Spartans Report: Notes, Quotes
--Michigan State led for much of the first half and still had a two-point lead with 15 minutes left in the game against Ohio State, but the Buckeyes capitalized on 12 second-half turnovers by the Spartans to pull away for a 71-61 win. William Buford led OSU with 23 points, while MSU got 14 points and five assists from Kalin Lucas and 10 points apiece from Draymond Green and Adreian Payne. The Spartans shot a season-best 57.4 percent.
--Entering Tuesday's game at Ohio State, Michigan State was 6-1 against Big Ten opponents when holding them under 50 percent shooting and 0-5 when allowing 50 percent or better. Consider Tuesday an aberration. The Buckeyes shot just 42.9 percent from the floor but won thanks to 23 free throws on 29 attempts. The Spartans made 5 of 6 from the line.
--Junior F Draymond Green had 15 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in Michigan State's lone game last week, a much needed 75-57 win over Penn State. That made Green the third Michigan State player to record a triple-double in program history. Earvin "Magic" Johnson did it eight times in two seasons, and Charlie Bell did it as a senior in 2001.
Izzo called the triple-double "quite an exciting moment" for Green and part of a much-needed feel-good evening for the Spartans.
"We were trying to keep our head above water a little bit and maybe this was a step," he said. "I take a lot of responsibility for that. We're just trying to work our way out of hell."
--Draymond Green's triple-double against Penn State nearly came at a hefty price. He heaved a baseball pass to teammate Delvon Roe in the waning seconds for his 10th assists. Roe finished the play but took a shove in the back from Penn State's Billy Oliver. Roe came down awkwardly on his right knee, which has been surgically repaired twice -- including microfracture surgery when Roe was a high school senior.
Roe writhed in pain for a few moments before leaving the court under his own power. He limped to the locker room, but on Friday Michigan State released a statement saying Roe had suffered no structural damage to the knee. He is listed as "day to day" with the Spartans facing a Tuesday test at Ohio State. Roe said on his Twitter account that he'll play for sure against the Buckeyes.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 -- Penn State victories over Michigan State since 2007-08, when Talor Battle was a freshman for the Nittany Lions. Before that, Penn State had three victories in its history against the Spartans. Michigan State leads the all-time series 29-6.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I told Draymond throw it to me, I'm going to get it for you. And sure enough, I got it for him." -- Michigan State junior F Delvon Roe, on his basket that earned teammate Draymond Green a triple-double
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