The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING his visit to Sandilands Primary School for the Mission: Educate Bahamas programme, Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn said he was inspired to put on a show for the home crowd to support him at the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Bahamian Nairn did just that on Friday, setting a pair of career highs and helping his Michigan State Spartans to a third-place finish in the annual basketball showpiece.

The Spartans concluded the three-day event with a 77-72 win over the Wichita State Shockers at the Atlantis Resort’s Imperial Arena.

Nairn dished a career high 12 assists in the win and also added five rebounds. Over the course of the tournament, he averaged six points, four rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.

The Spartans led by as many as 18 points in the second half before the Shockers rallied behind a full court trap that gave the Spartans’ ballhandlers issues on nearly every possession during the run.

A Nick Ward layup gave the Spartans a 40-58 lead with 11mins 51secs to go and it remained at 15-point gap at the eight minute mark on a Miles Bridges free throw.

From then, the Shockers went on a 14-0 run capped by a Daishon Smith jumper to cut the lead to just one, 66-65.

Nairn pushed the ball up the floor and quickly found Cassius Winston for a three from the wing for his 11th assist. Several plays later he found Bridges for another three and a 74-67 lead.

Michigan State put the game away down the stretch with 3-4 free throws. Bridges led the Spartans with 21 points, while Matt McQuaid, Ward and Eron Harris each finished with 13. Darral Willis led the Shockers with 16 points and Smith added 13.

The Spartans started the game cold, from the field shooting just 1-10 from three point range in the first 12 minutes of the first half before McQuaid made a trio from long range before halftime. Harris’ three with 17 seconds left gave the Spartans a 39-29 lead headed into the half.

The Spartans, still clinging to a No.24 ranking in the polls, will remain on the road on Tuesday for their fourth matchup against a nationally ranked team when they face the No.6 Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Duhram, North Carolina.