The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

It has been an early season struggle for several Bahamian players and their respective programmes in NCAA Division I basketball.

While playing at the Battle 4 Atlantis, Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo said his team’s early season struggles were due to a difficult schedule and a lack of practice time.

With increased time on the practice floor, Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr and the Spartans have won their last two games as the Spartans began a five-game homestand.

Nairn finished with four points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals in the Spartans’ 77-57 win over Youngstown State Tuesday night to improve to 6-4.

It was the fourth game this season that Nairn finished with at least seven assists.

As a team the Spartans dished out 28 assists on 34 made baskets.

“Practice means a lot to all of them to be honest with you, maybe more valuable to the freshmen of course. But even the upperclassmen because you know, I’m seeing a little more comfort and understanding from a lot of them,” Izzo said, “Practice time is going to help everybody and luckily we’ve had a little more of it, but we have a lot more to do before we feel like we’re accomplishing anything. Practicing for two days doesn’t accomplish much, but we are making practice.”

The junior point guard is posting career highs across the board playing about 25 minutes per game, scoring 3.9 points, grabbing 3.1 rebounds and dishing five assists wile shooting 51 percent from the field and 42 percent from three.

In the Northeastern Conference, Michael Carey and the Wagner Seahawks continue to reel after they dropped a 81-71 decision at home to Monmouth.

Despite the loss, which dropped them to 2-5, Carey posted his first double double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Wagner led 42-40 at the half, but was outscored 41-29 in the second half en route to the loss.

For the senior guard, it was the 17th double double of his career.

On the season Carey is averaging 13.1 points and nine rebounds per game.

Another Bahamian player whose team continues to struggle is Shaquille Cleare and his Texas Longhorns.

The Longhorns dropped another early season matchup and fell to 4-4 with a 53-50 less to the Michigan Wolverines.

Cleare, the senior forward finished with six points and four rebounds in the loss.