No. 3 MSU beat No. 24 Louisville Wednesday night, 71-67, behind senior guard Denzel Valentine’s 25 points, five
rebounds and seven assists to bring MSU’s record to 8-0. The Spartans came into
the game after winning the Wooden Legacy championship over Providence College Sunday, making this their seventh game in 15 days — and a predominate first half led by the Cardinals showed it.
MSU's sluggish start saw a boost from two bench players — freshman forward Deyonta Davis, as well as redshirt-freshman forward Kenny Goins, who had 13 rebounds.
Davis scored seven points and had four rebounds in the first half
finishing with nine points and six rebounds, with Goins earning a starting role
in the second-half with his energy and size.
The Spartans got off to a slow start, not making their first
field goal until eight minutes into the game, which came on a Costello hook
shot from the post.
The Spartans struggled with Louisville’s vaunted
full-court press defense early, as they turned the ball over 11 times in the
first half to lead to 14 points off of turnovers for the Cardinals.
The Spartans fell behind by as much as 13 points in the
first half, trailing 21-8 with nine minutes to play before halftime.
After that, the Spartans would go on a 21 to 11 run to end
the half, led by Valentine and Davis, who got the Spartans going with a couple
of dunks early in the run.
MSU opened the second half with three turnovers in the
first three minutes, but its defense was able to keep them in it as Louisville could
only manage four points during that stretch.
The Spartans kept it close throughout the first part of the
second half, but Louisville had an answer for everything MSU did — 3-point shot after 3-point shot.
MSU was able to tie the game 47-47 with just over 10 minutes
left in the game, causing the Breslin Center crowd to erupt, forcing a Louisville timeout, and
capping off a 5-0 run for the Spartans.
After trading blows, MSU was finally able to take the lead
55-53 on a Goins jumper with just over six minutes to play. The lead was short
lived as Louisville's senior guard Damion Lee converted an and-one to give his team the lead back at
56-55.
After a couple of 3-point shots from Valentine and senior guard Bryn Forbes,
sophomore guard Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn tacked in a steal and the Breslin Center erupted with just
under five minutes to play.
Senior guard Trey Lewis stepped to the line for Louisville after being fouled on a
3-point attempt with the lead at 65-60, he calmly knocked down all three shots to
pull the Cardinals within two.
Valentine was fouled on the ensuing MSU possession, knocking
down two free throws to give the Spartans a 67-63 lead.
Steady free-throw shooting proved to be key for the Spartans
down the stretch as Valentine made six free throws in the final minute to ice
the game at 71-67.
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