Savannah State @ Michigan St. preview

No. 2 Michigan State takes on its final non-conference foe before resuming Big Ten Conference play when it hosts Savannah State on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans have won 12 straight, scoring at least 100 points in each of their last three wins, while the Tigers have dropped five in a row.

Junior guard Dexter McClanahan leads Savannah State in scoring, averaging 13.6 points, but he and the rest of the team are going to need to up their game as they allow 96.8 points per contest. That won't be easy against a Michigan State defense that holds opponents to 33.3 percent shooting and blocks 8.5 shots per game. Offensively, Miles Bridges (16.8 points) leads the Spartans in scoring, but Nick Ward (15) has been the focal point of late, averaging 19.3 points and going 23-for-25 from the field over his last three games. Michigan State's backcourt duo of Cassius Winston (12.9 points, 6.8 assists, 56.5 percent 3-point shooting) and Joshua Langford (14.3 points) is potent offensively, especially from long range.

TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE (3-11): The Tigers struggled to shoot the ball during a stretch of four road games over 10 days in mid-December, creating some frustration for coach Harold Broadnax, although he understands how difficult it's been for his players. Savannah State missed its first nine shots in a 31-point loss to Virginia last time out on Dec. 19, a sign of the fatigue the team was feeling. A 12-day layoff for the holidays may help the offense, but Broadnax knows the pressure that is on his players in facing a highly ranked team, understanding they won't have a lot of good looks at the basket, so he realizes it is unlikely the squad's shooting percentage is going to improve against the Spartans.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (13-1): The Spartans have had good offensive teams before, but never as deep as this year's, as coach Tom Izzo has all five starters scoring in double figures and is able to go to his bench without seeing a fall-off in point production. Guard Matt McQuaid leads the reserves with an average of 7.2 points, but forwards Gavin Schilling and Xavier Tillman both are solid interior players who can score in the paint. Michigan State hadn't recorded at least 100 points in three straight contests since the start of the 2004-05 season until Friday, and the streak likely will extend to four games on Sunday.

TIP-INS

1. Six Michigan State players scored in double figures in the win over Cleveland State, the first time the team has accomplished that feat since March 2014.

2. Langford tied his career high with 23 points against Cleveland State.

3. Michigan State scored 63 points in the first half against Cleveland State, its most in a half during the Izzo era.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 112, Savannah State 56