Southern Utah @ Michigan St. preview

No. 3 Michigan State returns home Saturday looking to extend its current seven-game winning streak when it hosts non-conference foe Southern Utah. The Spartans won their first true road game Tuesday against Big Ten rival Rutgers, while the Thunderbirds come in on a three-game winning streak.

Southern Utah has failed to score 80 points just once this season, with an offense led by junior guard Jadon Cohee (18 points per game) and senior forward Jamal Aytes (14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds). The problem for the Thunderbirds is they'll be facing one of the top defensive teams in the country, with the Spartans allowing opponents to score just 61.1 points per game and shoot just 33.2 percent from the floor. Offensively, Michigan State has a number of players who can take over a game, led by sophomore forward Miles Bridges (15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds). Guard Joshua Langford (13.6 points), forward Nick Ward (13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds) and guard Cassius Winston (12.4 points, 6.8 assists) -- all sophomores as well -- are dangerous scorers but all are very willing passers as well, plus freshman big man Jaren Jackson Jr. (10.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) continues to develop on both ends of the floor.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT SOUTHERN UTAH (5-3): Most fans like to watch a team that can score, plus they obviously want to see their team win, and if they can see a winning team that can score in bunches, it's pretty exciting. The Thunderbirds are feeling pretty excited about their season so far as well, with their victory over Long Beach State on Wednesday putting them just one win away from equaling last season's win total already, and the team's 83.5-ppg average is nearly six points better than last year's average. Players and coaches alike raved about playing in front of their biggest home crowd of the season and how they're gaining confidence, especially after knocking off a favorite in the Big West, which could mean trouble for future opponents.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (8-1): Ward has been one of the most consistent Spartans this season, ranking third on the team in scoring and rebounding while shooting 64.7 percent from the field (third in the Big Ten). But foul trouble and coach Tom Izzo's dissatisfaction with Ward's defense has limited him to 17.2 minutes per game, and Izzo played him less than two minutes in the second half of Tuesday's win over Rutgers. Ward was frustrated with the benching -- which Izzo attributed to his lack of defense on ball screens -- but has publicly laughed it off since, though he'll certainly be motivated to have a big game against the Thunderbirds to earn some playing time back.

TIP-INS

1. Cohee and Brandon Better both set new career-best scoring efforts against Long Beach State, finishing with 25 and 26 points, respectively.

2. Jackson tied the Michigan State single-game record with his eight blocked shots against Rutgers.

3. The Spartans rank No. 1 in the Big Ten in rebound margin, averaging 11 boards more than their opponents.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 92, Southern Utah 76