Michigan State University
Michigan
Spartans Reign Over Michigan, 71-54
1/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 17, 2004
Box Score?|? Quotes?|? Notes?|? Photo Gallery
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Paul Davis played like a star against the Michigan Wolverines, a year after being humiliated against them.
Davis had 22 points and seven rebounds to lead Michigan State to a 71-54 victory over Michigan on Saturday.
When the sophomore center got the ball, he scored on strong moves in the post. When Davis didn't, he called the basketball.
"For the first time, I felt like he wanted and demanded the ball inside," teammate Chris Hill said.
Last year at Michigan, Davis was anything but aggressive on a critical play.
When Michigan State's inbounds pass went from under its basket and across half court past Davis, he jogged and Michigan's Daniel Horton sprinted. Horton got the ball, was fouled by Davis and made two free throws -- and the Spartans lost by two in their only scheduled meeting last season with the Wolverines.
After the game, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said the play bothered him more than almost anything since he had been a head coach.
But on Saturday, Izzo was proud of Davis' performance -- and attitude.
"He really grew up," Izzo said. "He really wanted the ball. In the huddle, he really wanted us to go to him. When he's telling me he wants the ball, and what play to run, I enjoy that."
Davis said redeeming himself against Michigan was not his focus.
"That game jolted my season last year more than this year," he said. "I wasn't going to make that my motivation."
Davis left the game in the second half after banging heads with another player, but returned with a bandage on his right eyebrow.
He was 6-of-12 from the field and 9-of-11 at the free throw line, and fell two points short of the career high he set in a loss to Kentucky this season. Davis also had three blocks and three steals.
The Spartans (7-7, 2-1 Big Ten) beat their rival for the ninth time in 10 meetings.
"They were too tough," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "They were the better team."
Daniel Horton scored 20 points on 5-of-15 shooting for the Wolverines (10-4, 1-2) and didn't get much help from his teammates, especially Bernard Robinson.
Robinson, who was averaging a team-high 14.2 points, made just 2 of 8 shots and had five points. He made a 3-pointer -- off the glass -- early in the first half, and did not score again until there was two minutes left.
"He's a senior, he's been our best player, he's been our most valuable player, he's been our most consistent player," Amaker said. "It was a heck of a time for him to have a tough afternoon."
Robinson gave Michigan State credit for his struggles.
"They played pretty good defense on the ball, and off the ball," he said. "And they were aggressive."
The Spartans outscored Michigan 12-2 to close the first half and take a 32-23 lead, which they had no trouble maintaining after halftime.
The Wolverines made the first basket of the second half, but couldn't get closer the rest of the way and had few single-digit deficits.
Both teams had only one scorer in double digits, but the Spartans had seven players score at least six. Maurice Ager had nine points and a career-high eight rebounds, Alan Anderson scored nine, and Jason Andreas scored a season-high seven points.
Lester Abram scored nine for the Wolverines, who had 22 turnovers and just eight assists.
Michigan State made 54.8 percent of its shots and held Michigan to a season-low 38.2 percent.
Both teams started the game shooting well. Michigan made its first four 3-pointers, and Michigan State connected on its first three 3-pointers.
The Wolverines took a 19-15 lead with 10:10 left in the first half -- then they went cold. They made only one field goal and scored just four points before halftime in what was the decisive stretch of the game.
"It's tough because we were in control," said Horton, who had six turnovers and three assists. "But then we made a few turnovers, and it got away from us. We've been talking about valuing the basketball, and we just didn't do that."
