Junior wide receiver Tony Lippett catches the ball for a touchdown Dec. 7, 2013, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis during the Big Ten Championships. The Spartans lead 17-10 at the half. Julia Nagy/The State News
—No. 10 MSU came out swinging behind the arm of sophomore quarterback Connor Cook before No. 2 Ohio State found its footing and bounced back to make it a 17-10 game heading after one half of play in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The Spartans took advantage of two pass interference flags on the game’s opening drive, which resulted in a 40-yard field goal from freshman kicker Michael Geiger.
MSU also claimed the first big play of the night, a 72-yard bomb from Cook to junior wide receiver Keith Mumphery, sending the portion of the crowd clad in green into a frenzy.
Cook threw another jaw-dropping pass to junior Tony Lippett for a 33-yard score, giving the Spartans an early 17-0 lead and MSU appeared to be in command.
The Buckeyes’ explosive offense was stifled by MSU on their first three drives, generating just 36 yards. But Ohio State came roaring back behind a 48-yard scramble from quarterback Braxton Miller that setup a 20-yard touchdown pass to Corey Brown.
Just before halftime, the Buckeyes drove 53 yards in seven plays to kick a field goal and make it a seven-point game at the intermission.
Cook has 182 passing yards, and Mumphery has a career-high 84 receiving yards to lead MSU as the Spartans held the ball more than three minutes longer than Ohio State. The Buckeyes will receive the opening kick of the second half.
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