Spartans frustrate Buckeyes’ big man
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Tom Izzo is not a coach who likes to take his foot off the gas pedal.
But he did, and as a result, 11th-ranked Michigan State had more fuel in the tank.
Adreian Payne scored 15 points and Draymond Green 12, and the defense-minded Spartans beat No. 3 Ohio State 58-48 on Saturday, ending the Buckeyes' 39-game home winning streak.
Izzo got his team ready for the game with a light practice Friday, "something I never do" the day before a major showdown, he said.
"I knew we were just dragging because we had gone, like, 11 straight days," Izzo said. "I listened to my players. ... It was just a focused walk-through."
The Spartans (20-5, 9-3 Big Ten) pulled into a tie with the Buckeyes (21-4, 9-3) for the conference lead by playing a withering, physical defense. Ohio State shot 26 percent from the field (14 of 53).
All-America forward Jared Sullinger had 17 points and 16 rebounds for Ohio State, but shot 5-for-15 and committed 10 of the Buckeyes' 15 turnovers. Aaron Craft added 15 points, but Deshaun Thomas and William Buford, averaging a combined 30, totaled only 12.
"You have to give them a lot of credit. That's what they hang their hat on -- pressure defense and limiting us to one shot," Craft said. "We got a little selfish and we were looking for our own shots."
Leading 35-25 at halftime, the Spartans weathered an early Ohio State assault.
A quick field goal by Thomas and two Sullinger free throws pulled the Buckeyes within six, but it was also apparent Sullinger was growing frustrated by the defensive focus from the Spartans. He yelled after being fouled by Payne at the 18:27 mark, with Green then knocking the ball out of his hands.
Later, Sullinger and Green ended up on the floor after tangling on a rebound.
"I wasn't expecting the double (team). Michigan State didn't show that on film," Sullinger said. "They had a great game plan."
Derrick Nix, who shared with Payne the responsibility for guarding Sullinger, was stunned when told Sullinger's stats.
"He had 10 turnovers? Wow," Nix said. "I guess we did frustrate him."
Ohio State pulled to within 44-40 on a 15-footer by Sullinger, but the Spartans' Keith Appling, who had 14 points, hit two free throws and Nix coaxed in a baby hook to push the lead back to eight.
Payne then banked in a left-handed shot over Sullinger, before Sullinger was called for a charge to pick up his fourth foul with two minutes left. Green then drove around Thomas for a baseline layup to stretch the lead to 10.
Ohio State never got closer than eight again.
"I thought we did a good enough job defensively to win the game," Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said. "It all came down to our inability to put the ball in the basket."
AROUND THE NATION
NO. 1 WILDCATS FINISH STRONG -- At Nashville, Tenn., Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats (25-1, 11-0 Southeastern) scored the final eight points to win their 17th in a row, 69-63 over Vanderbilt (17-8, 6-4).
JARDINE'S 3-POINTERS KEY ORANGE -- At Syracuse, N.Y., Scoop Jardine hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a deciding rally, lifting No. 2 Syracuse (25-1, 12-1 Big East) to an 85-67 victory over Connecticut (15-9, 5-7), which has lost six of seven.
NO. 4 MIZZOU BREEZES PAST NO. 6 BAYLOR -- At Columbia, Mo., Phil Pressey made four of Missouri's 14 3-pointers and scored 19 points, leading the No. 4 Tigers (23-2, 10-2 Big 12) to a 72-67 victory over fourth-ranked Baylor (21-4, 8-4).
TAR HEELS REGROUP -- At Chapel Hill, N.C., Tyler Zeller scored 25 points as No. 5 North Carolina (21-4, 8-2 Atlantic Coast) bounced back from Wednesday's home loss to Duke with a 70-52 victory over No. 19 Virginia (19-5, 6-4).
GATORS HUMBLED AT HOME -- At Gainesville, Fla., Trae Golden had 17 points as Tennessee (13-12, 5-5 SEC) ended Florida's home winning streak at 19 with a 75-70 win over the No. 8 Gators (19-6, 7-3).
NO. 9 RACERS REBOUND -- At Murray, Ky., Isaiah Canaan scored 23 points as No. 9 Murray State (24-1, 12-1 Ohio Valley) bounced back from its first loss with an 82-62 victory over Austin Peay (9-18, 6-7).
SHOCKERS STUN NO. 17 CREIGHTON -- At Omaha, Neb., Joe Ragland scored 24 points, Ben Smith matched his career high with 22 and Wichita State (22-4, 13-2 Missouri Valley) handed No. 17 Creighton (21-5, 11-4) its third straight loss, 89-68.
