Michigan State University
Oklahoma
Spartan Comeback Falls Short Against Oklahoma In OT
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 6, 2003
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Tom Izzo doesn't regret putting Michigan State through one of the toughest schedules in college basketball history.
Jason Detrick scored a career-high 26 points and No. 14 Oklahoma drew two charges in the final seconds to beat the fifth-ranked Spartans 80-77 in overtime Saturday.
The Sooners (5-0) gave Michigan State (3-3) its third loss in 12 days, all against ranked teams and dropped the Spartans to their worst start since 1995-96, Izzo's first season as head coach.
"If we played a cupcake, our players would've gotten a false sense of where we are," said Izzo, who had a crumpled box score in his hands nearly an hour after the game. "I'm going to play these kind of games next year and the years after - until they fire me.
"The only thing I did wrong was the timing of our games. Not only did we play Kansas, Duke and Oklahoma in 12 days, but in between, we played Penn and DePaul."
Duke beat the Spartans 72-50 Wednesday, handing them their worst loss at home since 1997. They lost 81-74 at Kansas on Nov. 25.
Michigan State will play Kentucky next week at Ford Field in Detroit before an expected crowd of 75,000, and on the road against Syracuse and UCLA before starting the Big Ten season.
"I look at the schedule Tom has, and I'm just glad it is him and not me," Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson.
The Sooners made two key plays on defense to seal the win in a game marred by a combined 85 free throws.
De'Angelo Alexander set his feet just in time to have Maurice Ager called for a charge with 2.8 seconds left. Ager's shot, which would have gave Michigan State the lead, was waved off. Johnnie Gilbert drew a charge against Chris Hill with 15 seconds left.
"I was a little surprised they called the charge, but Johnnie Gilbert had just got a charge called, so I thought I could squeeze one more out," Alexander said.
Izzo stomped his feet and screamed at the officials after both calls, but the Spartans had gotten enough of the benefit of the doubt to enjoy the big disparity at the free throw line.
Michigan State was 42-of-48 at the line, while Oklahoma was 31-of-37.
Both Sampson and Izzo thought too many fouls were called.
"I was very disappointed with the officiating, both ways," Izzo said.
Oklahoma's Jabahri Brown, who had a career-high 16 points, and Detrick fouled out in overtime.
Detrick redshirted last season - after averaging 9.2 points for Oklahoma's Final Four team two years ago - to get more playing time this season.
"Not only did I get a chance to get better and play more, I got a chance to help us get a big win like this one," said Detrick, who missed the first two games with an abdominal injury.
Paul Davis and Alan Anderson, who Izzo lashed out at after losing to Duke, each scored 17 points. Kelvin Torbert, who fouled out, had 13 and Hill added 12.
The Spartans, who trailed 50-35 with 13 minutes left in regulation, got back into the game with a 14-3 run.
With 6.9 seconds left, Davis forced overtime with a three-point play, tying the game at 65.
Oklahoma's Drew Lavender dribbled the length of the court and missed a short runner to win the game in regulation.
The Sooners played their first game away from home, and their first against a ranked team.
"This felt more like a March game than December," Sampson said. "This is the type of game that helps both teams in the long run. It is just a shame that someone had to lose."
