Neitzel shows worth in victory

Senior guard explodes for season-high 28 points

Indianapolis — He didn’t take the leadership role and just run with it — he hopped on a horse and took off.

Days after being named to the All-Big Ten first team, senior guard Drew Neitzel put on a show for the spectators on Friday afternoon at Conseco Fieldhouse, scoring 14 points in the first half before mirroring that performance in the second — finishing with a game-and season-high 28 points against Ohio State.

The biggest bucket came with 1:18 to play, when the three-point specialist did what many say he was born to do — knocking down a long ball to extend the No. 19 Spartans lead to six when it mattered most.

“That is the best I’ve felt,” Neitzel said. “(That shot) felt pretty good (once it left my fingertips). I shot the ball well today and in practice before the game. I had a good rhythm going early and I just wanted to stay aggressive and not let them take me out of it.”

Fellow co-captain, junior guard Travis Walton, said his teammate’s performance completely sparked the Spartans’ offense.

“It’s big for our team when Drew’s knocking down shots,” Walton said. “It gives us a different look.”

Neitzel is averaging 17 points in the last four games and said he will continue to be aggressive throughout the tournament.

“I thought he was a lot more aggressive frm the get-go — and you never know why,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “All you can hope for a guy who works as hard as he has is that good things will happen to him. He’s had to prove to people all his life … he picked a good time to open it up and as I said, you can finish your career on a great note and I think that’s the way he’ll be remembered.”

Gimme Summa’ that
Ahead just two points with 7:09 to play in the game, freshman guard Durrell Summers utilized his limited eight minutes of playing time wisely — ripping net on a 3-pointer from the corner and following it up with a transition layup the next play, putting the Spartans up seven.

Those two plays adding up to be Summers’ biggest back-to-back baskets of his collegiate career.

“They’re gone,” Summers said with a smile when asked about first-time tournament jitters. “I just gotta be ready for anything, can’t be nervous and just play. If I come in and play hard, the rest of it will take care of itself.”

Neitzel said what Summers did while being in the situation he was in — sitting on the bench for 32 minutes — was remarkable.

“Durrell played huge off the bench and that’s tough, sitting on the bench for a long period of time and then coming into the game, trying to get in the flow, trying not to make a mistake right away so you come right back out,” he said. “He did a great job of playing under control and making some big plays for us.”

Yet another rematch
Could MSU make it 5-for-5 in rematch games this season when they take on Wisconsin at 1:40 p.m. Saturday?

The Green and White dropped a 57-42 decision on Feb. 28 in Madison, Wisc., a game that the Spartans could never find a shooters touch in.
Although tomorrow’s game isn’t predictable, many Spartans are sure about one thing — they cannot wait till tomorrow.

“I am excited (to play Wisconsin),” Izzo said. “They’ve had our number as we all know and they have a good team. We’re gonna have to get Drew some rest tonight. But it’s that time of the year — what do you got left to hold it for?”

Although MSU is content with their big win, junior forward Marquise Gray said immediately following the game it’s time to put the victory over the Buckeyes behind them.

“It has to be all about Wisconsin now,” he said. “We’ll take the momentum from this game and go into tomorrow trying to get the same thing — a win.”

Neitzel said he knows a semifinal game against the Big Ten regular-season champion won’t be a cake walk.

“It’s gonna be a war, but I think we’re up for it,” he said.