Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from huge road win at Penn State

Domination. Just pure domination essentially from start to finish as Michigan State basketball picked up its second pure road win of the season with an 80-72 win over Penn State.

The final score was not even quite as indicative of how lopsided this game truly was as the Spartans were up 80-66 before the Nittany Lions hit two threes to make the game look much closer as the final buzzer sounded. Michigan State asserted its dominance from start to finish and it didn't even need Tyson Walker in order to do so.

What did we learn from this convincing win over Penn State in Happy Valley?

3. Tyson Walker is nowhere near 100 percent

For the first time since the middle of last season, Tyson Walker failed to reach double figures in the scoring column and yet Michigan State still dominated Penn State from start to finish.

And it wasn't even the fact that Walker scored just six points that told everyone that he isn't close to 100 percent, it's his defense looking a step slower, the noticeable limp that he has when he walks, and the lack of aggression with the ball in his hands. He doesn't quite have the same burst and his jumper doesn't look nearly as confident. He's not looking to score like he was before the groin injury.

Should Tom Izzo give Walker a rest in order to get him closer to 100 percent for when the NCAA Tournament rolls around? Maybe, but that could be risky with the Spartans on the bubble.

Either way, this was a good game to prove that the team can win without Walker playing like himself.