1 | 2 | T | |
---|---|---|---|
MSU | 45 | 35 | 80 |
PSU | 31 | 41 | 72 |
Michigan State pulls away in the first half, beats Penn State 80-72 behind Hall's career-high 29
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- — Malik Hall had a career-high 29 points and 10 rebounds, Jaden Akins scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half and Michigan State beat Penn State 80-72 on Wednesday night.
Michigan State (16-9, 8-6) has won seven of its last nine games and four of its last five after starting Big Ten play 1-4.
Michigan State made 13 of its first 25 shots, while Penn State shot just 31.6%, to help take a 32-18 lead. The Spartans went on a 10-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game with 6:07 left before halftime.
Akins and Xavier Booker combined to make three 3-pointers on four possessions to give Michigan State a 41-26 lead. Akins made four 3-pointers in the first half as Michigan State led 45-31. The Spartans shot 56% in the half, while Penn State was just 11 of 29.
Penn State started the second half on a 7-1 run to get within 46-38. The Nittany Lions cut it to eight points again, at 58-50, but Michigan State scored the next six points to go ahead by double figures until Zach Hicks hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.
Carson Cooper added 10 points for Michigan State, which claimed the season’s first series meeting, 92-61, on Jan. 4 in East Lansing. Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard combined to score 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting.
Hicks and Ace Baldwin Jr. each scored 15 points for Penn State (12-13, 6-8), which had won three of its last four games — with all three victories by double digits. Nick Kern Jr. added 14 points.
Michigan State travels to play Michigan on Saturday. Penn State plays at Nebraska on Saturday.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Bert Smith
- James Breeding
- Robert Riley
2023-24 Big Ten Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Purdue | 17-3 | - | 34-5 |
Illinois | 14-6 | 3 | 29-9 |
Nebraska | 12-8 | 5 | 23-11 |
Northwestern | 12-8 | 5 | 22-12 |
Wisconsin | 11-9 | 6 | 22-14 |
Indiana | 10-10 | 7 | 19-14 |
Michigan State | 10-10 | 7 | 20-15 |
Iowa | 10-10 | 7 | 19-15 |
Ohio State | 9-11 | 8 | 22-14 |
Minnesota | 9-11 | 8 | 19-15 |
Penn State | 9-11 | 8 | 16-17 |
Maryland | 7-13 | 10 | 16-17 |
Rutgers | 7-13 | 10 | 15-17 |
Michigan | 3-17 | 14 | 8-24 |