Michigan State had a rocky start in its matchup against Bowling Green, struggling to find its rhythm in the early stages of the game.

The Falcons, with their quick pace, came out strong, forcing the Spartans to play catch-up throughout much of the first half. MSU’s offense looked disjointed, with turnovers and missed opportunities disrupting any flow. Despite their difficulties, the Spartans’ defense kept them in the game, limiting Bowling Green’s ability to pull away.

The early part of the first half saw MSU unable to get comfortable on either side of the ball. It had trouble converting in transition and was inconsistent with its shot selection.

Meanwhile, Bowling Green capitalized on MSU’s mistakes, hitting timely shots and taking advantage of defensive lapses. The Falcons’ high-energy play gave them a brief but significant advantage as they stayed within striking distance. The Spartans seemed to struggle with the intensity of the game and could not find an answer for the Falcons’ perimeter shooting.

However, as the game wore on, MSU started to show signs of life. The team regrouped during halftime, with adjustments made to both the offensive and defensive schemes.

When the second half began, the Spartans came out with renewed focus and energy. They began to push the ball more effectively, working the offense with better ball movement and finding better shooting opportunities. The defense also stepped up, creating more turnovers and forcing Bowling Green to take contested shots.

What helped MSU pull away in the second half was its depth. Seven Spartans finished in double figures, underscoring the balanced scoring attack that eventually overwhelmed the Falcons. As the game progressed, Bowling Green’s defense could not keep up with the Spartans’ fresh legs and increased intensity. MSU’s ability to share the scoring load became evident, with multiple players stepping up at crucial moments.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, MSU had secured a comfortable 86-72 victory. Despite their early struggles, the Spartans showed resilience and depth in their comeback, particularly in the second half. The balanced scoring attack and improved defense allowed MSU to finish strong and come away with a solid win, setting a positive tone for the rest of the season.

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EAST LANSING – Bowling Green owned the start but it was all Michigan State at the finish.

The Spartans (3-1) rebounded from a double-digit deficit and closed the game on an 18-0 run for an 86-72 win against the Falcons (1-3) on Saturday night at the Breslin Center.

Here are notable quotes from coach Tom Izzo and players following the game:

Izzo on Bowling Green going scoreless over the final 7:11 and missing its last nine field goal attempts: “I think we had something to do with it, I also think they wore down a little bit and I think that’s what we can do if our strength is in our numbers.”

Guard Jaden Akins on leading the Spartans with 13 points, 12 rebounds and six assists: “I feel like I played decent. I felt like I stayed aggressive throughout the game, no matter if I miss a couple shots or make some shots.”

Izzo on facing former Michigan State guard and captain Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn, who is a Bowling Green assistant coach: “It’s hard enough to coach against your former assistants but it’s really hard to coach against your former players.”

Forward Carson Cooper on scoring a career-high 12: “I’m not usually the go-to guy, the scorer on the team so being able to see that first shot go in just kind of instilled some confidence.”

Izzo on Bowling Green forward Marcus Johnson, who scored 13 of his game-high 23 points in the first half: “He wasn’t Marcus Johnson, he was Magic Johnson there for that early stretch, the shots he made.”

Izzo on not calling timeout early as Bowling Green made 15 of its first 20 field goals and led by 12: “I didn’t call any timeouts because the shots they were making, I did not think they could keep making them and they kept making them for a while. I do want to see this team, how they’re going to respond, what they’re going to do.”

Akins on Bowling Green’s first-half shooting: “We had a couple mistakes on defense but a lot of the time, they were just making good shots. I felt like we knew they couldn’t sustain that for the whole game so we were just trying to make sure they took tough shots and eventually they’d miss a couple.”

Izzo on starting forward Jaxon Kohler over Xaiver Booker: “I’m trying to help Book too. … We’re just working on how do we get that motor going all the time? Everybody talks about it but it is getting better.”

Booker on shooting just 2-for-14 from 3-point range through four games: “Just taking shots and not forcing it. I think I do a good job of that. It’s going to come.”

Forward Frankie Fidler on missing all five of his triple tries on Saturday to fall to 2-for-16 for the season: “I think there is kind of a lid on the rim right now but I’m getting great looks. Just continue to shoot and continue to be confident in my shot.”

Forward Coen Carr, who scored 11 points with a trio of thunderous dunks: “I don’t feel like my dunks are worth two points, I feel like it’s more than that. I feel like it’s worth two points and it’s worth help us get a stop on defense, it’s worth the other team not knowing what they’re calling on offense because the gym is screaming so loud.”

Izzo on Saturday’s performance after an eight-point loss to No. 1 Kansas on Tuesday: “I think we played better Tuesday night but Bowling Green came after us and did some things as well or harder than anybody we played Tuesday night too, to be very honest about it.”

Akins on the team’s strong finish against the Falcons: “We just had to lock in on defense and close the game out. That shows our fight and resilience.”