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Michigan State Basketball: Miles Bridges returns to form vs. Houston Baptist

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 18: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans smiles on the free throw line in the second half while playing the Houston Baptist Huskies at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 107-62. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 18: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans smiles on the free throw line in the second half while playing the Houston Baptist Huskies at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 107-62. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball picked up a blowout win over Houston Baptist on Monday night and Miles Bridges looked like his old self.

It’s been almost two months. College basketball has been back since the beginning of November yet we have yet to see the real Miles Bridges. Sure, the Michigan State star has shown flashes of greatness over the course of his sophomore season, but nothing like his freshman year.

Must Read: MSU Basketball: 5 bold predictions for December

Bridges was having a pedestrian season, averaging just over 15 points per game, but the main reason for his lack of scoring is the increase in options surrounding him compared to last season. The team hasn’t needed to rely on him as much this year as it did last season.

Houston Baptist came to town on Monday evening and Bridges made it a point to be a featured scorer for the Spartans. He took the game over like everyone had expected from him on a weekly basis to start the season.

The sophomore finished with a season-high 33 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

To say he looked like his old self was an understatement. Just look at this highlight dunk that had fans flashing back to a season ago when he was the top freshman in the Big Ten.

The Spartans went on to win 107-62 which was the biggest victory of the season, point-wise, and it had a lot to do with the play of Bridges. He got back to the basics and wasn’t thinking quite as much. He finished 11-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-7 from the 3-point line while making all seven of his free throws.

Next: MSU Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for December

If Michigan State can continue to get a consistent effort from Bridges with 20-plus points, the Spartans will be extremely difficult to beat in Big Ten action.

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