Upon transferring from the Michigan State University Spartans men's basketball team[2] in 2011, he redshirted the 2011–12 season and began playing for the Cyclones in 2012–13.

[5] As a sophomore during the 2009–2010 season for Michigan State, Lucious saw his playing time more than double as he averaged 22.9 minutes per game, up from 9.1 as a freshman.

He hit a buzzer-beating three against the University of Maryland in the second round of 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament to give the Spartans an 85-83 win over the Terrapins.

In January 2011, Lucious was suspended from the Michigan State program for the remainder of the 2010–2011 season for "conduct detrimental to the team."

The Cyclones would make the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament beating Notre Dame before falling to Ohio State.