JimBob
11-29-2008, 10:27 AM
No. 5 Michigan State pummels Cowboys
By Wire Reports
11/29/2008
Last Modified: 11/29/2008 3:28 AM
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Oklahoma State got 21 points from Terrel Harris, but Michigan State was on a mission.
Raymar Morgan and his Spartan teammates responded to a challenge from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo with a 94-79 win over the Cowboys in a losers' bracket game Friday night at the Old Spice Classic.
Morgan scored 29 points and No. 5 Michigan State rebounded from its first loss of the season.
The Cowboys (4-2), who were beaten 83-71 by No. 9 Gonzaga on Thursday, trailed by 15 at the half.
"If we use this as a learning experience, we can respond from it and make our team a better team for the long run," OSU coach Travis Ford said. "We're learning a lot about ourselves."
MSU's Morgan was not in the starting lineup for just the fourth time in 68 career games, and the first time since his freshman year.
"I knew we couldn't afford to get fouls on him early," Izzo said. "He really responded and had an incredible game."
The junior came off the bench with 16:50 left in the first half and scored four points before being taken out three minutes later after picking up his second foul.
Morgan was reinserted back into the lineup midway through the first half and scored on a layup to put Michigan State up 23-16 with eight minutes left. His 3-point play with 4:34 remaining extended the Spartans' advantage to 36-19.
"Morgan came out and was just an animal," Ford said.
Travis Walton added 16 points for Michigan State (3-1), which was upset by Maryland 80-62 in the opening round.
After averaging 21.5 points in his first two games this season, Morgan spent most of Thursday's game with Maryland on the bench in foul trouble and finished with just four points.
Morgan had nine points, and Marquise Gray and Kalin Lucas added eight apiece.
Lucas' fast-break basket gave Michigan State a 57-36 lead with 17 minutes to play.
Harris' 3-point play got Oklahoma State within 62-48, but Morgan responded by scoring the next four points.
Obi Muonelo scored 15 points, Byron Eaton had 14, and James Anderson had 13 for OSU, which faces Siena (2-2) at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
By Wire Reports
11/29/2008
Last Modified: 11/29/2008 3:28 AM
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Oklahoma State got 21 points from Terrel Harris, but Michigan State was on a mission.
Raymar Morgan and his Spartan teammates responded to a challenge from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo with a 94-79 win over the Cowboys in a losers' bracket game Friday night at the Old Spice Classic.
Morgan scored 29 points and No. 5 Michigan State rebounded from its first loss of the season.
The Cowboys (4-2), who were beaten 83-71 by No. 9 Gonzaga on Thursday, trailed by 15 at the half.
"If we use this as a learning experience, we can respond from it and make our team a better team for the long run," OSU coach Travis Ford said. "We're learning a lot about ourselves."
MSU's Morgan was not in the starting lineup for just the fourth time in 68 career games, and the first time since his freshman year.
"I knew we couldn't afford to get fouls on him early," Izzo said. "He really responded and had an incredible game."
The junior came off the bench with 16:50 left in the first half and scored four points before being taken out three minutes later after picking up his second foul.
Morgan was reinserted back into the lineup midway through the first half and scored on a layup to put Michigan State up 23-16 with eight minutes left. His 3-point play with 4:34 remaining extended the Spartans' advantage to 36-19.
"Morgan came out and was just an animal," Ford said.
Travis Walton added 16 points for Michigan State (3-1), which was upset by Maryland 80-62 in the opening round.
After averaging 21.5 points in his first two games this season, Morgan spent most of Thursday's game with Maryland on the bench in foul trouble and finished with just four points.
Morgan had nine points, and Marquise Gray and Kalin Lucas added eight apiece.
Lucas' fast-break basket gave Michigan State a 57-36 lead with 17 minutes to play.
Harris' 3-point play got Oklahoma State within 62-48, but Morgan responded by scoring the next four points.
Obi Muonelo scored 15 points, Byron Eaton had 14, and James Anderson had 13 for OSU, which faces Siena (2-2) at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.