The Michigan State Spartans basketball team opened play on Tuesday night with an 85-57 exhibition win over Northwood (Fla.) at the Breslin Center.
The game marked the return of sophomore forward Branden Dawson following a torn ACL toward the end of his freshman year. Dawson appeared fit and ready to go, leading the Spartans with 16 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the field.
Highly-touted freshman Gary Harris made his presence known with 11 second-half points to finish the game with 14 points in his Breslin Center debut. The starting unit for Michigan State included Derrick Nix, Adreian Payne, Keith Appling, Dawson and Harris.
Northwood, the NAIA Division II runner-up last season, benefited from a double-double by Masse Doumbe who scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Michigan State plays St. Cloud State on Friday in another exhibition game. The Spartans will open the regular season in Germany when they face Connecticut on Nov. 9th.