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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CLEVELAND (AP) -- In case there was any doubt, Michigan State
showed that, yes, it was worthy of a No. 1 seed.
Applying the defensive clamps from the start, the Spartans got
15 points and eight assists from Mateen Cleaves and rolled into the
second round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday night with a 65-38
victory over No. 16 seed Valparaiso in the Midwest Regional.
|  | | Michigan State's A.J. Granger, left, and Jason Richardson put the squeeze on Valparaiso's Ivan Vujic. |
Michigan State (27-7), trying to get back to the Final Four for
the second straight year, will play the winner of Thursday's late
game between Saint Louis and Utah in the second round Saturday.
Kentucky, which needed double overtime to hold off St.
Bonaventure 85-80, will play Syracuse, a 79-65 winner over Samford,
in Saturday's other second-round game.
Despite sharing the Big Ten's regular-season title with Ohio
State and winning the conference tournament, the Spartans weren't
guaranteed a top seed until Cincinnati lost star Kenyon Martin and
got bounced from the Conference USA tournament last week.
On Wednesday, many of Michigan State's players talked about the
responsibility that comes along with being a No. 1 seed.
Then they showed the Crusaders (19-13) how serious they were
with a suffocating defense that held Valparaiso to 25 percent
shooting (13-for-52) from the field.
Freshman Jason Richardson had nine points and 10 rebounds and
Morris Peterson added 12 points for Michigan State.
Lubos Barton led Valpo with 13 points.
A 16th seed has never beaten a No. 1 in the tournament, and any
thoughts Valparaiso, a Sweet 16 team in 1998, had of an upset were
gone shortly after pregame warmups.
Michigan State takes great pride in an in-your-face, man-to-man
defense. It's a tradition passed down through the years by the
Spartans, and in the first half Valpo got a full dose of the 2000
edition.
The Spartans hardly gave Valparaiso room to dribble let alone
shoot, and after Milo Stovall made a 3-pointer with 17:18 left in
the half, the Crusaders missed 12 straight shots as they went 10:35
without scoring as Michigan State opened a 20-3 lead.
Barton finally ended the drought with a 3-pointer from the wing
with 6:43 left in the half, giving Valparaiso fans a rare chance to
cheer. But before they could get too giddy, Cleaves drilled a
3-pointer and then fed Richardson for a spectacular alley-oop dunk
as the Spartans opened a 25-8 lead.
Valparaiso finished the first half just 6 of 26 from the floor
and made seven turnovers.
Michigan State didn't ease off after halftime. The Spartans
threw a couple of zone defenses at Valpo, which still couldn't get
an open look at the basket.
The Crusaders did manage to pull within 42-27, but Cleaves
scored seven points and A.J. Granger hit a 3-pointer as the
Spartans ripped off 12 straight points and eventually built a
30-point lead.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Valparaiso NCAA Team Report
Michigan State NCAA Team Report
Chat: NCAA Tourney
Utes win ugly, outlasting Billikens
Kentucky escapes in double OT against Bonnies
Syracuse stops Samford, faces Kentucky next
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Coach Izzo salutes Valparaiso's effort.
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