Chris Hill scored 22 points and Aloysius Anagonye added
10 points and nine rebounds as No. 21 Michigan State beat No. 22 Virginia 82-75 Wednesday night.
The Spartans (3-2) avoided their first three-game losing streak since the 1996-97 season, and their first losing record since 1995 when they started 1-2 in coach Tom Izzo’s first season.
The Spartans took control of the game with a
17-0 run–holding Virginia (3-2) scoreless for over six minutes–that made it 33-19 with 4:19 left in the half.
Not coincidentally, the game’s decisive burst began when Travis Watson was called for his third foul midway through the first half. The Cavaliers’ leader in scoring, rebounding and assists had just 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting, six rebounds and no blocks.
Michigan State led by 11 at halftime and was up 59-41 midway through the second half.
Watson’s second basket with 7:02 left cut Virginia’s deficit to 59-50. The Cavaliers couldn’t get closer until a jumper by Todd Billet brought them within seven points in the final minute.
Billet had 28 points for Virginia and Devin Smith scored a career-high 24.
The Spartans relied on balanced scoring, scrappy defense and rebounding against Virginia just as they did in winning four of the past five Big Ten titles and advancing to three of the previous four Final Fours.
The Spartans–with role players such as Tim Bograkos diving for loose balls– limited Virginia to 36 percent shooting in the first half and 47.4 percent overall.
