Sooners Fall To No. 15 Spartans, 67-55

Nov 14, 2001

By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Adam Ballinger has scored on midrange jumpers, 3-pointers and low-post moves in the past.

However, those skills were executed in practices, not games. That changed Wednesday night.

Ballinger set career highs of 13 points and nine rebounds as No. 15 Michigan State beat No. 25 Oklahoma 67-55 in the Preseason NIT, extending the nation's longest home winning streak to 46 games.

"We need guys like myself that haven't had to do a lot in the past, do a lot more this year," Ballinger said. "It felt good to put together a game like that on a night that we won."

Ballinger was more nervous during a postgame interview than he was playing.

"Seriously, I was sweating when I had to talk with those TV guys on the court after the game," Ballinger said. "I'm so used to seeing other guys do that. This time, I was in the spotlight and it was a little nerve-racking, but hopefully I can get used to that."

The Spartans (2-0) will play No. 21 Syracuse in the semifinals of the 16-team tournament Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

"This could not have worked out better for us, to have an opportunity to go to New York," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "I think we're going to grow as players because we are getting to play two more games and I think we're going to grow as people because we are going to have a little time together as a team.

"This is going to be a great trip, educationally, academically and athletically."

Marcus Taylor had 12 points and nine assists in Michigan State's second-round victory. Adam Wolfe and Aloysius Anagonye added 10 each.

Hollis Price led the Sooners (1-1) with 18 points. Ebi Ere, a junior-college transfer recruited by Michigan State, had 16 points and six rebounds.

"This was good for us to test our mettle," Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. "There's a reason Michigan State has won 40-something games here in a row."

The Spartans still have not trailed this season, though the Sooners evened the game at 39 early in the second half.

After the two rugged teams traded baskets for a few minutes, the Spartans went on an 11-2 run for a 55-44 lead with 6:55 left.

The Sooners didn't get closer than eight.

Michigan State made 56.1 percent of its shots and held the Sooners to 32.3 percent shooting.

Ballinger, a redshirt junior, had nine points and seven rebounds in the first half - both totals were one short of his career high. He averaged 1.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 8.2 minutes last season.

"We've seen him play like this in practice, so it was nice to see him put together a game like that," Izzo said. "We've also known he could shoot, but what I'm really pleased with is his rebounding."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Fall To No. 15 Spartans, 67-55

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