Tampa, Fla. - If the No. 7 seeded MSU's men's basketball team belongs to the sophomores, the freshmen are leasing it out for the NCAA Tournament.

For the second straight game, the Spartan (21-12) freshmen have factored heavily into MSU's resurgence as postseason performers.

Forward Erazem Lorbek, center Paul Davis and guard Maurice Ager combined for 36 points, 13 rebounds and 71 minutes Sunday in MSU's 68-46 manipulation of second-seeded Florida.

It continued the trend of production that has steadily progressed as the postseason has rolled along.

A freshman has led the team in scoring in both games of this tournament.

Lorbek led the way on Friday against No. 10 seed Colorado with 17 points, and Ager poured in a career-high 16 points against the Gators.

For a time in the college basketball season when senior leadership can be a team's best asset, head coach Tom Izzo said his freshmen's timing couldn't be better.

"Everybody's going to make a big deal about (the freshmen)," Izzo said following the game. "Our freshman have kind of bobbed and weaved their way through the season."

Izzo was entirely complimentary of Ager, Davis and Lorbek on the defensive end.

They all have consistently displayed a hard-nosed defensive attitude this postseason.

"I've said all along," Izzo said. "Maurice Ager, when he gets rolling, he's going to be a great player. He showed that tonight."

All three freshman played like seasoned veterans against a tough Florida team.

They came up with timely rebounds, made an extra pass to spark a transition basket or connected on a vital bucket to sustain the intensity MSU exerted on the Gators (25-8) nearly the entire game.

Davis thinks it has something to do with the quality time the three have shared as pups among the Spartan pack.

"We had to get our confidence up," Davis said. "If we can stay focused, we can stay focused through anything.

"We're jelling on the court and we're jelling off the court."

Davis finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

And with the inspired play the freshmen have displayed in the on-going postseason, Lorbek said the expectations placed on them are beginning to fall into place.

"Right now I'm starting to see what coach wanted from us," Lorbek said.

"We knew the season was going to be long and (would) get tougher, but I think we are ready."

Lorbek, who has flourished on defense in both tournament games under Izzo's zone scheme, finished with 12 points and led the team in rebounding with 7 boards.

In fact, contributions from the freshmen took one of Florida's most valuable assets right out of the game - the home crowd.

Save two lower bowl sections of MSU supporters, the vast majority of the 21,304 in attendance at the St. Pete Times Forum sported Florida's blue and orange.

Senior forward Aloysius Anagonye beamed like a proud father when describing the contributions the freshmen have made down the stretch.

"I'm proud of them," he said. "They came out and played over their heads. We'll expect more from them."

Izzo attributed the sentiments of Anagonye, offering a glimpse into an optimistic postseason future should the freshmen keep their act up.

"Freshman are molding with the upperclassmen a bit," Izzo said. "I don't know where this takes us but it's a start."