Spartans victorious in battle against Nittany Lions

Wins have been like water in the Sahara desert for the Penn State basketball team this year--hard to find. Then just when it seems they've found a win, poof!, it turns out to be a mirage.

"This was kind of an ugly game," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "It was a game we were fortunate to win."

Led by Ray Weathers 16 points, and playing without star point guard Mateen Cleaves, the Spartans were fortunate to hold on to win. While the Lions, on the other hand, were unfortunate in that once again they hung with a team only to see their opponent pull away in the end.

Pete Lisicky, who scored a game high 18 points, said the Lions breakdowns on defense cost them the game.

"We just had too many simple breakdowns that led to them scoring," he said. "That can mean the game."

A bright spot for the Lions was the play of freshman Greg Stevenson. In his first career start, the 6-5 forward from Fayetville, N.C. scored eight points while filling in for injured team captain Rahsaan Carlton.

And while Stevenson was playing well in the first half, defensively Penn State was not. One thing that caused fits for the Nittany Lions was the maddening amount of open lay-ups the Spartans got.

The Spartans quickness to the basket was obvious early, and was something they knew they could use as an advantage.

"We felt like we were quicker than them," Izzo said. "And we were going to try and take advantage of that and things worked out early."

Penn State coach Jerry Dunn said that his team had hoped to stop the drives made by Michigan State by rotating, stepping up and taking some charges, but were unsuccessful in doing so.

In the second half, the Lions continued to hang with the visiting Spartans, and at one point took the lead. After a Pete Lisicky three-pointer at the 16:07 mark the Lions were ahead by one point. Michigan State, however, answered right back a minute later when Anthony Mull hit a three pointer of his own to put his team ahead.

But the Lions would make a game of it by staying within one or two points and even tying the game with 12:20 left. By hanging around, the Lions were able to narrow the lead to just two points with just over three minutes left in the game. But as has been the case all year long their opponents pulled away. A driving layup, baseline jumper and another lay-up later the Spartans had the game out of reach with a 59-51 lead and just over a minute left in the game.

The loss drops the Lions to 0-4 in the Big Ten, but Izzo isn't convinced that Penn State is as bad as their record might indicate.

"I think Penn State is a lot better basketball team than their record right now," he said. "In watching film, if they don't get down big on the road to Ohio State they win that game, and then they have a tough game at home against Iowa."