Michigan State Snaps Penn State’s Win Streak
Penn State (12-11, 3-7) fell to Michigan State (20-3, 9-1) 82-67 on Thursday night, in East Lansing. Senior guard Tim Frazier scored a game-high 22 points, as the Spartans snapped the Nittany Lions three-game winning streak.
Michigan State had five players score in double figures, led by freshman forward Kenny Kaminski, who scored 19 points.
Senior guard Keith Appling missed the matchup with a wrist injury, but the team stepped up in his absence and the subpar play of sophomore guard Gary Harris.
Penn State shot just 36% from the field and a lackluster 22% from three-point line, while trailing the entire game.
Spartans senior forward Adrien Payne made his return after missing seven games with a foot injury and scored 12 points off the bench. The Spartans now have a three game lead in the conference standings.
Michigan State had a 22-8 lead over Penn State with 10:33 left in the first half. The closest Penn State got in the first half was within 10 points with 8:37 on the clock.
The Spartans would follow with an 11-2 run and keep Penn State out of the game for the entire first half. Michigan State took a 46-30 lead into the second half.
They would continue to coast to start the second half, extending their lead to 21, with 16:17 left in the second half.
Penn State would continue to struggle throughout the second half. They missed their first four shots and couldn’t stop Michigan State in transition.
The lead would go as high as 27 for the Spartans. Both teams began to put their reserves in as time winded down in the game.
The Nittany Lions were outmatched all night long and ultimately lost 82-67.
Frazier led Penn State with 22 points, and four rebounds. Junior guard D.J. Newbill scored 17 points but shot just 5-18 from the field. Junior forward Ross Travis scored eight points with seven rebounds.
Kaminski scored a team-high 19 for the Spartans with five three-pointers. Harris had 14 points and sophomore guard Denzel Valentine added 11 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
Penn State will host Illinois on Sunday, and the Spartans will travel to Wisconsin on Sunday, to take on the Badgers.
Josiah Bates is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jnb5279@psu.edu.
Photo Courtesy: (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
