PORTLAND, Ore. _ Michigan State learned about life without Miles Bridges.
It wasn't pretty. In fact, Tom Izzo flat-out called it "ugly" on TV at halftime.
It's a pretty good bet he told his players the same thing in the locker room, only more colorfully.
The fifth-ranked Spartans were tied with DePaul after the first half of their opening game in the Phil Knight Invitational/PK80 on Thursday at Moda Center. Fouls problems, turnovers and poor shooting compounded an already injury-limited lineup.
But MSU got hot early from outside in the second half and clamped down on DePaul defensively. Matt McQuaid, in his first start of the season, helped shoot the Spartans to a 73-51 victory over the Blue Demons.
McQuaid, a junior, set a career high with 20 points and six 3-pointers. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford each added 10 points.
The Spartans held DePaul to 5-for-23 shooting in the second half for 20 points, limiting them to 25.5 percent for the game.
After surviving, MSU (3-1) will face Connecticut on Friday. The Huskies rallied to defeat Oregon on Thursday as part of the winners' portion of the eight-team Victory Bracket.
The Spartans made four of their first five shots to reclaim the lead after halftime, then went on a 14-0 run. That included five straight points from Langford and then back-to-back 3-pointers from McQuaid for a 51-37. DePaul (1-3) never crept within double-digits after that.
More story lines from the game:
MSU struggled with foul trouble throughout the first half, with six players picking up two fouls apiece before intermission.
Nick Ward went out with two in the first 2 minutes, 12 seconds and Tum Tum Nairn and Gavin Schilling each had two by the middle of the half, further limiting Izzo's bench options. Then Langford, McQuaid and Winston each were called for their second.
By the end of the half, the Spartans had 13 team fouls and finished with this lineup on the court: Winston, Jackson, Conner George, Ben Carter and Xavier Tillman.
Despite struggling to keep players on the court in the first 30 minutes, the Spartans held DePaul to 28.6 percent shooting from the floor and 4-for-12 from 3-point range. But the Blue Demons went 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.
Langford fouled out in the second half, and Winston picked up four fouls. Ward sat for much of the final period after getting his third.
Bridges missed his first game of the season with a sprained left ankle he suffered Sunday against Stony Brook. The sophomore forward did warm up with the Spartans, but Izzo ruled him out before the game on his pregame radio show.
"He's doing better, he's made a lot of progress," Izzo said. "If it was an NCAA game I'm sure he'd play."
No Bridges, along with continued absences of forwards Kyle Ahrens (foot) and Kenny Goins (knee), meant Langford slid to small forward and McQuaid earned his first start of the season at shooting guard.
McQuaid was MSU's best offensive option early. The junior hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points, but he also had three of the Spartans' nine first-half turnovers.
After MSU built an eight-point lead DePaul on McQuaid's second 3-ball, DePaul clawed back. Down five, the Blue Demons went on an 11-0 run to take their first lead at 26-20.
The Spartans recovered with four straight points from Jackson and five straight from McQuaid, but Eli Cain's 3-pointer at the halftime horn tied the score at 31.
All of those injuries on the wing gave former walk-on George his first extended minutes. He responded.
The son of MSU's volleyball coach Cathy George, redshirt sophomore George grabbed his first five of seven rebounds on the offensive glass and added a steal in 16 minutes. All of those are career highs. He also added a floating layup after MSU pulled away late.
