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Michigan State Defeats Penn State In Big Ten Tournament

By Colton Wesley

Mar 9, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) dunks the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Josh Reaves (23) looks on in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. The Spartans won 78-51. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) dunks the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Josh Reaves (23) looks on in the first half during the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Verizon Center. The Spartans won 78-51. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Michigan State Spartans routed the Penn State Nittany Lions on Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten tournament, 78-51.

The Michigan State Spartans (19-3, 10-8) advanced to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament on Thursday after soundly defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions (15-18, 6-12) in the second round, 78-51.

The Spartans jumped out to a quick 14-5 lead and increased it to 33-15 as Penn State went four minutes without a field goal. Penn State went on an 8-0 run late in the half to cut the lead to single digits, but the Spartans closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 45-27. Michigan State shot 19/34 (56%) from the floor in the first half, including five of ten (50%) from beyond the arc while Penn State shot only eight of 33 (24%).

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Michigan State’s shooting efficiency dipped in the second half as they shot 9/23 (39.1%) on their field goal attempts, but the Spartans continued to increase their lead as the second half progressed as the Nittany Lions’ poor shooting continued. The Spartans led by as many as 28 points in the second half as they cruised to a 78-51 win.

Freshman duo Nick Ward and Miles Bridges led Michigan State, each scoring 15 points and picking up nine rebounds. Josh Langford also scored 13 points. Lourawls Nairn Jr. did not score but led the team with nine assists.

The Spartans controlled the glass, out-rebounding Penn State 44-29. They blocked eight of the Nittany Lions’ field goal attempts and 19 of Michigan State’s 28 field goals were assisted.

Tony Carr and Lamar Stevens led Penn State with 16 points each, but only combined to make ten of their 33 field goal attempts. The Nittany Lions finished the game 16 of 55 (29.1%) from the floor and four of 15 (26.7%) from the three-point line.

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With the win, Michigan State will face Minnesota in the Big Ten quarterfinals on Friday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern on Big Ten Network.

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