Tom Izzo loses to nephew, as No. 4 MSU drops opener to JMU - ESPN

After No. 4 Michigan State's 79-76 upset to James Madison on Monday in East Lansing, coach Tom Izzo said he might make changes that could impact his team's starting lineup.

Entering the overtime affair, James Madison had been a plus-16.5 point underdog, according to ESPN BET.

But Michigan State recorded a 1-for-20 clip from the 3-point line and a 23-for-37 mark from the free throw line. While Tyson Walker finished with 35 points on 12-for-26 shooting (0-for-5 from the 3-point line), the rest of the roster connected on just 14 of 46 attempts from the field.

A.J. Hoggard, Malik Hall, Mady Sissoko and Jaden Akins — the other four Michigan State starters, all of whom are upperclassmen — finished 8-for-36 overall.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Michigan State is the first Associated Press top 5 team to lose its season opener at home against an unranked opponent since Kentucky lost at home to Western Kentucky in 2001. Also, Izzo entered Monday's game with a 21-7 record in season openers, per Michigan State.

«I don't have a good answer why three juniors and seniors played like they played but I also don't care, because I'll play some freshmen then,» said Izzo, who welcomed a top 10 recruiting class this season, according to ESPN rankings. «Let the controversy begin.»

The holidays could be somewhat awkward for Izzo, as well, after this loss. His nephew, Matt Bucklin, is an assistant at James Madison, a Sun Belt program which won its second-ever game over a ranked opponent after losing 42 of its previous 43 matchups, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Bucklin's mother, Mary, is Izzo's sister. Izzo booked James Madison for its season opener in part because of his nephew's role with the team.

Michigan State had not lost