Michigan
Michigan State
Peterson, Michigan State Race Past Wolverines
2/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Spartans (16-5, 7-1 Big Ten) ran of streaks of 13-0 and 8-0 to build a six-point halftime lead, but put the game away by opening the second period with a 14-2 run, followed closely by another 8-0 string, pushing their lead to 60-41 midway through the second half.
Morris Peterson was the difference, finding a way to help MSU whenever Michigan (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) pulled close. Peterson ended the game with a career-high 32 points -- on 11-of-15 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 from three-point range -- 10 rebounds and two assists, while being an active force at the defensive end. Peterson opened the second half with a three from the deep corner, followed by another trey a few minutes later, with an electrifying dunk and foul in between.
Michigan clawed back into the game momentarily when LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS), who ended the game with a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds, connected on a layup and a pair of free throws during a 7-0 Wolverine streak which brought the score to 52-41. But MSU countered with an 8-0 run to go back up 60-41. Michigan was unable to bring the score under 16 points the rest of the way.
In a see-saw opening to the game in which neither team scored consecutive points, the Wolverines claimed an early 8-6 lead. That's when Michigan State rattled off the game's first run, a 13-0 spurt, to grab a 19-8 lead. Peterson was the catalyst for the Spartans with nine points and an assist in the opening moments, before ending the half with 12 points while hitting five of his seven field goal attempts.
Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep) ended the Wolverine scoring drought with a three-pointer from the left wing, kick-starting a 10-0 Michigan run to pull to within one point of the Spartans, 19-18. But MSU received back-to-back three-point field goals from Peterson and A.J. Granger as the Spartans regained control of the game, 27-18.
Michigan, helped by a strong effort from Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS), who scored nine first-half points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting, settled back in to the game, ending the half down by only six points, 38-32. The Wolverines squandered opportunities to close the gap further by shooting a mere 5-of-11 from the free throw line -- not including an attempt wiped out by a lane violation call -- in the opening stanza.
The Wolverines return to action on Sunday (Feb. 6) when they host Ohio State (No. 5 Associated Press, No. 8 USA Today/ESPN) for a 1 p.m. game at Crisler Arena. The contest will be regionally televised by CBS Sports.
N O T E S
-- The Wolverines were without the services of starting guard Jamal Crawford (Renton, Wash./Rainier Beach HS), who has been declared ineligble by U-M pending an NCAA committee decision on a possible rules violation. Crawford, who started 16 of the first 17 games, leads the squad with 16.6 points per game.
-- Kevin Gaines (Las Vegas, Nev./Clark HS) played all 40 minutes in the game, tying his season high in minutes played originally set against Duke (Dec. 11).
-- This is the ninth time this season, and third consecutive game, that LaVell Blanchard has led the Wolverines in scoring. It also marks the 16th time a freshman has paced Michigan this season.
-- Leland Anderson (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro HS) made his return to the Michigan lineup after not playing since the Duke game (Dec. 11). He saw 10 minutes of action and scored four points against the Spartans.
-- Michigan State has beaten Michigan in four consecutive games for the third time in series history and the first time since Feb. 14, 1981 - Feb. 5, 1983. Michigan State won five consecutive series meetings from March 6, 1954 - March 5, 1956. Michigan has won four or more consecutive series meetings on 10 occasions, the most recent being a five-game stretch from Jan. 13, 1996 - Jan. 10, 1998.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
