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Michigan State Basketball: 5 takeaways from blowout win over Houston Baptist

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 18: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives around Braxton Bonds #30 of the Houston Baptist Huskies during the second half 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: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans drives around Braxton Bonds #30 of the Houston Baptist Huskies during the second half 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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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 18: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks over Edward Hardt #15 of the Houston Baptist Huskies during the first half at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2014 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 dunks over Edward Hardt #15 of the Houston Baptist Huskies during the first half at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on December 18, 2014 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 107-62. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2. Miles Bridges can still dominate when he wants to

Raise your hand if you were quick to press the panic button on Miles Bridges’ sophomore season. Don’t worry, you weren’t alone. The standout sophomore was averaging a little over 15 points per game and not shooting particularly well heading into Monday night’s contest, but he silenced all doubters.

Houston Baptist isn’t exactly an opponent that is known for competing for conference titles nor will the matchup pique the interest of pro scouts, but for Bridges to go out and put up 33 points on 11-of-14 shooting, he must have known that the critics were out there.

Bridges got hot early on with an alley-oop over a Houston Baptist defender and he didn’t slow down. He added another dunk or two and shot 4-of-7 from 3-points range. That means he was 7-for-7 from inside the arc and that’s more of what fans wanted to see from him.

We all know he can shoot from the perimeter, but his driving and post scoring had dropped off quite a bit from last year — although he’s not playing in the post this year like he did last season. On Monday, he showed he can still take over games and become the focal point of an offense. He also added five assists and six rebounds.

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