EAST LANSING, Mich. — Sixth-ranked Michigan State gets a quick turnaround for its second game of the season, hosting Toledo at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Breslin Center.
The Spartans opened Monday by routing Quinnipiac 96-59 and now have just two days to prepare, a schedule squeeze they will face 13 times this season. Toledo enters 0-1, having dropped its opener 71-70 on the road against Arkansas State in the closing seconds.
The Rockets were picked second in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, behind Miami (Ohio), and last season went 11-8 in league play and 5-9 away from home while averaging 81 points while shooting 49% from the field and 36.7% from 3-point range. Coach Tod Kowalczyk, in his 17th season, has built his teams around offense.
Toledo rebuilt through the transfer portal and has four players who previously played at Marquette, DePaul, Providence and Ohio State. Marquette transfer Sean Jones had nine assists in the opener, Mynor Strong scored 18 points with four steals, and Jaylan Ouwinga and Angel Montas Jr. added 16 each. Sonny Wilson, who scored 29 against the Spartans last season, now plays at South Florida.
Michigan State went 27-8 a year ago, including 15-2 at home, and gave up 68.3 points a game. The Spartans beat Toledo 92-69 in East Lansing on Dec. 16, 2025, after opening on a 20-6 run. Big man Jesse McCulloch, who sat out the opener with a minor concussion, is expected to play.
Section: More Lansing MI sports news
Filed under: Lansing MI Sports News
