INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gabe Brown scored 19 points, freshman Max Christie added 18 and Michigan State beat Butler 73-52 on Wednesday night in the Gavitt Tipoff.
Michigan State jumped out to a 22-8 lead behind nine points from Christie. A 10-0 run, opened and closed by Christie, early in the second half made it 44-28 and the Spartans led by double figures the rest of the way.
Marcus Bingham Jr. chipped in with 10 points and six blocks for Michigan State (2-1). Bingham and Brown each grabbed a team-high six rebounds as the Spartans outrebounded Butler 41-25.
It was the first time Michigan State’s Tom Izzo ever coached at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Ty Groce had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Chuck Harris added 13 points for Butler (3-1). Groce and Harris combined to shoot 8 for 29 and the Bulldogs finished at 29.1% from the field.
Butler and Michigan State last met in the 2010 Final Four when Gordon Hayward led the Bulldogs to a 52-50 victory with 19 points and nine rebounds.
