EAST LANSING, Mich., Sporting Alert – Denzel Valentine had 30 points and 13 assists, and No. 8 Michigan State eased to an 88-69 win over Indiana in college basketball action on Sunday.
The senior forward went 11-of-19 on shooting from the field overall, while making 5 of his 8 attempts from 3-pointers in the win for the Spartans (21-5, 8-5 Big Ten), who took over the game in the second half.
“We just had to relax,” Valentine said.
Valentine also finished with five rebounds and three steals on the day for Michigan State, which was bouncing back from their 82-81 upset against No. 18 Purdue last Tuesday night.
Matt Costello poured in a career-high 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting, and grabbed 11 rebounds and had three block shots, while Bryn Forbes added 14 points for the Spartans, who shot 57.6 percent from the floor.
“Our three seniors were the difference in the game,” Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. “And, you hope that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
Indiana was led by Max Bielfeldt, who scored 10 of his 15 points in the first half, while grabbing 10 rebounds and made three of six 3-point attempts.
Robert Johnson had 11 points and five assists, Collin Hartman scored 11 points and Thomas Bryant finished with 10 and five rebounds for the Hoosiers (20-6, 10-3).
However, leading scorer Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell, who is averaging 17.1 points per game this season, was limited to nine points for Indiana, which is one less than his season low.
Michigan State led 41-40 at halftime, but used a 24-3 run to help build a 17 point lead midway through the second half.
“We didn’t put enough pressure on (Valentine),” Indiana coach Tom Crean said. “We didn’t make him uncomfortable.”
In other AP top 25 college basketball scores on Sunday, Brice Johnson scored 19 points, and No. 9 to North Carolina defeated Pittsburgh, 85-64 in an Atlantic Coast Conference battle.
The Tar Heels (21-4, 10-2 ACC) are warming up for Monday’s conference clash with Duke.
College Basketball Scores
Sunday, February 14
No. 8 MICHIGAN STATE 88, INDIANA 69
No. 9 NORTH CAROLINA 85, PITTSBURGH 64
No. 12 MIAMI (FL) 67, FLORIDA STATE
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