Spartans Get Big Win Over Arizona, 74-60

Dec 15, 2001

By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The streak lives.

Adam Ballinger scored a career-high 18 points and Marcus Taylor had 19 as No. 23 Michigan State beat No. 6 Arizona 74-60 Saturday to extend the nation's longest home winning streak to 50 games.

The Spartans (6-3) got off to a good start, never trailed and held off the Wildcats (5-2) after they began the second half with a 10-0 run.

The 50 straight wins at the Breslin Center ties a Big Ten record held by Ohio State (1959-63) and Indiana (1991-95). Just seven of Michigan State's 50 wins at home have been by less than 10 points.

Taylor, who also had six assists and six rebounds, helped the defensive effort against Jason Gardner, who scored 17 points on 3-of-14 shooting after a scoreless first half. Gardner entered the game averaging 24.2 points.

Luke Walton and Rick Anderson each scored 15 points for Arizona, which began the season unranked but rose to sixth after beating Maryland, Florida, Texas, Illinois and Texas.

Michigan State's suffocating defense held Arizona to 17.9 percent shooting in the first half and helped it take a 13-point lead midway through the first half and a 38-22 halftime lead.

Arizona began the second half with the 10-0 run and later, a layup by Walton pulled it within five with just under 12 minutes to play. Michigan State responded with an 11-2 run to take a 54-42 lead and control of the game for good.

The teams played for the third straight season, but the only things similar were their uniforms and their need to replace stars.

Gardner and Michigan State's Aloysius Anagonye were the only returning starters from last year's meeting in the Final Four, which Arizona won to end the Spartans' hopes for repeating as national champions.

The Wildcats saw three players - Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas and Michael Wright - enter the NBA draft as underclassmen and Loren Woods leave as a senior.

The Spartans lost two players early - Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph - to the NBA and five seniors, including Andre Hutson and Charlie Bell.

Michigan State has won four straight Big Ten titles and advanced to the Final Four three consecutive seasons because of its defense and rebounding.

The Spartans outrebounded Arizona 46-36 and held it to 30.2 percent shooting.