Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Mich. St. wins critical Big Ten matchup

Associated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich.-Morris Peterson has had a lot of big games for Michigan State. Still, he will remember this one.

Peterson had 26 points and 11 rebounds as the sixth-ranked Spartans took over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten with an 83-72 payback win over No. 7 Ohio State last night.

"This is definitely going to stand out," said Peterson, who scored 20 points in a 78-67 loss at Columbus on Jan. 20. "Years from now, when I'm done playing, I'll still enjoy this one."

This was the 25th straight win at home for the Spartans (19-6, 9-2), who are attempting to win a third straight conference regular season title.

"Nobody had to tell us this was an important game," said Charlie Bell, who scored 23 points for the Spartans. "We were trying to protect home floor, and this was for first place in the Big Ten. I don't think you need too much more motivation than that."

Scoonie Penn scored 30 points for Ohio State (17-5, 8-3), which turned the ball over 14 times and fell into a tie for second in the conference with Indiana and Purdue.

"They played us tough," said Michael Redd, who added 18 points for the Buckeyes. "They made good decisions off our turnovers. It was tough."

Mateen Cleaves scored 24 points for Michigan State, and his one steal gave him 176 for his career, one more than the school record he shared with Scott Skiles.

The Spartans hit 8-of-20 from 3-point range.

Michigan State won the battle of the boards, 43-30, including a 16-8 edge on the offensive end.

The importance of this game was apparent from the opening tip. Both teams made it to the Final Four last season and played like a No. 1 seed in this season's tournament might be at stake.

Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien was ejected by referee Tom O'Neill after picking up his second technical foul 5 1/2 minutes into the second half. Assistant Rick Boyages ran the bench the rest of the way.

"First of all, I did not like the way I was being treated by O'Neill," O'Brien said. "There were no obscenities. He just called a technical on me from across the way.

"On the second one, I was trying to get his attention and he just refused to acknowledge me. He just kept walking away. I tapped him on the shoulder."

O'Neill said coaches are supposed to stay in the huddle during timeouts.

"I think Jimmy getting ejected was, believe it or not, disappointing," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said, "because I think he is a class guy and a good guy."

The Buckeyes turned the ball over four times in the first 3:11 and Michigan State used the errors to break to a 9-2 lead.

But Penn had five points as the Buckeyes, after a timeout, went on a 9-0 run.

Two 3-point baskets by Peterson keyed a 17-4 Michigan State burst for a 26-13 lead midway through the half which the Spartans never relinquished.

"The thing we talked about when playing this team, when you make mistakes, they turn them into baskets," O'Brien said. "I think that is what happened, basically."

Cleaves hit a 3-pointer and two free throws to spark Michigan State to a 44-33 halftime lead. The Spartans hit 7-of-9 from 3-point range in the first half.

Bell scored six straight points on three fast breaks as the Spartans broke to a 52-37 lead with 14:40 left in the second half.