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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Morris Peterson wanted to do the
little things. They added up to big numbers and a lopsided win for
Michigan State.
Peterson had 19 points and 10 rebounds Monday night as the
Spartans (No. 2 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 3 AP) opened their season with a 78-33 win over Toledo.
|  | | Michigan State's Jason Richard shoots over Toledo's Rory Jones and is fouled. |
"I wanted to do the little things, like dive for loose balls
and take charges, because that's what it takes to win," said
Peterson, who made a name for himself last season by leading the
team in scoring despite just four starts.
"Those things don't show up on paper. But that's what really
counts."
Greg Stempin scored 16 points for Toledo (1-1).
Andre Hutson had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Charlie Bell
added 11 for the Spartans, playing without Mateen Cleaves who is
recovering from a stress fracture to his right foot.
The outcome of this game was never in doubt as the Spartans,
playing the tight defense that helped them land a berth in the
Final Four last season, held Toledo to 13-of-50 shooting.
"That might be the best defense we've ever played," Spartans'
coach Tom Izzo said.
The Rockets, who beat George Mason in their opener Friday night,
fell behind 10 seconds into the game on a basket by Peterson and
never caught up. Michigan State held the Rockets without a basket
for almost nine minutes in the first half while opening a 28-7 lead
on the strength of a 16-1 run.
"Guys were a little nervous coming out," Stempin said. "This
will probably make us stronger."
Toledo, favored to win the West Division of the Mid-American
Conference this season, went scoreless over the final 7:54 of the
game. Part of that was due to the Spartans' defense which had a
45-20 rebounding advantage.
"I think you see a difference when you go to the next level,"
said Toledo coach Stan Joplin, who was an assistant with Izzo on
Jud Heathcote's teams from 1990-95. "They're a lot more athletic
than we are. The officials from the Big Ten call a better game.
"I don't think Michigan State is 45 points better than we are.
But it shows what can happen in basketball."
The Spartans, 33-5 last season, became the only one of last
season's Final Four teams to open this season with a victory. The
others -- Duke, UConn and Ohio State -- all lost their 1999-2000
openers.
"We wanted to come out and avoid being upset," Peterson said.
"We knew the other Top Four teams from last year were upset, and
we wanted to come out and show some enthusiasm."
Still, it seemed almost a slam-dunk for the Spartans. Michigan
State hasn't lost an opener since the start of the 1976-77 season,
Heathcote's first year as coach of the Spartans. In fact, in 100
seasons, Michigan State has lost only 21 openers.
Red-shirt junior David Thomas handled the floor-leader's job for
Cleaves. He scored four points, dished out five assists and got a
nice hug from Izzo on the bench with 3:40 remaining.
This was also the debut of highly recruited Jason Richardson.
The 6-foot-6 freshman, who was Michigan's Mr. Basketball last
season at Saginaw Arthur Hill, had five points and four rebounds in
21 minutes.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Toledo Clubhouse
Michigan State Clubhouse
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