MSU Triumphant In Spartan Classic

Nov 30, 2003

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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Kelvin Torbert showed Michigan State teammate Shannon Brown that he can dunk, too.

"You'll have to find out from Shannon what kind of marks he gave me," Torbert said after No. 3 Michigan State's 89-81 victory over DePaul on Sunday in the championship game of the Spartan Classic.

Torbert, the tournament MVP, scored 19 points and Chris Hill added 15 points and a career-high 11 assists for the Spartans.

Alan Anderson scored all 17 of his points in the second half to help the Spartans (3-1) hold off the Blue Demons (3-1).

"I said going in we'd have to play two good games to win this tournament," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.

"I saw enough good moments to say, `This is where we can be,' and enough bad minutes to say, `We have a lot of work ahead of us."'

Brown was a big reason for that optimism, scoring nine of his 13 points in the first half and icing the win with two breakaway dunks in the final minute.

"The highlight for me was watching K.T. get his," Brown said of Torbert's slam. "I almost elbowed Coach in the head jumping up on that play. That was nice. And if I brought some energy, all the credit should go to the upperclassmen."

DePaul's Delonte Holland had 27 points, Andre Brown had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Quemont Greer added 15 points.

"The story of this basketball game today is that we faced one of not only the best teams in the country but one of the best programs," DePaul coach Dave Leitao said.

"You see parts of that in the way guys play. They play with energy and confidence, and that makes a really big difference."