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Joy tempered Peterson learns of grandmother's death after victory
Posted: Sunday March 26, 2000 09:57 PM
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Morris Peterson went from the high of making a highlight reel alley-oop dunk that sparked the Michigan State Spartans to their second straight Final Four appearance to learning shortly after the game that his grandmother had died. "He went from the top of the top to the bottom of the bottom in a matter of seconds," Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. Clara Mae Spencer, 72, died early Saturday morning in Mississippi of complications from a stroke she suffered last month. His family decided not to tell Peterson until after the Spartans had beaten Iowa State 75-64 Saturday night. After the game, Izzo pulled Peterson into a room where his family was waiting and delivered the news. Peterson told the Lansing State Journal that he will fly to Mississippi this week for the funeral, then try to give her the gift she would treasure most -- a national championship. "She'd so anything for me," he said. "And I really felt her with me tonight. I didn't know she passed away. But I felt here with me all night long." Peterson scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half. "It seemed like somebody was guiding those shots in," Peterson told the Detroit Free Press. "When I got the news, it was very emotional. My grandmother was my best friend." Her wake will be held Thursday and funeral services are Friday. The Spartans play Wisconsin in Indianapolis on Saturday. Last year, Peterson's grandmother attended Michigan State's national semifinal game with Duke and the regional games in St. Louis. Though She won't be there during this magical ride, Peterson's got a seat reserved for her someplace else. "My grandmother will always be in here," Peterson said and tapped his fist above his heart.
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