Michigan State Pummels Indiana 103-74

[March 03, 2008]  EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Raymar Morgan scored 12 of his 20 points early to help No. 19 Michigan State build a big lead and beat No. 12 Indiana 103-74 Sunday, allowing the Spartans to finish undefeated at home and hand Dan Dakich his first loss as interim coach.

Michigan State (23-6, 11-5 Big Ten) led 59-31 at halftime after making 78 percent of its shots, including nine 3-pointers.

Eric Gordon scored 22 and D.J. White had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Hoosiers (24-5, 13-3) who had a chance to pull into a three-way tie with Big Ten leaders Wisconsin and Purdue.

Indiana won its first two games with Dakich in charge following Kelvin Sampson's resignation amid NCAA allegations of major rule infractions.

Drew Neitzel scored 17 points in his final home game, Goran Suton had 17 points, Kalin Lucas scored 14 and Chris Allen added 11 for the Spartans, who won all 17 of their games this season at the Breslin Center, where Indiana has lost 14 straight.

The Hoosiers -- who had won four straight and seven of eight -- were handed their most lopsided defeat losing to Wisconsin 79-45 in 2004.

Michigan State had lost four of its previous seven games -- with each setback on the road -- but put together a dominant performance it hopes carries over to the final week on the road, then the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

The Spartans had their highest score at halftime in a Big Ten game since scoring 61 against Penn State in 2001 and had their best shooting percentage in the first half since connecting on 81 percent four years ago against Ohio State.

Morgan led the way, making a 3-pointer against a zone to open the game and following up with another 3-pointer, a layup, low-post shot and fastbreak dunk to put Michigan State ahead 27-16.

Allen made consecutive 3-pointers late in the first half, leading to a chant of "We want tacos!" because fans can turn in their ticket stub for a free taco if the Spartans score 70.

Early in the second half, the free grub was sealed.

Gordon's fadeaway capped a 9-0 run and pulled Indiana within 17 points midway through the second half, but the Spartans ended any comeback hopes by scoring seven straight as part of a run that put them ahead by 30 points again.

[Associated Press; By LARRY LAGE]

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