ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Travis Trice had just played the role of savior, scoring a career-high 25 points including 17 in the second half to key Michigan State's 64-59 win over Navy.
But afterward, he was more concerned with his role as senior point guard and captain, one that he thought he could have done better as his team escaped upset in its season-opener.
"We kind of fell apart, and most of that comes on me being the point guard and as one of the leaders," Trice said. "I've got to pull guys aside."
Denzel Valentine and Branden Dawson both had off nights, combining for five second-half points. Alvin Ellis went down with a sprained ankle early in the first half, forcing the Spartans to turn largely to Bryn Forbes at shooting guard, who shot 1-for-6 from 3 as he adjusted to the partial cast on his right, non-shooting hand.
So when the Midshipmen cut Michigan State's deficit to six points with 3:45 left, Trice, who averaged 7.3 points per game last year backing up Keith Appling, scored the final six points of the game to help the Spartans avoid an opening night upset.
Trice may have downplayed his role in securing the Spartans' season-opening win at Alumni Hall, but his coaches and teammates didn't.
"He carried us, and if it wasn't for him we would have lost," Valentine said. "I just kept telling Trav keep taking over, keep scoring, because it just wasn't flowing for me and (Dawson)."
Trice said he didn't think of himself as the go-to scorer at the end of the game. His mindset was to do anything it took to win. That turned out to be taking on the scoring role Friday.
"To be honest with you, at that point all I'm thinking is we've got to win," Trice said. "Guys were asking me how many I had, I was like 'I don't even know. I was just looking at the score and was like 'We've got to win this game.'"
Trice finished 8-of-14 from the field and was 5-of-6 from 3-point range. The rest of the team was 3-for-13 from deep. He also had five assists and five rebounds.
frame started the second half with a pair of 3's and had the team's first eight points of the period. No other Spartan scored until the 10:52 mark, and Trice had 17 of his team's 28 second-half points.
"If it wasn't for Travis we'd be in trouble," Izzo said.
But even after the game of his life, Trice said there's still plenty to figure out.
"It's not about me right now," Trice said. "it's about our team. We've got to figure out what we're doing wrong because that's not how we want to play at all."
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