Spartans Report: Notes, Quotes
--Michigan State got 42 points from its bench Wednesday night, with 18 from Keith Appling, nine from freshman C Adreian Payne and eight from sophomore C Derrick Nix, to rout Iowa 85-66. Kalin Lucas scored 17 and Draymond Green 12 for the Spartans, who achieved their largest margin of victory in Big Ten play -- and just their second double-digit victory. The Spartans led by as much as 23 in avenging a 20-point loss at Iowa on Feb. 2 and taking sole possession of fourth place in the Big Ten.
--Wednesday was Senior Night at Michigan State, with Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers and Mike Kebler honored after the game. All three kissed the floor at center court, as has been the tradition since Shawn Respert did it in 1995. Before the ceremony, Lucas became the program's all-time leader in free throws made, passing Paul Davis. Lucas has made 481 free throws. He is also just 12 points from moving into fifth place on MSU's all-time scoring list.
--Junior F Draymond Green has another ailment to overcome. Green, who is just getting back from a stomach virus, rolled his left ankle early in Wednesday's win over Iowa. He left the floor for a few minutes for treatment but was able to return to the game -- visibly hobbling at times. Green still managed 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists in just 16 minutes.
--Senior G Durrell Summers, mired in a miserable slump, had made just 13 of 50 shots (26 percent) in his past seven games through Feb. 27, including 1 of 4 in Sunday's loss to Purdue. He has been in single digits in all those games, after scoring in double figures in 18 of his first 21. But Summers isn't so sure he deserves all the blame.
He said MSU isn't running as many plays for him lately, and he said the focus on what's wrong with the players may be misplaced.
"We've tried to fix the defense, we've tried to fix the offense, (and) the energy," Summers said. "Maybe it's something else. It's not my place to say certain things. We've tried to fix everything with us."
--Purdue's 67-47 win at Breslin Center on Sunday was the most lopsided home defeat for Michigan State since a 72-50 loss to Duke since Dec. 3, 2003. The Spartans have only suffered a handful of double-digit home defeats in the years between, including a 12-point home loss to Purdue last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We've only got a couple games left. Why not give it your all?" -- Michigan State senior G Kalin Lucas, pleading with his teammates to give max effort down the stretch
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