Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for battle at Penn State

Michigan State basketball faces a tough test on Sunday at Penn State. What can we expect from the battle between the Spartans and Nittany Lions?

The Spartans have been red-hot this year, posting a 14-2 record after being bounced in the first weekend of last year’s NCAA Tournament and 5-0 in conference play. Michigan State still has a ways to go if it wants to repeat as Big Ten champion.

A trip to Happy Valley stands between the Spartans and a 6-0 start to conference play with a tough stretch approaching but Penn State won’t be a cakewalk, either.

Penn State is winless in conference play and has a losing record overall, but the Nittany Lions still have talent which returned after winning the NIT title a year ago. Michigan State will be in for a battle and the Spartans are all business, but could this be a tougher test than expected?

What can we expect from Sunday’s Michigan State vs. Penn State battle?

5. Five players score in double figures

This may not have seemed plausible a few games ago when Josh Langford was ruled out, but even without the team’s third-leading scorer, the Spartans are putting up some big points.

As a team, the Spartans are averaging 86 points per game and that could continue against the Nittany Lions, especially since five players will hit at least 10 points.

Cassius Winston will lead the way with 21 while Nick Ward will add 17. On top of the two obvious double-digit scorers, Kyle Ahrens will add 12 clutch points, Xavier Tillman will score 11 and Matt McQuaid, too, will continue his hot streak with 10 points of his own.

Five players in doubles — how many teams can say that?