Spartans Fall To Purdue In OT

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Associated Press Writer

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Brandon McKnight got Purdue into overtime against Michigan State, then made sure his effort wasn't wasted.

McKnight drove the length of the floor for a layup with 8 seconds to go that forced overtime, then hit a jumper that gave the 23rd-ranked Boilermakers the lead for good in their 76-70 win over the Spartans on Sunday.

The victory moved Purdue (14-4, 4-1) into a three-way tie with Wisconsin and Indiana for first place in the Big Ten.

Kenneth Lowe led the Boilermakers with 18 points and Brett Buscher scored 17, 13 after halftime.

Paul Davis started the overtime with a dunk that gave Michigan State a 64-62 lead, but the Spartans (8-8, 3-2) missed their next eight shots and were outscored 14-6 the rest of the way.

Lowe's leaning bank shot made it 68-64 for the Boilermakers, who led by 12 points in the second half.

Michigan State appeared to have the game won in regulation when Alan Anderson went to the free throw line with a chance to give the Spartans a four-point lead with 15 seconds to go.

Anderson missed the front end of the 1-and-1 and McKnight's drive tied the game at 62.

Maurice Ager then had a wide-open 3-pointer from the corner to win it for Michigan State, but the ball lodged between the rim and the backboard. The Spartans kept the ball with 1.7 seconds left on the alternate possession rule, but didn't get off a shot.

Davis scored 18 points to lead the Spartans, who lost for the first time in four games.

David Teague's tip-in gave Purdue a 41-31 lead with 17:21 to play in the second half, but Michigan State used a 15-4 run to take the lead midway through the period.

The Spartans got more aggressive during the run, taking the ball hard to the basket for easy layups and free throws.

Purdue couldn't match Michigan State's crisp execution. The Boilermakers shot 40 percent in the second half to the Spartans' 63 percent and went 9:23 without a field goal to let their big lead evaporate.

Buscher picked up the slack, scoring six straight points and 10 of the team's next 16 to get Purdue back in the game at 62-60.

Chris Hill had 18 points and six assists for Michigan State.

Teague had 13 points and was 3-of-6 from 3-point range, while McKnight had 10 points and seven assists.