Friday, March 13, 2009
Eric Lacy / The Detroit News
Michigan State opens Big Ten in dominating fashion
INDIANAPOLIS -- Travis Walton, the Big Ten's defensive player of the year, led a second half surge as Michigan State defeated Minnesota, 64-56, to advance to the conference tournament semifinals.
Michigan State plays the winner of this afternoon's Wisconsin-Ohio State game on Saturday.
Walton led the Spartans with his defense and assists, including two alley-oop passes that led to dunks.
Durrell Summers caught Walton's first lob early in the second half for a one-handed dunk. Marquise Gray caught another about 90 seconds later for a dunk.
Gray's dunk gave the Spartans a 44-36 lead, and they retained control the remainder of the game.
Walton finished with four points, a season-high six assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Against a trapping zone, the Spartans had to rely on their bench to get an edge midway through the first half.
Gray and Chris Allen combined for 21 of the Spartans' first 31 points.
Allen finished with a team-high 17, including 12 in the first half.
Gray scored nine of his 11 points in the first half.
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