Jaxon Kohler had 16 points and eight rebounds and No. 11 Michigan State romped past East Carolina, 89-56, in the Fort Myers (Fla.) Tipoff on Tuesday afternoon.
Divine Ugochukwu also scored 16 points, while Coen Carr supplied 13 points for the Spartans (6-0). Carson Cooper tossed in 10 points with eight rebounds.
Cameron Ward and Trey Fort added nine points apiece and Jeremy Fears Jr. had six points while dishing out nine assists.
Jordan Riley led the Pirates (2-4) with 13 points, Corey Caulker had 11 points with four assists and Giovanni Emejuru and Reid Cason chipped in nine apiece.
East Carolina was held to 33.3 percent shooting from the field and committed 24 turnovers, which Michigan State cashed in for 31 points. The Spartans also had a 36-12 advantage in points in the paint.
The Spartans scored 16 points off 13 East Carolina turnovers while rolling to a 47-24 halftime lead. Kohler was the only player in double figures by the break with 10 points.
Caulker hit a jumper to tie the game at 9, Kohler answered with a 3-pointer and the Spartans led the rest of the way. Kur Teng increased the advantage to six with another 3-pointer and it grew to 12 as part of a 14-2 run.
Kohler finished it off with another 3-pointer after an East Carolina turnover.
When Kohler knocked down a turnaround jumper, the Spartans advantage grew to 16 at 30-14 with 6:42 left in the half. Ugochukwu tossed in a 3-pointer after another Pirates giveaway to give Michigan State a 20-point lead and followed with a fast-break layup after he made a steal.
Fort hit a 3-pointer in the final minute of the half to make it a 23-point spread.
The Spartans’ lead grew past 30 at 61-30 with 15:25 left when Fears set up Carr for a forceful slam. The lead topped out at 42 points.
