Michigan
Michigan State
Michigan Drops Season Finale To MSU
3/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Michigan State controlled the game from onset as they built an early lead with strong rebounding on the inside and red hot shooting on the outside as the Spartans finished the game shooting 57 percent (44 of 77) from the field and 50 percent (16 of 32) on three-pointers. The Spartans also outrebounded the Wolverines 43-32.
Junior Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) was the only Wolverine to score in double figures as he finished the game with 13 points. He also added three rebounds and three blocks. Freshman Kevin Gaines (Las Vegas, Nev./Clark HS) finished with nine points and tied a career-high with eight assists.
The first half started with both Michigan and Michigan State feeling each other out as they exchanged baskets and turnovers as the Spartans took a 5-4 advantage. But then the Spartans went on a series of runs to build their lead as they finished the half shooting 54 percent (20 of 37), while holding the Wolverines to just 33 percent (8 o f 24) from the floor.
With a 7-0 run earlier the Spartans took a 13-4 advantage before LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) hit a deep three-pointer to cut into the lead. Another 16-7 run sparked by Charlie Bell, who scored 12 of his 16 first half points during the run, helped the Spartans build their lead to 22 before Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep) hit a three-pointer of his own to cut it to 19. However, Michigan State capitalized on 12 Michigan turnovers for 20 points closing out the half with a 27 point lead, 51-24.
The second half was more the same as Michigan State heated up from the outside as the Spartans were 12-of-22 as seven different Spartans scored from long range. Michigan freshman Leland Anderson (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro HS) came off the bench to score six points and collected five rebounds in his 14 minutes of action, but the Spartans continued to pile up the points. The Spartans' Bell stayed hot in the second half as he finished the game with a career-high 31 points on 13 of 19 shooting. In addition to Bell's scoring, Mateen Cleaves finished the game with 20 assists, a new Big Ten single game record, which made him the Big Ten's all-time assist leader with 769.
Freshman Blanchard finished the game with nine points and six rebounds and sophomore Jones also finished with nine points.
The Wolverines begin postseason play with the Big Ten Tournament (Mar. 9-12) at the United Center in Chicago, Ill with an opening round game Thursday, March 9. The Wolverines will have to wait until the results of the Iowa-Penn State game to get their final seeding. If Penn State wins the Wolverines will earn the No. 7 seed and play No. 10 Minnesota. If Iowa wins, the Wolverines will be the No. 8 seed and play No. 9 Penn State.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
