EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jeremy Fears Jr. had 13 points and 11 assists and Coen Carr finished with 12 points and eight rebounds Monday night as six Spartans scored in double figures in No. 6 Michigan State's 96-59 win over Quinnipiac in the season opener for both teams.
Anton Bonke, Jordan Scott, Kur Teng and Kaleb Glenn scored 11 points apiece for the Spartans. Under coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State is 87-1 at home during November and 24-8 in openers.
Forward Jesse McCulloch, who is expected to play a key role at center for the Spartans, did not play after getting hit in the head during practice and suffering a minor concussion.
Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton scored 11 points and Nate Guerengomba added 10 for the Bobcats, who were picked to finish sixth in the Metro Conference preseason coaches’ poll after having four starters transfer. A fifth is awaiting approval for another year of eligibility. Quinnipiac has eight newcomers this season.
Michigan State led from start to finish. The Spartans took full control with a 15-2 run early in the game for a 20-6 lead and continued to pull away behind defensive pressure and work on the offensive glass.
Quinnipiac struggled offensively and was slowed by 16 turnovers and having eight shots blocked.
The Spartans took their largest lead, 52-24, when Fears made a layup just before the halftime buzzer. Ten Michigan State players scored in the half.
Quinnipiac attempted to rally early in the second half, but the closest it could get was 20 points on several occasions. Michigan State responded on both ends and led by as many as 40 points.
The Bobcats are 0-3 all-time against Big Ten schools.
Quinnipiac: Hosts Bryant on Thursday.
Michigan State: Hosts Toledo on Thursday.
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