No. 11 Spartans still in Big Ten hunt
March 4, 2010
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP)—Raymar Morgan and Kalin Lucas made key free throwslate to help No. 11 Michigan State pull out a 67-65 victory over Penn State onThursday night, keeping the Spartans in the hunt for a share of the Big Tentitle.
Morgan, who finished with 16 points, hit two free throws with 12 secondsleft to give Michigan State (23-7, 13-4) a 66-62 lead.
Chris Babb hit a 3-pointer for Penn State (11-18, 3-14) to cut the lead to66-65. Lucas made one of two foul shots for a 67-65 lead with 5 secondsremaining.
Penn State’s Talor Battle couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.
Battle and Babb led Penn State with 16 points each.
The Spartans can earn a share of the title for the second consecutive seasonwith a victory against Michigan on Sunday. No. 6 Ohio State already has clincheda share of the championship, and No. 7 Purdue can share it with a victory overPenn State on Saturday.
Penn State refused to fold despite trailing by 10 points midway through thesecond half. The Nittany Lions took a 62-60 lead with 2:32 remaining on two freethrows by Babb.
A dunk by Michigan State’s Draymond Green, who finished with 14 points, tiedthe game at 62. Morgan hit two free throws with 1:24 left to give Michigan Statea 64-62 lead.
Michigan State had lost its previous two home games to Purdue and OhioState, in large part because of sluggish starts. The Spartans avoided a rarethree-game skid at Breslin Center by surviving against the Nittany Lions.
Penn State had won three of its last four Big Ten games after losing 12straight to start the conference season. The Nittany Lions have improved withBattle helping to get other players involved in the scoring.
Depth was a huge advantage for Michigan State as the Spartans benchoutscored Penn State’s 26-1.
Michigan State outrebounded Penn State 39-26.