Michigan State notes: Bridges. Langford spark Spartans' offense
EAST LANSING – Miles Bridges’ mom gave him a call to critique his game. Joshua Langford’s father showed up from Alabama and provided a spark.
Two of Michigan State’s freshmen used their parents’ motivation to produce the kind of performance they hope will become the norm.
Bridges looked closer to where he was before his ankle injury, while Langford’s shooting helped propel the Spartans to a 65-47 blowout of Minnesota on Wednesday night.
“My mom called me after the Penn State (loss) and said I wasn’t being aggressive,” Bridges said with a laugh. “That’s why I love my mom – she’s always on me about that.”
All of Bridges’ 16 points came in what coach Tom Izzo called a “man-child” first half, and his 5 of 7 shooting effort included a one-handed dunk in traffic and a pair of 3-pointers as the Spartans raced out to a 22-point lead by intermission.
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Bridges played 22 minutes and admitted he’s still struggling some with fatigue. The 6-foot-7 forward added six rebounds and a career-best four blocks in his third game back and second in the starting lineup after missing seven games with a left ankle injury.
“There’s always an adjustment period getting a guy back, especially one that is going to play as many minutes as him,” sophomore forward Kenny Goins said. “We had our growing pains with him getting back, but I think we’re starting to find our rhythm and hit that midseason stride.”
Langford scored nine of his 13 points in the first half, flashing a midrange game reminiscent of former Pistons star Rip Hamilton. He hit a 3-pointer off a rebound/push/kickout pass from Bridges less than two minutes into the game, a high-arcing elbow jumper, a crossover step-back shot from the baseline and a driving layup.
“The biggest thing for me is I just wanted to make sure I let the game come to me. I don’t have to force anything,” Langford said. “That’s what they tell me in practice, that sometimes I tend to force things too much. But the great players know how to let things come to them and play within the game. I feel like I did a pretty good job of that tonight.”
The 6-5 guard said part of those shots were scripted, since Izzo wanted to get him more looks, but more of them came within the improved rhythm of MSU’s offense. Some also came, he felt, because the Gophers focused on Tum Tum Nairn, who scored 13 points in the Spartans’ 75-74 overtime win in Minneapolis on Dec. 27.
“Josh, he’s a big key for us,” Bridges said. “If he’s going on all cylinders, it’s gonna be a good day for us. … He’s been looking better and better every day in practice.”
NEW UNIFORMS: The Spartans wore a throwback of a throwback for Wednesday’s game, with “MAC” across the front of their jerseys to reflect the school’s heritage as Michigan Agricultural College. The uniforms were similar to the ones worn by Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and the Spartans for their Big Ten title-clinching win over Wisconsin on Feb. 29, 1999, during Izzo’s first Final Four season and the 100th year of MSU basketball.
“I like these throwbacks,” Bridges said of the new gear. “I guess it gave us a boost on defense. That’s what Michigan State’s old-school teams do, play defense.”
MILESTONE NIGHT: The victory was Izzo’s 300th at Breslin Center as a head coach and his 250th Big Ten conference win. Only former Indiana coach Bobby Knight (353) and ex-Purdue coach Gene Keady (265) have more league wins than Izzo, who is in his 22nd season.
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free onApple and Android devices!