Northwestern N'western/Michigan State Michigan St Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan State tweaked its lineup after seeing a 23-game losing streak snapped and its top-ranking taken away with a loss at Indiana.

Freshmen Zach Randolph and Marcus Taylor were inserted into the starting lineup for the first time as the No. 3 Spartans beat Northwestern 84-53 Wednesday night.

The Spartans (13-1, 2-1 Big Ten) extended the nation's longest home winning streak to 37.

Andre Hutson had 19 points, nine rebounds and a career-high five assists and Charlie Bell scored 15 points.

Randolph had 11 points and seven rebounds, Taylor scored four points and made seven assists. They replaced Aloysius Anagonye and David Thomas.

"I was pleased with the change in the lineup," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "I thought early, Zach played extremely well and hard. Marcus getting seven assists was good. I thought Al and David Thomas handled it extremely well, which is not easy to do."

Randolph and Taylor, who were rated among the top five players in the country, were excited to get the starting nod.

"It's great when you get to start," Randolph said.

Taylor was pleased to start because it allowed Bell to play shooting guard, his natural position.

"I think it really opens up a lot of things when he's able to run the court and crash the boards," Taylor said. "I'm just glad I could help."

Northwestern (7-8, 0-3) led for the first 80 seconds, but Michigan State quickly took control of the game and never relinquished it.

The Wildcats trailed by just four with seven minutes left, but the Spartans closed the half with a 16-3 run to lead 41-24 at halftime.

Izzo wasn't sure how his team would respond to its one-point loss to the Hoosiers, which came on a 3-point shot as time expired.

"I thought it was a good way to bounce back even though we looked a little sluggish early," Izzo said. "I thought Northwestern did a good job in the first 10 minutes."

Michigan State didn't let Northwestern get closer than 17 in the second half and a 17-7 run midway through the half turned the game into a rout.

The Wildcats didn't lose by 40 or more because they made 10 3-pointers.

Winston Blake led Northwestern with 13 points. Aaron Jennings added nine points.

"I wasn't unhappy that we lost by 30, because we're trying to take small steps right now," Northwestern coach Bill Caromed said.

The Spartans made 54 percent of their shots while holding Northwestern to 36 percent. Michigan State outrebounded the Wildcats 46-17.

"It seemed like it was more than 30 rebounds that they outrebounded us by," Carmody said.

Michigan State's senior class, led by Hutson and Bell, notched its 100th win against just 21 losses. Indiana set the Big Ten's four-year record with 108 wins from 1972-1976.

"I don't think we look at that as a milestone yet," Izzo said. "They want (the record) because that would make them the winningest team in Big Ten history and that would be special."

ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

Northwestern Clubhouse

Michigan State Clubhouse

AUDIO/VIDEO
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Andre Hutson blocks the jumper and drives the other way for the bucket and the harm.
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Charlie Bell gets the offensive board then converts on the put-back.
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Michigan State's Zach Randolph makes a great low-post move and goes glass for the deuce.
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