Post-Game Notes: Minnesota

Nov. 6, 2010

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• MSU has reached nine wins for the second time in the last three years; it also marks the 11th time in school history that MSU has won at least nine games (1905, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1965, 1966, 1987, 1999, 2008, 2010).

• This marks the first time Michigan State has won at least nine games twice within a three-season span since 1965-66...Coach Dantonio is the first coach in MSU history to win at least nine games twice in his first four seasons...Dantonio now has 31 wins in his first four years at Michigan State, which is the most by any Spartan head coach in his first four seasons (second, Chester Brewer with 30 wins from 1903-06).

• Edwin Baker recorded career highs in carries (27) and rushing touchdowns (4) and finished with 179 yards, his second-best effort of the season (career-high 183 vs. Florida Atlantic)...it marks the first time a Spartan has scored four rushing touchdowns since Ashton Leggett had four against Western Michigan last season...Baker now has 979 yards this season and needs 21 more rushing yards to reach the 1,000-yard milestone this season...it marked Baker's fourth 100-yard game of his career and the season (183 vs. Florida Atlantic; 147 vs. Michigan; 117 vs. Western Michigan).

• With two catches for 35 yards, Mark Dell became just the eighth receiver in MSU history to surpass the 2,000-yard career milestone...Dell now has 123 career receptions for 2,001 yards...he ranks among MSU's career leaders in both receptions (No. 11) and receiving yards (No. 8).

• With 2.5 tackles for loss, Greg Jones moved ahead of Larry Bethea (43) into second place on MSU's all-time list with 44.5 career TFLs...Jones had nine tackles in the game and now has 446 career tackles, which is third in MSU history...Jones leads the Spartans with 87 tackles this season and is also tied for the team lead with 8.0 tackles for loss.

• MSU improved to 6-0 at home this season and is 21-6 (.778) in home games under head coach Mark Dantonio.

• Jerel Worthy matched his career high with five tackles, including 1.5 for losses...Worthy has recorded a tackle for loss in five consecutive games.

• Marcus Hyde recorded his third interception of the season and returned it 41 yards...he also tied his career high with two pass break-ups.

• MSU's defense has now recorded at least one takeaway in eight of the 10 games this season and has 21 for the season.

• Dan Conroy connected on a 29-yard field goal and is now 14-for-15 on the season and 15-for-16 in his career...he also made all four of his PATs and is a perfect 37-for-37 this season.

• Kirk Cousins did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time since playing just one series at Illinois last year, a span of 16 games, which tied a school record.

• Michigan State scored on all four of its trips to the red zone, improving to 32-for-36 (89 percent) for the season.

• Michigan State converted both of its fourth-down conversions against Minnesota and is now 10-for-14 (71 percent) on the season in fourth-down conversions, including four TDs (Gantt 29-yard reception vs. Notre Dame; Cunningham 1-yard reception; Baker two 1-yard rushing TDs vs. Minnesota).

• Colin Neely recorded an 8-yard sack and had four tackles overall...he is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (8.0) along with Greg Jones.

• Minnesota was limited to 76 yards rushing, marking the fourth time MSU has held an opponent under 100 yards rushing this season...MSU also held the Gophers to just 267 yards of total offense , the second-lowest output of the season for a Spartan opponent (266 yards by Northern Colorado), and also the second fewest by Minnesota this season (232 vs. Ohio State).

• The 31-8 win marks the first victory for MSU over Minnesota since a 51-18 win during the 2004 season...MSU now leads the overall series, 26-17, including a 15-6 mark in East Lansing...MSU has won 20 of the past 26 meetings against the Gophers.

• Michigan State has scored at least 30 points in eight games this season.