Live MSU blog: Spartans move on with 78-51 win
Connor George finished Michigan State's 78-51 win over Penn State shooting six free throws (making four), in a sequence that was telling of the second half, in which the Spartans did not score for nearly six minutes, and only once in the last 7:30 before the free throws.
The win sends the Spartans (19-13) to a matchup with Minnesota (23-8) tomorrow afternoon.
Nick Ward and Miles Bridges each scored 15 for Michigan State. Joshua Langford scored 13.
For Penn State (15-18), Tony Carr and Lamar Stevens each had 16 points.
MSU offense ice cold despite big lead
By the time this game ends, nobody will have accused Michigan State of running up the score.
The Spartans have not scored in nearly four minutes -- a layup from Joshua Langford with 7:24 left in the second half.
At the under-4 media timeout, Michigan State has a 71-49 lead over Penn State, which is on a 3 minute, 30 second scoring drought of its own.
Spartans' lead creeping closer to 30
Michigan State's lead is now 28 points -- 71-45 with 6:29 left in the second half.
The Spartans are led by Miles Bridges and Nick Ward, who each have 15 points. Joshua Langford has 13.
Michigan State putting game out of reach
After a 3-pointer from Miles Bridges gave the Spartans a 69-42 lead with 8:42 left, Michigan State may be putting the game away.
With this significant a lead, the absence of Alvin Ellis, who is on the bench with four fouls, may not be a big deal -- especially because Nick Ward and Bridges each have 15 points for the Spartans.
Will MSU hang on to the big lead? Stay tuned.
Both teams playing sloppy, MSU up 21
Realistically, Michigan State should be up much more than the 21 points it's currently up by.
But turnovers -- admittedly on both sides -- have kept the score from ballooning.
At the second media timeout of the second half, Michigan State leads 63-42.
Spartans open lead to 22 in 2H
Michigan State is pulling away. At the first media timeout of the second half, the Spartans have a 57-35 lead.
Nick Ward has 14 points, Joshua Langford has 11 and Miles Bridges has 10 for Michigan State, which is shooting 23-of-40 (57.5 percent).
Tony Carr has 10 points for Penn State, which is shooting 11-of-41 (26.8 percent).
9-0 run gives MSU 45-27 lead at half
Michigan State went on a 9-0 run in the final two minutes of the first half to take a 45-27 lead into the locker room at the break.
Miles Bridges has 10 points to lead the Spartans. Joshua Langford and Nick Ward have nine each.
Tony Carr has 10 points for Penn State, which went on an 8-0 run late in the half, bringing Michigan State's lead -- which had been in double digits for most of the game -- to nine.
Spartans not running away, yet
Penn State's 8-0 run late in the first half made things interesting, cutting Michigan State's lead to 36-27 with about three minutes left in the half.
MSU led by as much as 17 in that stretch.
But then the Spartans went on a 7-0 run of their own, bringing the lead back to 16.
After an alley-oop from Cassius Winston to Miles Bridges, Michigan State went a little cold. Bridges missed a 3-point shot, before fouls on Winston and Joshua Langford took both teams to the under-4 media timeout.
However, MSU is still shooting 55.6 percent (15-of-26).
Spartans making it ugly, quick
Michigan State is on a 10-0 run and is poised to make the game ugly in the first half.
A 3-pointer from Matt McQuaid capped the run, making it 28-13 with 8:16 left in the half.
Nick Ward leads the Spartans with nine points, while Jeremy Langford has seven.
MSU opens up lead in 1H
Michigan State has opened up a 10-point lead over Penn State at the third media timeout of the first half.
Alvin Ellis made a layup with 11:13 left, making Michigan State's lead 18-8.
After the second media timeout, Penn State's Tony Carr made one of two free throws, cutting Michigan State's lead to 14-6 with 12:52 left in the half.
Nick Ward followed with a layup for the Spartans, to make it 16-6.
Ward has nine points for MSU.
MSU, Penn State playing close early
Both Michigan State and Penn State are playing a close game early. At the first media timeout, the Spartans have a 7-5 lead.
Joshua Langford has four points, while Nick Ward has three for MSU.
Tony Carr leads Penn State with four points.
Live blog: Michigan State vs. Penn State
On the heels of Michigan's 75-55 win over Illinois in Game 3 of the Big Ten tournament, Michigan State takes the court in its first game of the weekend, against Penn State.
Follow the action with live updates by Al Willman of The Detroit News.
No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 13 Penn State
Tip-off: Thursday, 3 p.m., Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.
TV/radio: BTN/WJR 760
Records: Michigan State 18-13 (9-8 Big Ten), Penn State 15-17 (6-12)
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