Spartans Drop Second Straight

Nov. 23, 2001

NEW YORK - Melvin Ely scored 14 points, all in the second half, as No. 23 Fresno State defeated No. 13 Michigan State 63-58 Friday night in the consolation game of the preseason NIT.

Ely missed both his first-half shots but had six rebounds as Fresno held a 32-23 halftime lead. The Bulldogs were hot if Ely was not. Fresno hit 12-of-21 shots while Michigan State managed just 10-of-34 in the first half.

Ely, a 6-foot-10 senior, scored the first Fresno basket of the second half, and after Damon Jackson nailed a 3-pointer, Ely scored again as Fresno opened the lead to 39-30.

Marcus Taylor and Adam Wolfe scored five points each for the Spartans, cutting Fresno State's lead to 43-40. That's when Ely took over.

His four straight baskets opened a 53-42 lead for the Bulldogs (3-1). After Michigan State (2-2) used an 8-2 run to narrow the lead, Ely scored again.

With the score 57-53 and 1:52 to play, Wolfe's putback cut Fresno's lead to a basket. Chris Jefferies hit three free throws and Matt Mitchell had one for the Bulldogs in the final minute.

Chris Hill's 3-pointer cut the lead to three points with 6.2 seconds left. But two more three throws by Mitchell sealed the victory.

Jackson had 14 points for Fresno State. Wolfe led the Spartans with 11 points, and Adam Ballinger and Hill had 10 apiece.

By HAL BOCK
AP Sports Writer