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Men's basketball team outlasts Wichita State, 65-57

November 30, 2008

A raging storm and flurry of 3-point baskets threatened to shock the No. 5 MSU men’s basketball team Sunday afternoon.

But once the weather passed and rain was cleared off the floor of the Milk House, the Spartans left Wichita State reeling in a cloud of dust.

Senior forward Marquise Gray scored 12 points and sophomore guard Durrell Summers added 11, as MSU (4-1) overcame an eight-point deficit and a 44-minute rain delay caused by leaking pipes in the building to defeat the Shockers 65-57 in the fifth-place game of the Old Spice Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Wichita State guard Clevin Hannah scored 10 of his game-high 19 points in the first half to ignite the Shockers (3-3), who shot a lowly 38 percent from the field. Like its Missouri Valley League brethren, Wichita State lived and eventually died shooting from behind the arc, finishing 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) from 3-point territory. They also were stymied by 15 turnovers.

MSU wasn’t much better on offense.

Gray, Summers and freshman Delvon Roe (nine points, 11 rebounds) were the lone bright spots for the Spartans, who shot 43.1 percent from the field and 25 percent (3-for-12) from 3-point land.

Sophomore guard Kalin Lucas also finished in double figures (10 points) for the Spartans, but he shot just 3-of-12 from the field. Sophomore guard Chris Allen struggled for the third straight game, netting just seven points on 2-for-6 shooting.

As a team, MSU finished with 16 turnovers and continued its woes at the free throw line, converting on just 18 of its 31 tries. It was the third time this season the Spartans shot less than 70 percent from the charity stripe.

The Spartans were clinging to a 9-7 lead with just under 13 minutes left in the first half when the officials noticed that puddles were forming near the MSU basket. With the grounds crew working feverishly to dry the court, both teams were sent to their locker rooms.

When play resumed, it appeared Wichita State was the only team ready to go. The Spartans committed five turnovers and made just five field goals the rest of the half to help the Shockers build a 26-22 halftime lead.

Wichita State fended off MSU’s comeback attempt in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Spartans never trailed again after junior forward Raymar Morgan – who was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench Friday against Oklahoma State – hit a game-tying layup with 16:25 to go. Morgan finished with nine points and five rebounds.

After Wichita State guard A.J. Hawkins’ jump shot brought the Shockers within two, the Shockers went nearly eight minutes without a field goal – during which time MSU extended its lead to 11 points.

The Spartans will pick up action Wednesday against No. 1 North Carolina in Detroit. Tip-off for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge game is scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

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