No. 13 Michigan State Beats Purdue 94-79
JIM JOHNSON, Associated Press
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Gary Harris scored 25 points, Adreian Payne added 23 and No. 13 Michigan State hit a school-record 17 3-pointers in a 94-79 victory over Purdue on Thursday night.
Harris and Payne combined to make 10 3-pointers for the Spartans (22-5, 11-3 Big Ten), who made 13 3s in the first half.
Kendall Stephens had 19 points and Ronnie Johnson added 17 for the Boilermakers (15-11, 5-8), who have lost two of three.
Payne scored eight points to open the second half, including a 3-pointer, to give the Spartans a 57-43 lead.
Denzel Valentine converted a three-point play and made two free throws before connecting with Harris on an alley-oop pass to give Michigan State a 66-47 lead with 14:07 remaining.
Payne scored eight of Michigan State's first 10 points of the game, making two free throws and two 3-pointers. The Spartans shot 63.6 percent from the field, were 8 of 11 from the free throw line, and did most of their damage from 3-point range. They had just one 2-point field goal in the first half.
The 17 3-pointers are the most made by the Spartans this season since making 14 against Virginia Tech on Nov. 22. It was the most the Boilermakers have given up since Northern Kentucky made 13 in the season opener.
With four regular season games left, the victory put the Spartans in sole position atop the Big Ten and they a chance extend the lead when they visit No. 20 Michigan on Sunday.
Purdue shot 49 percent from the field, including seven 3-pointers — four by Stephens.
The Boilermakers never did make it close once the Spartans took a 19-point lead early in the second half.
Ronnie Johnson hit a 3-pointer and Rapheal Davis made two free throws to make it 69-58, but Harris hit a 3 to give the Spartans a 72-58 lead with 9:02 remaining.
Purdue went on an 11-3 run late in the opening half with Ronnie Johnson converting a three-point play and Stephens making three free throws to make it 33-27.
Harris hit 3-pointer before Davis made two free throws and Terone Johnson converted a three-point play to make it 36-32 with 4:57 left in the opening half.
Michigan State then hit three straight 3-pointers. Harris, Valentine and Russell Byrd hit from behind the arc to give the Spartans a 45-32 lead with 3:07 left in the half.
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