EAST LANSING, MI - Facing a quick turnaround following Wednesday's 92-68 setback at Cincinnati, Toledo (0-3) was able to hang around with No. 2 Michigan State (3-0) for a half on Friday evening but ended up on the short end of a 75-62 decision at the Breslin Center. It was UT's first game as part of the Legends Classic.

"Michigan State came out and played very well tonight," Toledo Head Coach Gene Cross said. "We took their punches. We bent a little but didn't break. This game can serve as a good lesson for us because there's going to be times throughout the season when we get smacked. What's important is how you respond when that happens, and I thought we fought very hard against the No. 2 team in the country."

Redshirt freshman guard Stephen Albrecht led the Rockets with a game-high 20 points, continuing his strong start to the season by knocking down 5-of-10 three-point shots. He is now shooting 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from three-point range and averaging 18.0 points per game.

"It was almost a blessing in disguise for Stephen to sit out last year so he could get acclimated to the college game," said Cross about Albrecht receiving a medical redshirt last year following two back surgeries. "When it comes to shooting the basketball, he doesn't shoot it enough for me. Stephen tends to look for his teammates because that is the type of young man he is. He had a great game tonight, and we're very happy to have him for the next three years."

All five Spartan starters scored in double figures with sophomore F Draymond Green leading the way with 15 points.

The Rockets were able to make it a seven-point contest at halftime by ending the opening stanza with a 10-0 run. Albrecht and freshman guard Jake Barnett knocked down back-to-back treys to begin the spurt and junior F Mouhamed Lo followed with a pair of baskets to reduce UT's deficit to single digits.

The Spartans then opened the second half with an 8-0 run over the first five minutes to take a 45-30 advantage.  UT didn't let its deficit get much larger though thanks to 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range in the second stanza. Albrecht led the way for Toledo in the second half with 17 points after intermission.

The Rockets also were outrebounded by just a 21-20 margin in the second half and finished the game with a 44-40 disadvantage on the boards. MSU entered the contest with a plus- 13.0 rebounding margin.

"One thing I stress is defense and rebounding and I thought were did a good job in those areas," Cross said. "Michigan State is a big, strong, tough team and I thought we fought and battled against them tonight."

Toledo will now take a week off before continuing play in the Legends Classic with a trip to Philadelphia, PA. The Rockets will face Cornell on Friday, Drexel on Saturday and Vermont on Sunday.