The college basketball slate on Tuesday evening may not have been as competitive as last Saturday, but powers like the Michigan State Spartans held on for dear life, while Iowa State and Purdue did just enough to get key resume wins.
Without Valentine, Spartans Hold On
It wasn’t pretty, there’s no doubt about that. But a career night from Bryn Forbes was enough for the Spartans to pull out an overtime win over the upset minded Oakland Grizzlies, 99-93.
Forbes’ performance was more than impressive, but the contributions of Eron Harris–who had, by far, his best game of the year–could signal a shift in his game this season. The two combined for 59 points on the night.
What doesn’t play well without Valentine, however, were the 14 offensive rebounds that MSU surrendered, and the lack of a defensive stopper to slow down Oakland’s Kahlil Felder, who finished with 37 points of his own.
Nonetheless, Sparty is off to their best start in school history.
Iowa State Outlasts Cincinnati
After giving up a seven-point halftime lead, Abdel Nader hit a three with 11-seconds remaining to give the Cyclones their final lead of the game and a key non-conference win–their first signature win without point guard Naz Long.
Who shined most in the win, though, was no surprise. Both Georges Niang and Monte Morris were fantastic, tallying 24 and 16 points respectively, while also hitting the boards with Morris dishing out seven assists.
The offensive outburst for the Bearcats was particularly impressive, though, led by Troy Caupain. Sure, there have been nights when they’ve scored more, but never against better competition.
Vandy Can’t Handle Hammons Inside
It feels like we’ve been waiting for the kind of dominating performance that Purdue center A.J. Hammons delivered last, totalling 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven blocks as the Boilermakers came back against Vanderbilt.
Isaac Haas didn’t have his best night, thus leaving it to Hammons and Swanigan to hold things down on the inside, which was a challenge they gladly accepted. For Vanderbilt, though, concerns remain over just what has happened to their offense since their scintillating start.
Riley LaChance put out a donut, while Damion Jones couldn’t find a way to get going against Purdue’s size underneath. Where the Commodores once looked like an SEC challenger, they’re now floundering a bit.
