Spartans Hold Off Globetrotters In Exhibition Contest

Nov. 13, 2000

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Charlie Bell scored 21 points as defending national champion Michigan State held off a late rally for a 72-68 exhibition victory over the Harlem Globetrotters on Monday night, ending their 1,270-game winning streak.

The defeat was the first for the famed traveling team since they lost to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar All-Stars in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 12, 1995.

The Globetrotters, who led 35-29 at halftime, scored the first basket of the second half to take their biggest lead of the game.

Jason Richardson sparked an 8-0 run by Michigan State, including a spectacular dunk off a missed shot with 13:10 remaining that gave the Spartans a 43-39 lead.

Michigan State was leading 51-49 when another dunk off a rebound by Richardson triggered a 13-2 run that gave them a 64-51 lead with 3:55 left.

The Globetrotters used the 3-point shooting of Tyson Wheeler and some pressure defense to slice away at the Spartans' lead.

Alex Sanders' four-point play with 47 seconds left brought the Globetrotters within four points. Donnie Boyce stole the ball and fed Wayne Turner for a layup with 39 seconds left to cut the lead to 68-66.

Bell then scored on a layup with 10.8 seconds remaining. After a basket by Wheeler, Bell secured Michigan State's victory with two free throws with 3.7 seconds left.

Freshman Zach Randolph scored 17 points for Michigan State, while Richardson, Andre Hutson and Marcus Taylor added 10 each.

Sanders led the Globetrotters with 19 points and Jessie Drain had 10.

The Globetrotters, who are on a fall tour against college basketball teams, play at Purdue on Wednesday night.