East Lansing, MI (Sports Network) - In one of the most highly-anticipated matchups of the young season, the Gonzaga Bulldogs come to East Lansing to challenge the second-ranked Michigan State Spartans.

Gonzaga, the top team in the West Coast Conference for what seems like forever, opened its season with a 92-74 triumph over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, and the Bulldogs came into this campaign with seven newcomers, including six freshmen and several redshirts who had never played a minute of major college basketball prior to the opener. Gonzaga is coached by Mark Few, who has the second-most wins of any coach in school history with 265, and he is just 26 away from setting the record.

Tom Izzo's Michigan State squad had an easy go of it as well in its season opener, running past Florida Gulf Coast last Friday in a 97-58 final. With the win, the Spartans improved to 57-3 in home games during the month of November, and Izzo is 35-0 all-time at home in November. As the favorite to win the Big Ten this season, MSU has some challenges ahead starting with his clash and continuing with non-conference games against defending national champ North Carolina (Dec. 1st) as well as third-ranked Texas (Dec. 22nd) -- both on the road.

Michigan State owns a 2-1 edge in the all-time series with Gonzaga, although the last meeting went to the Bulldogs in a 109-106 triple-overtime thriller in Hawaii on November 22, 2005.

The Bulldogs are young and inexperienced, but there is talent on the roster and coach Few is just the guy to bring out the best in his guys. Matt Bouldin scored a game-high 22 points to lead four GU players in double figures in what turned out to be an easy 92-74 win over Mississippi Valley State in the season opener. Elias Harris contributed 18 points and seven rebounds, while Robert Sacre appeared fully recovered from the broken foot that sidelined him for the majority of last season as he poured in 17 points and grabbed nine boards -- both career-highs. Steven Gray went 5-of-8 from the field to tally 16 points and he handed out seven assists as well. Gonzaga shot 55.6 percent from the field while claiming a 25-11 edge in points from the foul line as well as a 43-28 rebounding advantage.

Michigan State got off to a slow start, but kicked it into high gear soon enough and easily prevailed over visiting Florida Gulf Coast in the season opener last Friday, 97-58. Durrell Summers took control of the contest early, scoring 14 of his 17 points in the first half, while fellow guard Kalin Lucas took over in the second half, netting 14 of his game-high 21 points after the break. In all, six Spartans scored in double figures, with Draymond Gray posting a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, Korie Lucious and Derrick Nix also adding 11 points each, and Chris Allen chipping in with 10. As a team, MSU shot 46.5 percent from the field while holding FGCU to just 36.8 percent. The Spartans led the nation in rebounding margin a year ago, and they easily controlled the glass in the opener, 54-34.