Friday, March 29, 2024

MSU avoids Minnesota scare

January 5, 2008

Sophomore forward Raymar Morgan leaps in the air to score a layup in the first half against Minnesota on Saturday at Breslin Center. Morgan broke his career high of 25 points against Minnesota by scoring 31 points.

Photo by Jason Chiou | The State News

MSU overcame a Big Ten opener scare to defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 65-59, Saturday night at Breslin Center.

While the Golden Gophers (10-2 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) utilized a
balanced scoring attack, No. 6 MSU (13-1, 1-0) was led by sophomore forward Raymar Morgan and freshman guard Kalin Lucas, who had 31 and 17 points, respectively.

Morgan, who had nearly half of the team’s point total throughout much of the contest, had a career high in scoring.

For the first time since 2003, the Spartans opened the Big Ten season at home and, with the win, have won ten in a row this season.

The MSU lead hovered around the double-digit mark for much of the second half until the Golden Gophers went on a 9-0 run with under nine minutes remaining to cut the lead to 54-51.

Morgan put an end to the run, knocking down two free throws at 7:13 and another jump shot after that, giving him the career high.

“He’s been so good in practice and he does keep getting better,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “He’s great in the huddles and he’s really maturing. I was proud of Raymar Morgan. I thought in every aspect he did the job.”

The Gophers still refused to die, narrowing the lead to one, but some gutsy MSU defense and solid free throw shooting prevailed down the stretch.

The Green and White shot 14-for-19 from the charity stripe on the
night and out-rebounded Minnesota 45-25.

Izzo provided a spark for his club at 7:33 in the first half when he was called for a technical foul, the first of the season for the Spartans. It occurred when junior forward Marquis Gray was called for an offensive foul. Senior guard Drew Neitzel found Gray with a no-look pass and when Gray took the ball up for a lay-up, he was whistled.

Izzo yelled and a sold-out crowd booed loudly at the officiating crew until Izzo was assessed the foul. However, after Minnesota’s Lawrence McKenzie sank both free throws, the Spartans went on a 6-0 run to take a 26-20 lead.

That advantage was quickly erased when the Golden Gophers responded with a 6-0 run of their own before the Spartans again went on a tear, scoring seven unanswered points to take a 33-26 lead into the locker room at the half.

“When you’re on the road playing in an environment here, you’ve got to find a way to make plays and MSU found ways to make plays down the stretch getting second and third shots,” Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said.

Freshman guard Kalin Lucas was largely responsible for the run at the end of the half, scoring five of the seven points. After weaving through three defenders for a lay-up at 5:24, he brought the crowd to its feet when he cross-over dribbled, pulled up and drained a 3-point basket.

The Spartans came out of the gates strong in the second half, as
Neitzel opened it up with a basket at 19:18 remaining and then found Morgan for an and-one basket. Morgan converted the three-point play to give MSU a 38-26 lead.

Neitzel, who finished the game on 2-for-17 shooting, had an unusually poor shooting night.

“Drew is going to shoot better than that,” Izzo said. “We need him
to, or we’re not going to win big games.”

Later, at 16:35, Morgan pulled up for a jumper but had his shot
altered forcing him to miss. However, he leapt and grabbed his own
rebound, putting it back off the glass for two more points.

MSU junior guard Travis Walton sealed the deal with a lay-up with
under 10 seconds.

The Spartans continue play against Purdue at 9 p.m. Tuesday at Breslin Center.

Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

Discussion

Share and discuss “MSU avoids Minnesota scare” on social media.