Post-Game Notes

March 14, 2008

TEAM NOTES

- Michigan State improves to 12-8 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament...MSU is now 1-1 against Ohio State in the tournament and 4-3 in Big Ten Tournament games held in Indianapolis.

- The Spartans advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the sixth time in the tournament's 11-year history...MSU is 2-3 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals...the Spartans will face top-seeded Wisconsin in tomorrow's semifinals...MSU is 2-2 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament vs. Wisconsin...the Badgers defeated MSU in the quarterfinals last year, 70-57...Michigan State beat Wisconsin in the 1999 and 2000 semifinals en route to winning the Big Ten Tournament...the Spartans lost to Wisconsin in the 2004 semifinals.

- The Spartans outscored the Buckeyes, 14-4, on fast-break points...MSU had just four fast-break points in last week's loss at Ohio State.

- With the victory, MSU wins the season series over Ohio State, two games to one.

- MSU improves to 4-1 when playing on a neutral court this season.

- After committing a season-high 21 turnovers in last week's loss to the Buckeyes, MSU committed nine in today's game.

- The Spartans had 60 field-goal attempts, the most by MSU in a Big Ten Tournament game...MSU also had seven 3-pointers, tied for second most by a Spartan team in the Big Ten Tournament, and eight steals, tied for third most by an MSU team in the tournament.

- MSU won the battle of the boards, 41-36...the Spartans are 23-4 when outrebounding their opponent...MSU has only been outrebounded in three games this season.

- MSU shot 41 percent from 3-point range (7-for-17)...over the last four games, MSU is shooting 46 percent (30-for-65) from behind the arc.

PLAYER NOTES

- Senior guard Drew Neitzel had one of the best games in MSU Big Ten Tournament history...he had season highs in points (28), field goals (9), field-goal attempts (17) and 3-point field-goal attempts (12), and tied a season high with six 3-pointers...the 28 points, nine field goals, six 3s and 12 3-point attempts are all Spartan Big Ten Tournament records...the previous MSU scoring high was 22 points by Morris Peterson on March 10, 2000, vs. Iowa, while the previous best for 3-pointers was five held by Neitzel (2007 vs. Northwestern) and Maurice Ager (2006 vs. Iowa)...the six 3s tie for the second most in a Big Ten Tournament game (record: 7)...Neitzel hit four 3-pointers and had 14 points in the first half...he hit his first shot of the game, a 3-pointer, 20 seconds into the game...perhaps his biggest shot of the game was his last - with MSU up 58-55 with 1:21 remaining, Neitzel hit a 3 to give the Spartans a commanding 61-55 lead...Neitzel's previous high in the Big Ten Tournament arrived last season against Northwestern, when he scored 20...Neitzel's career high scoring effort is 32 points (Dec. 16, 2006 vs. Chicago State)...Neitzel also hit six 3-pointers against Northwestern earlier this season...his career high for 3-pointers is seven (Nov. 21, 2006 vs. Vermont)...Neitzel has now scored 20-plus this season five times.

- With his 28 points, Neitzel moved in 15th on MSU's all-time scoring list...he now has 1,476 career points...he passed Charlie Bell (1,468 points).

- Freshman guard Durrell Summers scored five points in eight minutes in his first career Big Ten Tournament game...he scored five straight points in the second half, hitting a 3-pointer at the 7:10 mark following by a layup 20 seconds later...those five points halted a 5-0 Ohio State run and put MSU back up seven points at 52-45.

- MSU's three freshman, Kailin Lucas, Chris Allen and Summers, combined for 16 points in their first Big Ten Tournament game.

- Senior center Drew Naymick grabbed seven rebounds, marking the most in his career in a Big Ten Tournament game.