EAST LANSING - Having lost two starters in consecutive weeks to stress fractures, Michigan State (9-2) looks to move forward as they host Chicago State (4-7) on Saturday seeking their tenth victory of the season.
It has been nearly a week now since Tom Izzo broke the news that sophomore Maurice Joseph had a stress fracture in his foot that would keep him out of action for the next several weeks.
Joseph joins freshman small forward Raymar Morgan on the bench as both starters will be spectators until around when the Spartans open Big Ten play on Jan. 4 at Iowa.
MSU will be without 20 points of scoring and nearly eight rebounds per contest between the two players, with Joseph being a primary threat from three.
Freshman guard Isaiah Dahlman will get his first collegiate start, after scoring nine points on 31 minutes in relief of Joseph in the Spartans victory against BYU last Saturday.
With his playing time increasing, Dahlman has stepped in and has averaged nine points and 3.5 assists in his last two games.
Marquise Gray is averaging 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks coming from the bench in his last three games. Gray had a career day against BYU recording a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Gray and Dahlman will both have to pick up the slack left by Josephs absence.
The Chicago State Cougars come to East Lansing with a high-scoring offense that features four of five starters scoring in double-figures.
Junior guard David Holston leads the team with 15.8 points and 3.7 assists per game. Earlier this season, Holston broke a single-game scoring record in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic tournament with his 43 points against St. Bonaventure in the first round.
Senior forward Michael Henderson adds 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while Cam-Ron Clay and Royce Parran average 12 points per contest.
Much like the Spartans, the Cougars score nearly 70 points per game, but its the defense that sets these two teams apart.
While the Spartans defense has been solid this season, allowing the fewest points per game in the Big Ten, the Cougars give up 79 points per contest.
The Spartans are the best rebounding team in the Big Ten, grabbing 40 boards per game while the Cougars give up around the same.
Michigan State is holding their opponents to 31.4 percent shooting at home this season and Tom Izzo will get a look at how his team responds both defensively and offensively as they play without two key contributors.