MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Alabama State was close to a record in the
first half, and Michigan State made sure the Hornets at least
matched one in their first NCAA Tournament appearance.
|
 |
|
|
Fri, March 16
This was a tale of two halves.
In the first half, Alabama State hung tough going to the locker room down just four
points. Imagine what Tom Izzo said at halftime because Alabama State was held to just
10 points in the second half.
Andre Hutson was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor and was solid on the boards.
One concern for Izzo's team, Charlie Bell continued his shooting slump after being held
to seven points. He has to come alive for the Spartans to make a run at their second
consecutive title.
More ...
|
|
|
After a poor first half, Jason Richardson and Andre Hutson got
the defending national champions rolling in a 69-35 victory Friday
night in the first round of the South Regional.
"I think we were a little nervous because of all the upsets.
I've heart a lot of people say, 'You should look at all of
Thursday's games and your guys should be ready for Friday,"
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "Teams like Alabama State saw
upsets can happen and that gets them more ready."
Richardson scored 14 points and Hutson added 15 points and 11
rebounds for Michigan State (25-4), which is trying to become the
sixth team to win consecutive titles and the first since Duke in
1991 and '92.
The Spartans will play Fresno State on Sunday. The Bulldogs beat California in their first-round game.
A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed, but it looked possible in the first half.
Alabama State (22-9), winner of the Southwestern Athletic
Conference title, hung close to a sloppy and seemingly uninspired
Michigan State team in the first half.
"They weren't afraid of anything," Izzo said of the Hornets,
who were down by only four at halftime. "(They) had us on their
heels. We got a few more rebounds and a few more stops and that was
the difference."
The Michigan State starters began the second half by slapping
the floor, and the rout was on.
|  | | Michigan State's Zach Randolph, who scored 12 points, leans in against Alabama State's Angel Branch. |
The Spartans started to rebound like they always do and pulled
away in the first five minutes of the second half.
"I never felt we were going to lose the game," Izzo said.
"Once we got the running game going, I thought we really
responded."
Alabama State didn't get any closer than 33-27 with 17:53 left
after Tyrone Levett scored as the shot clock ran out.
"They got more aggressive. We basically did all we could,"
Levett said of the second half.
Richardson tipped the ball toward David Thomas under the basket
for an easy score, and then Richardson hit a 3 at the top of the
key to put Michigan State ahead 42-27 with 15:05 left.
Richardson made another smooth move going under the basket and
lifted the ball in with one hand for a 45-32 lead 2½ minutes later.
That basket started a 26-0 run over 13:24, and it didn't end
until Malcolm Campbell hit a 3 with 15.8 seconds left.
Alabama State scored just 10 points in the second half, and made
their own history by matching Wake Forest's record-setting
first-half production Friday against Butler.
Wake Forest fell behind 43-10 at halftime in the Midwest
Regional. It is the lowest-scoring half in any NCAA Tournament game
since the introduction of the shot clock in 1985-86.
"I thought we stayed on 32 points forever," Alabama State
coach Rob Spivery said.
Zach Randolph added 12 points for Michigan State, which held
Alabama State to the third-worst shooting percent ever in the first
and second rounds. Michigan State also held Valparaiso to 25
percent shooting from the field in last year's first-round game.
Levett led Alabama State with 17 points.
Michigan State didn't look anything like a national championship
team in the first half. The Spartans missed shots, didn't rebound
well, made bad decisions and kept Alabama State in the game.
The Hornets shot only 10-of-26 from the field but used an
effective zone defense, and they weren't bullied on the boards.
Michigan State, which leads the national with an average 15.3
rebounding margin, had just six more than Alabama State in the
first half.
Michigan State led by as many as eight, but the Hornets pulled
to 29-25 at halftime.
Levett converted a four-point play when he hit a 3 with 6.4
seconds to go before halftime and was fouled by Adam Ballinger.
"They played the second half like a national championship
team," Spivery said.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Alabama State Clubhouse
Michigan State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Tom Izzo thinks some of his players need bring their games to the next level if Michigan State is going to keep winning. (courtesy NCAA)
wav: 75 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Andre Hutson says the Spartans need to cut down on their mistakes. (courtesy NCAA)
wav: 131 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
