Michigan State forward Nick Ward (44) is hugged by Kyle Ahrens after scoring a basket against Rutgers during the first half Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, in Piscataway, N.J. (Photo: Julio Cortez, AP) CONNECT COMMENT EMAIL MORE PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Nick Ward was asked afterward what he remembered about his trip here a year ago. He smiled and said, “nothing.” That’s probably a small lie, because he certainly played Friday night at the RAC like someone seeking redemption after having a rough game in this building about 12 months ago. In fact, Ward and his Michigan State teammates all played as if they had a score to settle, even though the Spartans have never lost to Rutgers. They still have not, as Cassius Winston recorded 22 points and six assists, and Ward contributed 20 points in only 24:35 of action,as Michigan State rallied from an eight-point first-half deficit for a 78-67 victory over Rutgers in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Ward had a meager three points in 11 minutes in the Spartans’ 62-52 win at Rutgers last year, but the 6-foot-9 junior forward looked like a different player this time around. He shot 7-for-12 from the floor and 6-for-11 from the foul line as he helped the Spartans withstand Rutgers’ furious first-half assault, and then helped them steadily pull away after intermission. The win allowed Michigan State (6-2) to bounce back from an overtime loss at Louisville on Tuesday . “Against Louisville, we came out slow,” Ward said, “which hurt us in the end. Our mindset (against Rutgers) was to take it to them.” Yes, Winston contributed several nifty moves and even a long stepback 3-pointer with 18 seconds left in the first half to give Michigan State a 39-37 lead at intermission. But this victory was the kind the Spartans revel in, as Ward’s toughness and sticky body-to-body defense pulled MSU through despite the raucous sellout crowd. “We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “It wasn’t pretty.”

Michigan State guard Cassius Winston shoots as Rutgers center Myles Johnson defends during the first half at Rutgers Athletic Center, Nov. 30, 2018. (Photo: Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports) Especially considering the Spartans were without the player Izzo calls “our best defender,” senior guard Matt McQuaid. McQuaid sat out the Louisville game because of a thigh injury suffered late in the win over Texas on Nov. 23, and didn’t make the trip to New Jersey. Izzo termed him “day-to-day” but indicated he wasn’t optimistic McQuaid would play against visiting Iowa on Monday. Certainly McQuaid would have logged time guarding Rutgers creative point guard Geo Baker. Baker had scored a team-high 16 points in Rutgers’ surprising victory over Miami (Fla.) on Wednesday. Baker helped Rutgers open that early eight-point lead with two 3s, including one which he backrimmed, yet the ball dropped into the net. But his fortunes changed after he picked up his second foul with 9:23 left in the half and Rutgers leading 23-21. Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell chose to sit Baker for the rest of the half, and he appeared a bit rusty after intermission, not scoring until he made a long stepback two-point jumper with 6:46 left, precipitating a bizarre six-point possession for Rutgers. Included in that was a flagrant one foul on Michigan State’s Kyle Ahrens. But even though that burst enabled the Scarlet Knights to cut the deficit to 59-52, they didn’t get closer than six afterward, as MSU was able to coast in the final minutes. The Scarlet Knights simply couldn’t get over the hump as the tough defense of junior guard Joshua Langford on Baker continued to frustrate the Rutgers offense. The Scarlet Knights made three of their first 15 shots in the second half. “I felt if you stop (Baker), you kind of shut down the rest of their team,” said Langford, who also contributed 14 points. “Josh, I thought, did a pretty good job on him,” Izzo said. “We had to stay steady,” said Winston. “They punched us, we kept it steady, kept it close, and we knew if we kept it close we would be able to break it” open. “If (Baker) got going,” Winston said, “it would have been a whole different game.” Izzo was happy with the fact his team cut down on the turnovers. He claimed afterward the Spartans had averaged “100 turnovers” over the previous four games, and while that was an exaggeration, Michigan State had totaled 53 turnovers in its past three games. The Spartans had seven giveaways against the Scarlet Knights, and avoiding unforced errors on offense will be important against an Iowa team that likes to get out on the break and shoot 3-pointers. “My staff and I, we hammered (the players) on it for two days,” Izzo said about the turnover problems. “We showed them film of all of our turnovers and all of our reach-in fouls. … I don't know if it’s a lack of focus, I think sometimes guys want to do things they can’t do. Do your job, as Bill Belichick says. 'Do the things you’re capable of doing.” And that is what Michigan State did Friday night, especially on defense, in the second half.