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Bell Too Hot For Eastern

Just to show the game wasn’t over before it began, Eastern Washington won the opening tip, scored the first points on a dunk by Chris White and actually took a 4-0 lead against the reigning NCAA men’s basketball champion.

But then Michigan State answered the Bell.

Charlie Bell, a starter on last year’s national championship Spartans squad, equaled a career high with 31 points as Michigan State held off Eastern Washington 83-61 for the championship in the Spartan Coca-Cola Classic Saturday at East Lansing, Mich. Bell, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, made 12 of 13 shots from the field Saturday against the Eagles. He was selected MVP of the tournament after scoring 45 points in two games, making 18 of 23 shots for 78 percent.

“Our effort was good over 40 minutes,” said Eagles head coach Ray Giacoletti.

The Eagles are now 2-2 heading into home games on Dec. 2 against San Jose State and Dec. 9 versus Cascade College. Eastern beat Bradley 62-56 Friday to advance to Saturday’s championship game.

Michigan St. 83, E. Washington 61

Eastern Washington (2-2)-Jones 6-12 0-0 13, Hunter 5-11 4-4 14, White 2-6 0-0 4, Lewis 1-1 0-0 3, Snow 1-4 2-2 4, Lincoln 0-0 2-2 2, Hull 1-3 0-0 3, Quinto 1-3 4-4 7, Poole 1-9 0-1 2, Humbert 4-6 1-2 9, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 13-15 61.

Michigan State (3-0)-Richardson 6-9 1-2 16, Anagonye 3-3 1-1 7, Hutson 2-3 7-9 11, Thomas 1-3 0-0 2, Bell 12-13 4-5 31, Taylor 1-8 2-2 4, Wolfe 0-2 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Ishbia 0-0 0-0 0, Chappell 1-3 1-2 3, Andreas 1-1 0-0 2, Randolph 3-3 1-2 7. Totals 30-48 17-23 83.

Halftime-Michigan State 45, Eastern Washington 31. 3-point goals-Eastern Washington 4-14 (Lewis 1-1, Quinto 1-2, Hull 1-3, Jones 1-6, Poole 0-2), Michigan State 6-8 (Bell 3-3, Richardson 3-4, Chappell 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Eastern Washington 19 (Hunter, White 3), Michigan State 36 (Hutson 9). Assists-Eastern Washington 12 (Lewis 5), Michigan State 19 (Bell 5). Total fouls-Eastern Washington 20, Michigan State 16. Technicals-Eastern Washington coach Giacoletti. A-14,759.