There are three point-valued shots in basketball: a free throw (one point), a shot anywhere inside the 3-point line (two points) and any shot beyond the 3-point line (three points).

To say the Spartans like to score as many points per basket as possible is an understatement. MSU loves the 3-point shot.

In only one game this season has MSU attempted fewer than 11 triples in a game (The Spartans attempted eight in a 72-50 loss to Duke on Dec. 3).

The Spartans (14-9 overall, 9-3 Big Ten) have been dropping threes on opponents all season and their success with the 3-point shot is one of the main reasons the Spartans are alone in first place in the Big Ten.

"A lot of threes have been open for us; that's why we take so many - they have been open," sophomore guard Maurice Ager said. "We would like to get it inside more, that's the thing, but if the 3-point shot is open, and we're nailing it, that's something we've got to take."

"Nailing it" has been an understatement at many times this year. On the season, the Spartans are shooting 38 percent behind the 3-point line (No. 21 in the nation). In their 12 conference games, MSU is shooting a blazing 41.6 percent from beyond the arc, second in the conference.

What's more impressive is there isn't just one Spartan hitting long-range shots. Junior guard Kelvin Torbert has extended his range back to his high school days and is taking a decent number of 3-point shots. Torbert is 12-for-20 (60 percent) in Big Ten games and 20-for-42 on the year (47.6 percent).

Junior guard Chris Hill, who has been a 3-point magician since his freshman year, is 63-for-138 (45.7 percent) for the entire season and 44.9 percent in conference games.

Ager, a player head coach Tom Izzo calls the team's second best shooter behind Hill, has found his stroke and is hitting 35.1 percent (13-for-37) of his shots in Big Ten play.

Then, there is freshman guard Shannon Brown, who can spot up from any place on the court. Brown usually takes long baseline jump shots but doesn't stray away from shooting a triple here or there. He is 13-for-37 on the season.

"We have maybe the three or four best shooters, not just in the league, but in the nation," Hill said. "That always helps."

At times this season, however, the 3-point shot has been too appealing for the Spartans, players said.

Take MSU's win over Minnesota at Breslin Center on Valentine's Day. The Spartans trailed until the midway point of the second half. One reason - the team's reliance on 3-pointers.

For the game, MSU finished 27.3 percent on 6-for-22 shooting beyond the arc. A 2-for-12 performance in the first half proved that relying on the 3-point shot, especially when the shots aren't falling, can be a dangerous trap.

"I hope we don't start relying on it, because you can live and die by the three," Ager said. "There have been a lot of teams that die by the three. Right now, we're just trying to be smart about it - if we're not hitting the three, we just have to be smart."

Izzo said the amount of 3-point shots isn't just because of his arsenal of shooters. He points to the inconsistent presence of his big men in the post as well.

"Guys have to want the ball inside, too," Izzo said. "It's a two-way street. The difference is, in the last couple of games - I'm not sure how many we're averaging, but I'm sure it's not that different - the passes were coming inside-out."

Sophomore center Paul Davis and senior center Jason Andreas both admitted they need to be more aggressive in the post when asking for the ball. But, they said they weren't concerned with too many 3-pointers, because the shooters are more than reliable.

"Guys are coming in at night and working on their shot," Andreas said. "They come in on days off and work on their shooting - it's life or death for a lot of guys.

"They see basketball as the only thing in their lives and they come in at night and shoot 3-pointers for an hour. I'd say it's paid off for us."

Sharp 3-point shooters

Wonder why the Spartans take so many 3-pointers? Look at their success rate. MSU is ranked 21st nationally and second in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage. Here are the statistics of MSU's arsenal of 3-point specialists.