With less than 10 minutes to play in the Penn State men's basketball game Saturday night, The Bryce Jordan Center fans could sense an upset.

The Nittany Lions (16-9, 6-8 Big Ten) just took the lead, the fans were going crazy and Michigan State looked shaken.

Then Penn State ran out of gas, losing the game, 76-57, and taking one more step to being one of the top teams in the NIT.

"I definitely think we got tired, they shovel guys in and out," Penn State senior guard Joe Crispin said. "But at the same time, I think I allowed myself to get tired."

Crispin scored 14 of Penn State's 30 first half points, but was non-existent in the second half as he only recorded two points in the waning minutes and only dished out one assist in the second stanza.

Penn State coach Jerry Dunn credits Crispin's poor performance to the defense of Spartans defensive wizard Charlie Bell, who forced the All-Big Ten guard to 6-for-23 shooting and 2-for-10 from three-point range.

Bell finished with 16 points and said Crispin was one of the toughest players he ever guarded, but that only motivated him to come in and shut him down. He succeeded.

"We went back to our old style, like last year, playing our old Spartan tough defense," the Spartan guard said. "We talked about it before the game, we realized destiny was in our hands."

Michigan State used an 11-man rotation, constantly substituting and bringing fresh legs off the bench, trying to wear down the Lions, who used only two players off the bench for more than 10 minutes. The Spartans took advantage of their size inside as senior forward Andre Hutson pounded the middle with 11 points and 16 rebounds and freshman Zach Randolph chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds in only 14 minutes of play.

Gyasi Cline-Heard, who finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, was the only inside presence for the Lions, but couldn't stop Hutson, Randolph and all the other big men Michigan State brought in off the bench.

Michigan State small forward Jason Richardson also added 16 points and seven rebounds. Disappointing for the Lions was senior guard Titus Ivory, who shot a dismal 2-for-11 from the field, scored only five points and had four turnovers.

Although the Lions lost by 19 points to Michigan State, their RPI rating improved to 34, two spots higher than it was prior to tip-off. Crispin and Cline-Heard had some strong words for the media after the game when asked if they are panicking and contemplating a bid to the NIT, instead of the NCAA Tournament.

"We don't want to go to the NIT, I've been there before and it's no fun at all," Crispin said. "We'll be in the NCAA Tournament."