Michigan State tries to get back on track vs. Bowling Green

Field Level Media|published: Sat 16th November, 24:27 2024

Michigan State's Jaxon Kohler celebrates after scoring and drawing a foul against Niagara during the first half on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

It will be a reunion of sorts when Bowling Green pays a visit to Michigan State on Saturday.

Bowling Green's associate coach, Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr., played for Michigan State and head coach Tom Izzo from 2014-18.

Nairn also spent time under Izzo as a graduate assistant, and Izzo always lauded Nairn's character when the native of the Bahamas was a player.

"I'm really proud of Tum and what he's done," Izzo said. "Tum's going to be a great head coach some day. You watch. He gets it. I love him and he has done a lot for me. It kind of makes you believe in humanity because he's such a good kid and a good person."

Michigan State hopes to get back on track following a 77-69 loss to Kansas on Tuesday in Atlanta. Frankie Fidler tallied 15 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans and Jaxon Kohler added 12 and 10, respectively.

The Spartans shot 3 of 24 (12.5 percent) from 3-point range in their failed bid to knock off the top-ranked Jayhawks. Fidler and Kohler combined to go 2 for 11.

"I believe those guys are going to make shots," Izzo said. "That's why they kept shooting them. I can't get accused of not telling them not to shoot."

Bowling Green (1-2) enters following a 107-43 win over Naia school Taylor at home on Monday, which followed losses to Southern Mississippi and Davidson to open the season. Marcus Johnson led the Falcons with 19 points against Taylor, while Javontae Campbell has a team-best 18.7 points per game.

The game will also be a homecoming for Bowling Green head coach Todd Simon, who grew up near the Michigan State campus in Fowler, Mich.

"It's always an honor and privilege to play a team of that caliber, just to see where we line up there," Simon said. "You better bring your toughness and you better be ready to play your heart out, because they are going to.

"They are playing fast and are going to be physical. We need to match those things, and we need to execute offensively. It's going to be a test to see how well we execute."

--Field Level Media

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