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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Morris Peterson has had a lot of big games for Michigan State. Still, he will remember this one.
Peterson had 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Spartans No. 5 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) took over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten with an 83-72 payback win over No. 7 Ohio State on Tuesday night.
|  | | Ohio State's Scoonie Penn drives the baseline as Michigan State's Andre Hutson defends. |
"This is definitely going to stand out," said Peterson, who
scored 20 points in a 78-67 loss in Columbus on Jan. 20. "Years
from now, when I'm done playing, I'll still enjoy this one."
This was the 25th straight win at home for the Spartans (19-6,
9-2), who are attempting to win a third straight conference regular
season title.
"Nobody had to tell us this was an important game," said
Charlie Bell, who scored 23 points for the Spartans. "We were
trying to protect home floor, and this was for first place in the
Big Ten. I don't think you need too much more motivation than
that."
Scoonie Penn scored 30 points for Ohio State (17-5, 8-3), which
turned the ball over 14 times and fell into a tie for second in the
conference with Indiana and Purdue.
"They played us tough," said Michael Redd, who added 18 points
for the Buckeyes. "They made good decisions off our turnovers. It
was tough."
Mateen Cleaves scored 24 points for Michigan State and his one
steal gave him 176 for his career, one more than the school record
he shared with Scott Skiles.
The Spartans hit 8-of-20 from 3-point range.
Michigan State won the battle of the boards, 43-30, including a
16-8 edge on the offensive end.
The importance of this game was apparent from the opening tip.
Both teams made it to the Final Four last season and played like a
No. 1 seed in this season's tournament might be at stake.
Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien was ejected by referee Tom O'Neill
after picking up his second technical foul 5½ minutes into the
second half. Assistant Rick Boyages ran the bench the rest of the
way.
"First of all, I did not like the way I was being treated by
O'Neill," O'Brien said. "There were no obscenities. He just
called a technical on me from across the way.
"On the second one, I was trying to get his attention and he
just refused to acknowledge me. He just kept walking away. I tapped
him on the shoulder."
O'Neill said coaches are supposed to stay in the huddle during
timeouts.
"I think Jimmy getting ejected was, believe it or not,
disappointing," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said, "because I
think he is a class guy and a good guy."
The Buckeyes turned the ball over four times in the first 3:11
and Michigan State used the errors to break to a 9-2 lead.
But Penn scored five points as the Buckeyes, after a timeout, went on a 9-0 run.
Two 3-point baskets by Peterson keyed a 17-4 Michigan State
burst for a 26-13 lead midway through the half which the Spartans
never relinquished.
"The thing we talked about when playing this team, when you
make mistakes, they turn them into baskets," O'Brien said. "I
think that is what happened, basically."
Cleaves hit a 3-pointer and two free throws to spark Michigan
State to a 44-33 halftime lead. The Spartans hit 7-of-9 from
3-point range in the first half.
Bell scored six straight points on three fast breaks as the
Spartans broke to a 52-37 lead with 14:40 left in the second half.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Ohio State Clubhouse
Michigan State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Morris Peterson throws it down on Ken Johnson.
avi: 1354 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ken Johnson slams home the missed shot.
avi: 1064 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Mateen Cleaves feeds Charlie Bell on the break.
avi: 610 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Morris Peterson knocks down the three.
avi: 1015 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Mateen Cleaves' hard work translates to a Spartans' win.
wav: 138 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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