Seniors have 'perfect' finale

EAST LANSING - Michigan State seniors Drew Neitzel and Drew Naymick sat in front of the Breslin Center scorer's table one last time before checking into the game with less than five minutes to go.

With the Spartans comfortably leading 93-64, the game was no longer in doubt. The two exchanged a few words, smiled and then bumped fists before playing their final minutes on the floor as they helped their team seal a 103-74 win.

"The gist of it was, 'last few minutes, make the most of it,'" said Naymick, MSU's all-time leader in blocks.

Two minutes later, Naymick blocked another shot and then subbed out of the game, but not before receiving a standing ovation and stopping to kiss the block 'S' at center court.

One minute later, Neitzel slashed to the basket and flipped in a layup, and then took his curtain call that included another ovation and his own kiss on the 'S.'

Neitzel finished with 17 points and three assists.

"I hate senior day, I do a terrible job in the pre-game speech, I'm not very good for handling a lot of things," MSU coach Tom Izzo said.

Both seniors were fulfilled with the ending to their playing careers at Breslin Center.

"It was a perfect end," said Naymick, who added two more blocks to his career total (128) on Sunday. "I got that block and then Drew (Neitzel) got that layup - a perfect end."

"It was just unbelievable," Neitzel said of kissing the 'S.' "You just start thinking about all the great players that have played in this program before you, and then you look at your career and you say - you're now one of them.

"Just to end my career that way - and that's all I asked of my teammates, was just to get that lead up before the end of the game so I could kiss the S. It's something I'll never forget."

Izzo also has fond memories of Neitzel and Naymick.

"I think with Drew Neitzel, (what) I'll remember most was a trip to see the young girl he was mentoring there as she was going through cancer (treatment), and unfortunately finally passed away," Izzo said. "I went through a deal with him one night and I found out that there's better things than basketball.

"With Naymick, the kid's working on his Ph.D.," Izzo said. "I said his first three years was riddled with injuries. ... But when you look at him on the court, off the court - that's a legacy in itself."

While neither Neitzel nor Naymick have a Big Ten regular-season championship, both say there's plenty left to strive for.

"Not winning the Big Ten - I'm not gonna lie - was disappointing, but we've still got a lot to play for," Naymick said. "It's March and this program has been all about winning in March and making tournament runs."

ROE HEALED: MSU hosted several recruits on Sunday, including class of 2008 member Delvon Roe, who is recovering from micro-fracture surgery on his knee.

"It's going good," Roe said of his rehabilitation. "It's basically healed. The doctors said I've got to get the strength back in it now. But by June, I should be back playing lightly, and by October-November I'll be back to full strength."

Other recruits in attendance included Roe's classmates Draymond Green of Saginaw and Korie Lucious of Milwaukee. Several prospects from Detroit also made the trip, including sophomores Keith Appling and Juwan Howard Jr. along with freshman wing Brandon Kearney. Lansing Eastern freshman LaDontae Henton was also on hand.

LIGHTS OUT: MSU's first half against Indiana was one of the better offensive halves of basketball the Spartans have played this decade. The 59 points were the most in a Big Ten half since scoring 61 against Penn State on Jan. 3, 2001.

The 77.8 percent field-goal shooting was the highest shooting percentage in a half since MSU shot 80.8 percent in the first half against Ohio State on Feb. 7, 2004.

WHO CARES? Indiana coach Dan Dakich was asked if he was bothered by the MSU players kissing the 'S.'

"I don't care," Dakich said. "I've got a lot more things to worry about than whether or not Michigan State players kiss the S. It means a lot to them and I don't take offense to that. I respect it. I hope that D.J. White feels that way about the IU on his court. It's a neat thing for them."

STICKING IT OUT: Izzo took time to thank the MSU students that delayed leaving on spring break, which began after classes Friday.

"I'd be crazy if I didn't thank the students for staying," Izzo said.