MSU struggles, but prevails

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - After his Michigan State team had to come back in the second half for a dragging 70-59 win over IPFW here Wednesday, Tom Izzo was reminded that in his team's upcoming trip to Disney World, there will be no Mickey Mouse to play against.

The Spartans' next game, Thanksgiving night in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., is against Maryland, with ranked powers Gonzaga, Tennessee and Georgetown also in the tournament field.

"Mickey Mouse might be on our team," Izzo answered. "Donald Duck. We're not very ready."

No. 5 MSU (2-0) got its first look at the formula many teams will be using and its first dose of humility - after winning two home exhibitions and the season opener vs. Idaho by an average score of 110-63.

Dane Fife's Mastodons (0-2) of the Summit League, fresh off a 13-18 season and a season-opening 71-43 loss at Xavier, held the ball on offense and got back frantically on defense. They also hit some huge shots and led midway through the second half before succumbing.

Junior forward Raymar Morgan scored 22 points, mostly around the basket and at the foul line, to help MSU muscle out a victory. He and freshmen Delvon Roe and Draymond Green were cited by Izzo for stepping up.

Sophomore guard Kalin Lucas scored 17 for MSU but took the blame for a lifeless start that allowed IPFW to gain confidence.

"I think it started with me," Lucas said. "Being the point guard, I've got to make sure the team is ready."

Izzo called the play of his upperclassmen "discouraging." Senior big men Goran Suton (three points, 10 rebounds) and Marquise Gray (two rebounds, six minutes) were mostly quiet.

Roe had nine points and some heady plays in 17 minutes, while Green played in place of Gray in the second half and had two deflections and took a charge during MSU's decisive 13-0 run.

"I thought our freshmen saved us," said Izzo, who also got five points and 13 solid minutes from freshman guard Korie Lucious.

"(Green) earned his keep tonight," Izzo said. "Maybe he'll move ahead of some guys."

MSU trailed for much of the first half, led by eight at the break, spotted IPFW the first 11 points of the second, and finally took control - holding the Mastodons scoreless for more than five minutes.

IPFW got 22 points and four 3-pointers from shooter Ben Botts, and 17 points from slashing forward David Carson. The Mastodons outshot MSU 46 percent to 42.9 percent.

"We didn't play very good defense," said Morgan, who had six rebounds and hit 8 of 12 free throws. "We just didn't do the things we normally do. It was a disappointing win."

Izzo often describes the atmosphere for road games against big underdogs as a combination of "Christmas and the Fourth of July." Wednesday's was more like Secretary's Day at first.

An initially sleepy crowd of 6,704, many wearing green, took in the action at Memorial Coliseum. Noise finally started to build as it became apparent that the Mastodons were frustrating the Spartans.

It was 5-5 after four minutes. It was 7-7 after eight minutes. It was 15-15 after 15 minutes, with MSU's halfcourt offense stymied repeatedly by turnovers and clanking shots.

"I just didn't like the way we handled ourselves early in the game," Izzo said. "But I don't want to take anything away from IPFW. I like the way they handled themselves."

A Carson 3-pointer gave his team an 18-15 lead with 3:46 left. Chris Allen (seven points) answered seconds later with a tying 3-pointer, starting MSU on a 17-6 run to end the half.

Roe and Morgan each got a pair of baskets inside, three of them plus the foul. Then Lucious gave MSU a 32-24 lead with a 3-point bomb with two seconds left.

But IPFW was not done fighting, and MSU was not done floundering. The Mastodons scored the first 11 points of the second half to take a 35-32 lead.

The advantage went back and forth until a Lucas jumper gave it to MSU for good, 45-44 with 10:27 left.

That keyed the game-changing 13-0 run. MSU did a better job of taking care of the ball after the break, with just three of its 10 turnovers. The Spartans finished with a 38-28 edge on the boards.

But there's much work to be done before their next excursion, which will not feature Mickey, Donald or Goofy.

"I'll get something out of it," Izzo said of Wednesday's game. "But some of the things might cause some sleepless nights over the next week here."