bigger Friday night. The quicker, bigger and more athletic Spartans opened the game with a thunderous dunk by Summers off a pass from Lucas, setting the tone for a long evening for the Rockets.

Justin Anyijong gave Toledo an 8-5 lead on a 3-pointer with 16:32 remaining in the first half. The Spartans answered with a 13-0 run, including 3-pointers from Allen and Korie Lucious.

Michigan State went deep into its bench in the first half, while the frustrated Rockets resorted to launching 3s when they couldn’t crack the Spartans’ aggressive defense.

Michigan State led by as many as 17 in the first half before Toldeo used a 10-0 run to make it 37-30 at intermission.

The Spartans started the second half with a 8-0 run, capped by Allen’s dunk, to take a 45-30 lead. Michigan State led by as many as 20 points in the second half.

Raymar Morgan, battling ankle and foot sprains, did not play but could have been available in an emergency. Morgan played through the injuries in Tuesday’s win over Gonzaga but wasn’t needed against the Rockets.