Jan. 18, 2005
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Maurice Ager scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half to help No. 19 Michigan State get past Purdue 71-64 Tuesday night.
The Spartans (11-3, 3-1 Big Ten) looked sluggish early, still reeling from their collapse at Wisconsin on Sunday, before riding Ager's sharp shooting late in the game.
Carl Landry scored a career-high 31 points for Purdue (4-11, 0-5) and David Teague had 13. The Boilermakers are 0-5 in the Big Ten for the first time since the 1962-63 season.
The Spartans led by 13 early in the second half before the Boilermakers rallied. Purdue went on a 15-3 run to pull to 43-42 with 9:16 left.
Sparked by a steal and dunk, Ager scored 10 of 11 points for the Spartans over the next three-plus minutes. But the Spartans struggled to build a lead larger than six because they couldn't stop Purdue, especially Landry near the basket.
Michigan State finally stopped Purdue in the final minute after Ager ended his scoring barrage with a 3-pointer with 1:11 left.
Shannon Brown scored 20 for the Spartans, who have won eight of nine, and Paul Davis added nine points.
Both teams were coming off heartbreaking losses.
Michigan State blew an eight-point lead in the final 1:55 in a loss Sunday at Wisconsin, and Purdue lost in double-overtime to Indiana at home Saturday.
After a slow start Tuesday, the Spartans held Purdue without a field goal for 8:30 late in the first half and went on an 18-4 run, helping them lead 36-27 at halftime.
Ager was 1-of-3 in the first half before finishing 7-of-11 - including 3-of-5 on 3-pointers - and making five of six free throws.