Michigan State vs. Stony Brook: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

After losing a hard-fought battle with the favorites to win it all, the Michigan State Spartans have to take the lessons learned from that game and use them against the Stony Brook Seawolves.

TV schedule: Sunday, Nov. 19, 4:00 p.m. ET. Big Ten Network

Arena: Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan

The Champions Classic on Tuesday was the highlight of the early season, with an incredible amount of talent displayed all over the court. The overall excitement and stakes of the game were somewhat subdued after Duke’s Marvin Bagley III went down with an eye injury just ten minutes into the game.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, they were unable to take full advantage of his absence, thanks to Grayson Allen going off for a career-high 37.

There were bright spots for Tom Izzo to take away. Nick Ward played well all game, Jaren Jackson stood out as the top prospect in the game after Bagley went out, and, after a quiet half, Miles Bridges returned to form, hitting several key shots. All three had 19 in the game.

The weakness coming into the game came from the perimeter. The guards produced a number of turnovers trying to get the ball into the post and were outplayed by their Blue Devil counterparts.

Whether it was “Tum Tum” Nairn and Cassius Winston struggling to distribute or Matt McQuaid and Joshua Langford unable to hit a jump shot, the guards need to play well if Michigan State wants to make a final four.

They’ll start trying to make those improvements on a Sunday afternoon game against the Seawolves of Stony Brook. The representatives of the America East Conference has so far taken losses to Maryland, Michigan to start things off.

Last season they finished 18-14 (10-4) and finished second in the league. They did lose their top scorer Lucas Woodhouse to graduation, but return several other key pieces, including senior Tyrell Sturdivant and sophomore Akwasi Yeboah, two standout players in the early season.

Next: 3 takeaways in Dukes win over Michigan State

If Michigan State comes out motivated after losing to Duke, this should be a squash. However, if a hangover plagues the team to start out, the Seawolves are good enough to make this a game. The first ten minutes should determine how this one will look. But knowing Izzo and the veterans on the team, they’ll be ready come Sunday.

Prediction: Michigan State 86 – Stony Brook 62