If the season statistics are any indicator, it should be a high-octane contest when Florida Atlantic pays a visit to No. 20 Michigan State on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich.
Both the Owls and Spartans figure to provide plenty of entertainment, given they each have balanced scoring attacks and offenses that have been clicking so far this season.
Florida Atlantic (7-5) comes in averaging 86.1 points per game, have five players averaging in double figures and eight players who are averaging at least eight points a game.
The Owls’ leading scorers are Kaleb Glenn (13.9 points per game), Leland Walker (11.1), Baba Miller (10.9), Tre Carroll (10.4) and Matas Vokietaitis (10.0).
Florida Atlantic is shooting 47.9 percent from the field as a team and 37.3 percent from 3-point range.
The Owls have had plenty of time to prepare, since they haven’t played since earning an 89-80 home win over Texas State last Saturday in Boca Raton, Fla.
Florida Atlantic is coached by John Jakus, who is in his first year at the helm after previous head coach Dusty May left to take the Michigan job.
Jakus said he has watched the last five Michigan State games and the biggest keys for his team will be trying to limit the Spartans’ rebounding prowess — Michigan State enters with a plus-12.2 rebounding margin — and making sure his players get back in transition.
“If you turn the ball over there, you are going to be calling timeout, and if you don’t box out, you are going to have a long night,” Jakus said. “There are all kinds of things in the middle of that. But if those two things aren’t done, you’ve got no chance.”
Michigan State (9-2) enters on a roll, having won seven of its last eight games.
The Spartans also have a prolific offense that is averaging 81.8 points per game.
Michigan State also has relied on balanced scoring, given eight players are averaging at least 7.0 points a game.
The Spartans have been led offensively by senior guard Jaden Akins (13.4 points per game) and freshman guard Jase Richardson (10.0).
Junior forward Jaxon Kohler leads the team in rebounds at 8.5 a game.
Michigan State is coming off a 77-58 win over Oakland University on Tuesday in Detroit.
The best sign for Michigan State against Oakland going forward might have been a breakout game for sophomore center Xavier Booker.
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Booker has struggled to adapt to the college game so far. But he had a career-high 18 points to go along with six rebounds against Oakland, and the Spartans hope that is a sign of more things to come.
“He’s making progress,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said. “He’s trusted the system, the progress. He’s practiced a lot better, and I don’t know why, but since Maui (Invitational), in the tournament even, he’s practiced better and he’s becoming pretty efficient. He’s become better defensively. He blocked a couple shots. That would be a big addition to our team.”
The game on Saturday will be the second all-time meeting between the Owls and Spartans. Michigan State won the first meeting in 82-55 in November 2015.
–Field Level Media
