No stop in sight

Michigan drops Michigan State for 13th straight victory

Daniel Horton led Michigan with 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting. AP

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan's five freshmen don't know much about Michigan State's recent dominance on the basketball court.

And they don't care.

Freshman Daniel Horton had 17 points and four assists as the Wolverines beat the Spartans 60-58 on Sunday, ending an eight-game losing streak in a rivalry that included a 51-point loss and an average losing margin of 22.5 points.

"If I had been here when Michigan State had its big wins, I think it would factor into my psyche and how I came into this game," Horton said. "I think it helped that I didn't know anything about it."

Michigan (13-6, 6-0 Big Ten) won its 13th straight game -- its longest winning streak since the 1987-88 season -- after losing the first six games for the first time in school history. The Wolverines also are off to their best start in the conference since 1976-77.

Second-year coach Tommy Amaker refused to bask in the glory shortly after a sellout crowd rushed the floor at Crisler Arena. Amaker has led a remarkable turnaround in a season that began with self-imposed sanctions -- including a ban on postseason play this season -- stemming from the scandal involving ex-booster Ed Martin.

"We're still on our journey," Amaker said. "We don't want to stop."

When pressed on whether he took a moment to soak in the incredible atmosphere around him at a place long regarded as a "football school," Amaker still wouldn't budge.

"No, I just want to go watch the Super Bowl."

The Spartans (10-8, 2-4) have dropped six of their last eight games and lost to Michigan for the first time since Jan. 10, 1998.

"I think this loss hurts more than any one," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "You get remembered for the things you accomplish, and the things you don't."

Michigan went on an 11-0 run to take a 58-52 lead with 35.7 seconds left, holding the Spartans scoreless for just over six minutes.

After Chris Hill pulled Michigan State within three with 11 seconds left, Michigan's leading scorer, LaVell Blanchard, scored his first points -- two free throws with 10 seconds left.

"How could you be upset when you beat Michigan State?" Blanchard asked. "This was an important win for our team, and our program."

Hill's 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left cut the Spartans' deficit to 60-58, but the Wolverines were able to get the ball inbounds to seal the win.

"I never doubted our kids and I don't think they doubted themselves," Amaker said.

There were nine ties and seven lead changes in a first half, which showed right away that the game would to live up to the hype.

Robinson's 3-pointer gave Michigan a 22-21 lead with 5:40 left in the first period. The Wolverines led 31-28 at halftime and maintained the lead until Tim Bograkos tied the game at 38 with 13:29 left.

Hill's 3-pointer with 8:34 left put Michigan State ahead 47-45, which was its first lead in over 18 minutes.

Erazem Lorbek's 3-pointer and Hill's driving layup capped a 12-2 run, which gave Michigan State its biggest lead, 52-47 with 6:24. But Michigan quickly tied the game for a 13th time during its closing run.

Michigan was 19-of-24 from the free throw line while the Spartans were just 5-of-11.

Lester Abram scored 14 points for the Wolverines, and Bernard Robinson had 13.

Hill scored 20 points and Alan Anderson added 13 for the Spartans.

Michigan's freshmen scored the first 15 points of the first half, the first 12 of the second and 42 of the team's 60.

Amaker has said because his five freshmen -- Horton, Abram, Graham Brown, Chris Hunter and Sherrod Harrell -- hadn't been beaten by Michigan State that they wouldn't have lingering thoughts or scars heading into the game, unlike his upperclassmen.

"I definitely believe that," Amaker said.

 

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