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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Gavin Schilling is starting to feel pretty good in Michigan State's system.
Schilling had career highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds, leading No. 20 Michigan State to a 79-52 victory over Santa Clara on Monday night.
''I just felt confident when I was in there,'' Schilling said. ''I felt like I could play my game. We're slowly starting to get where we want to be.''
Travis Trice scored 19 points and had eight of his team's 22 assists on 29 baskets.
''Those are staggering stats, the baskets off assists,'' Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. ''We're doing that as well as any team in the country.''
Marvin Clark Jr., starting in place of Branden Dawson - out with the flu - had 15 points and four blocked shots for the Spartans (3-1), who never trailed and built a 40-14 halftime lead. Denzel Valentine added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
But the spark came from Schilling, who hit four straight shots from the field in an eight-point, seven-rebound first half while playing just 10 minutes.
''He's so strong athletically,'' Izzo said. ''He does a tremendous job on ball screens. And he has a nice jump hook. I think he's making some progress.''
Jared Brownridge had 12 points for the Broncos (2-2), who shot just 16.7 percent from the field before the break and 29 percent overall.
Michigan State shot 43.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. It made only 52.9 percent (9 for 17) at the free throw line.
''I thought we played a great first half and not a very good second half,'' Izzo said. ''There were probably more positives than negatives. I just hate to end a game like that. And if anyone wants to join us for breakfast tomorrow, we'll be shooting free throws.''
The Spartans had a 52-34 edge in rebounds and blocked 10 shots.
''Well, that was fun if you were a Spartan fan,'' Santa Clara coach Kerry Keating said. ''I'm not concerned that we got handled. You have to be perfect at a place like this. But we got punched in the gut and missed a lot of easy shots.''
TIP-INS
Santa Clara: The Broncos already had one win over a team coached by Tom Izzo. Behind 23 points from Steve Nash, the Broncos beat Michigan State 77-71 in the consolation game of the 1995 Maui Invitational. In the opening round of that tournament, Santa Clara stunned No. 4 UCLA, 78-69.
Michigan State: Hall of Famer Magic Johnson visited his alma mater and told the players what they need to do when they get a team down. ... Monday's game was the Spartans' second this season in the Breslin Center and their last home appearance until Dec. 6, a date by which most ranked teams will have played four or five home games. ''I must be the dumbest guy in America when it comes to scheduling,'' Izzo said.
UP NEXT
Santa Clara: plays Tennessee at noon EST Thursday to open the bracket portion of the Orlando Classic in Kissimmee, Florida.
Michigan State: meets Rider at 6:30 p.m. EST on Thursday in the third game of the bracket portion of the Orlando Classic.
CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS
Michigan State grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, its highest total since getting 23 against Illinois on Jan. 31, 2012. Since the Broncos only had 21 boards at the defensive end, the Spartans corralled exactly half their misses.
