Vandals make long trip for big loss

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Chris Allen picked up where he left off last season.

This time, though, Michigan State won.

Allen scored a career-high 21 points, leading the sixth-ranked Spartans to a 100-62 win over Idaho on Sunday night, giving them a 32nd straight win in their home opener.

The sophomore guard had 20 points in his previous game, when Memphis routed Michigan State in the NCAA tournament.

Allen made a pair of 3-pointers and a spectacular, reverse layup in the first 6 1/2 minutes, then went scoreless the rest of the half.

“Coach told me before the second half started to stay aggressive,” Allen said.

He scored 13 points after halftime, making a three-point play and a 3-pointer in less than a minute to put the Spartans ahead by 32 midway through the second half.

Raymar Morgan also scored 21 points for Michigan State, Kalin Lucas had 13 points, nine assists and no turnovers and Goran Suton added 10 points.

The Spartans played 15 players and just three of them were scoreless as they shot 60 percent overall and were 11-of-21 from the 3-point line. They also played man-to-man, full-court defense that led to 22 turnovers.

“Their pressure was really good, as good as I’ve seen,” Idaho’s first-year coach, Don Verlin, said. “They worked us full-court and really wore us out.

“They also ran the break better than any Michigan State team I’ve ever seen. They as deep as I’ve seen a Michigan State team. Their depth is unbelievable.”

Mac Hopson had 13 points and Brandon Wiley scored 10 for the Vandals (1-1).

Allen’s second 3-pointer put the Spartans ahead 12-1, they led 25-4 and were ahead 54-29 at halftime.

After Idaho got within 19 points, Michigan State went on a 22-2 run to take an 83-44 lead.

The Vandals gave up 100 points for the first time since 1991, ending a 491-game streak of keeping teams under the century mark.

Idaho opened its season with a 91-69 victory over Evergreen State, an NAIA school, then traveled across the country to get routed and collect a hefty paycheck. The Vandals play at Gonzaga on Tuesday (6 p.m. on Ch. 6).

“I’d like to thank Michigan State for inviting us here and kicking our tails,” Verlin said.

Idaho fell to 0-16 against ranked teams since the start of the 1999-2000 season, but Verlin was still coaching in the final minute.

After Brandon Brown made a jumper with 45 seconds left, he was benched and screamed at by Verlin.

“He went 1-on-1 and didn’t execute the play we called, so that was the message,” Verlin said.