Tom Izzo dream turned into reality in MSU basketball 70-53 exhibition win at alma mater

MARQUETTE — “…and from Iron Mountain Michigan …”

The murmur in the darkness.

“…a 1977 Northern Michigan graduate…”

The long wait ending.

“…please welcome back, No. 10, Tommmm Izzzzzoooooo!!!!”

The lights flipped back on, and a thunderous roar that could be heard from St. Ignace to Sault Ste. Marie and, yes, even Iron Mountain, echoed off the roof and wooden rafters of the Superior Dome.

Tom Izzo brought college basketball back to the Upper Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula to the rest of the country.

Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo returned to the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University for the Spartans’ exhibition 2024-25 season opener against NMU. Izzo, a 1977 NMU graduate, was also honored with his jersey No. 10 retired during the game.

Izzo’s long-dreamed-about exhibition game against his alma mater, Northern Michigan, finally became a reality, tipping off Michigan State basketball’s season Sunday afternoon with a 70-53 victory in the Superior Dome Showdown.

Freshman Jase Richardson led the balanced Spartans with 11 points off the bench as 10 players scored. Julien Smith’s 10 points were the tops for the pesky Wildcats, who held their own throughout the day in front of a sellout crowd of more than 11,000.

But basketball really was secondary. This one was about Izzo, plain and simple.

Homecoming celebration

Izzo greeted and met with as many people as imaginable throughout the past two days in Marquette. He had fans from both schools waving towels when they retired his jersey number at the first media timeout of the first half, his 98-year-old mother Dorothy and the rest of his family on the court, including son Steven wearing a No. 10 NMU football jersey. The Wildcats gave away an autographed Tom Izzo jersey at halftime for a contest.

Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo returned to the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University for the Spartans’ exhibition 2024-25 season opener against NMU. Izzo, a 1977 NMU…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-izzo-dream-turned-reality-192806842.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-10-13 19:28:06

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