Post Game Notes: Penn State
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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• Michigan State made just three of its first 15 shots, but closed the first half by hitting 14 of its final 18.
• Michigan State advances the all-times series with Penn State to 36-7, including a 22-1 advantage in East Lansing. The Spartans have won seven-straight against the Nittany Lions.
• MSU, who leads the nation in 3-point FG%, shot 10-22 (.455) from long range. Valentine and Forbes combined for eight of MSU's 10 made 3-point field goals.
• MSU's 31-point margin of victory is the largest margin of victory over Penn State since winning 86-49 (37 points) on Feb. 20, 2008.
• The Spartans posted 22 assists on 28 made field goals with 10 players adding at least one helper.
• Michigan State, which leads the nation in rebounding margin, out-worked PSU, 51-33, on the boards for a +18 margin on the glass. The Spartans' 17 offensive rebounds resulted in 12 second-chance points.
• Senior forward Matt Costello posted his eighth double-double of the year and 11th of his career in just 19 minutes played. Costello recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds, including six boards on the offensive glass. His six double-doubles in Big Ten play lead the conference.
• With two blocks, Costello has posted 140 blocks in his career and is just two shy from tying Branden Dawson as the all-time career leader with 142.
• Senior guard Denzel Valentine posted 19 points, passing Drew Neitzel for 16th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,539 career points. Valentine posted a game-high six assists, leading the Spartans in helpers for the 12th straight game.
• Senior guard Bryn Forbes scored 15 points, shooting 4-of-6 from behind the arc in 21 minutes. Forbes has made three or more 3-pointers in 18 games, including three-straight.
• Deyonta Davis shot 7-of-11 from the field, scoring 15 points for his Big-Ten high. Today marks Davis' 10th double-figure scoring game of his career. MSU is 9-1 when Davis posts double-digit points.
• Sophomore guard Tum Tum Nairn Jr. played 14 minutes in the contest, the most since playing 21 minutes on Jan. 14 against Iowa before sitting out seven games due to injury.
• Michigan State moves to 19-8 all-time on Feb. 28, including a 7-1 mark at home. This is the first time the Spartans have played at home on Feb. 28 since falling to Indiana 56-62 in 1991.
• The starting lineup of Valentine, Forbes, Harris, Davis and Costello has started in 10-straight games and moves to 8-3 overall on the season.
• MSU's 52 first-half points were the most scored by the Spartans in a first half this season. The previous high of 47 came against Illinois on Jan. 7. Michigan State is 21-0 when leading at the half. The 52 points in a half tie for MSU's second-most in a half with 52 points in the second half at Penn State on Jan. 10 and against Rutgers on Jan. 31, trailing 53 points against Boston College in the second half on Nov. 26.
• MSU never trailed in the contest with the largest lead (35 points) coming with 4:16 left in the second half.
