Valentine (Yes, Really) Sinks Game-Winner For Michigan State

EAST LANSING (AP) — Michigan State's Denzel Valentine celebrated Feb. 14 in style, sinking a 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining to give Michigan State a 59-56 victory over No. 23 Ohio State on Saturday.

The Buckeyes (19-7, 8-5 Big Ten) rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit, and Ohio State tied it on Sam Thompson's 3-pointer with 36 seconds left. Michigan State (17-8, 8-4) ran the clock down, and Valentine's shot from to the right of the top of the key gave the Spartans a huge boost in their effort to secure an NCAA tournament bid.

Ohio State had one last chance to send the game to overtime, but lost the ball on the ensuing inbound pass.

Valentine finished with 17 points, going 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Branden Dawson had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Michigan State.

Shannon Scott scored 15 points for the Buckeyes.

Freshman Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn played 36 minutes for Michigan State, scoring seven points with five rebounds and four assists — including the pass to set up Valentine's winning shot. The Spartans went on a 15-2 run to close the first half, with Dawson punctuating that impressive stretch with a dunk off a pass from Travis Trice.

The Buckeyes began closing the gap in earnest toward the middle of the second half, tying it at 46 on a dunk by Thompson and taking a 49-47 lead on a jumper by Scott with 5:22 remaining.

Valentine's 3-pointer with 4:00 to play put the Spartans up by one, and a layup by Trice with 1:16 left gave Michigan State a 56-53 lead. Jae'Sean Tate missed a 3 at the other end, but the Spartans couldn't secure the rebound. Thompson tied it with his first 3-pointer of the game.

Ohio State shot only 5 of 13 on free throws. Michigan State wasn't much better at 4 of 7.

TIP-INS

Ohio State: The Buckeyes went 5 of 17 from 3-point range.

Michigan State: Former Spartans stars Draymond Green, Adreian Payne and Gary Harris were at the game, taking advantage of the NBA All-Star break.

UP NEXT

Ohio State: At Michigan on Feb. 22.

Michigan State: At Michigan on Tuesday night.

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