COLUMBUS, Ohio - With the hopes of spoiling senior day and staying on a spring break run, the No. 22 MSU men’s basketball team leads Ohio State 38-36 at the half.
In the last two meetings against the Buckeyes, senior Adreian Payne scored 18 and 16 points, and he almost matched that in the first half, with 13 to lead the Spartans.
Valentine hit a transition three-pointer after Payne jumped out of the gym to block a shot by Lenzelle Smith. Valentine hit another long ball the next trip down the floor.
Valentine scored eight of the Spartans first 13 points.
Both teams went cold over a five minute period, hitting just two field goals in that time, but Adreian Payne got things back on track when he hit a three-pointer to put MSU within a point.
The Spartans were atrocious under the basket at both ends, allowing 20 points in the paint and scoring just 10.
The Buckeyes also won the rebounding battle 19-11, including seven on the offensive end.
Travis Trice hit another transition three-pointer following a Payne block to cap off an 9-0 run and give MSU the lead with just over seven minutes to go.
But the Buckeyes forced three turnovers and went on a 7-0 of their own to surge back. Ohio State’s Aaron Craft became the Big Ten’s all-time leader in steals during the stretch.
Senior Keith Appling scored his first points of the half with a defense-splitting drive to give MSU a two-point lead headed to the break.
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