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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Michigan State gave Seton Hall a
lesson in what it takes to win big games.
|  | | Jason Richardson scored 16 points and for Michigan State. |
The second-ranked Spartans dominated the boards in a 72-57 victory in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday night and gave the Pirates (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) a taste of toughness.
"We played the kind of game I thought we'd have to play to win
here," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after the defending
national champions extended the nation's longest winning streak to
20 games. "They did an incredible job of rebounding and got our
running game going and at the same time didn't let they get into
their runs."
Point guard Charlie Bell had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the
Spartans (9-0) who finished with a 60-39 advantage on the boards,
including 27-13 on the offensive end.
Jason Richardson added 16 points for the Spartans, while
Aloysius Anagonye had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Andre Hutson
had nine points and 13 rebounds.
"I think they are a very tough basketball team and right now we
aren't," Seton Hall coach Tommy Amaker said. "I think it's a
major step for us to become a tougher team, a stronger team and a
more determined team. When you look at Michigan State you really
think that of their team and their program and that's where we need
to get."
Michigan State was coming off a poor offensive performance in a
46-45 victory over Kentucky, but the Spartans turned almost every
missed shot against Seton Hall into a basket.
"I'm a little worried about our shooting for the second game in a row, but a lot of the misses were forced shots on offensive rebounds," Izzo said.
Michigan State led 33-23 at halftime by grabbing more offensive
rebounds (15) than the Pirates had rebounds (13).
Michigan State extended the lead to 40-23 by scoring the first
seven points of the second half, but Seton Hall (6-2) got back
within 44-34 on a 7-0 run that sandwiched two layups by Lane around
a 3-pointer by Marcus Toney-El.
The Spartans then went back to the offensive boards in an 8-0
run that started with a rebound basket by Hutson and included a
technical foul on Amaker on which Bell made both free throws.
"I was trying to see if there was something our team could
rally around," Amaker said. "I don't know if there was anything
that could have done that tonight."
Darius Lane led Seton Hall with 17 points, while freshman Eddie
Griffin had 10 points, on 4-for-17 shooting, and 11 rebounds to
keep his streak of double-doubles in each game intact.
"I thought they did a good job of taking things away from Eddie
and made Darius and him rush their shots," Amaker said.
Lane made it sound simple.
"We just got exposed on the boards no question about it," he
said. "That's where we lost."
The start matches the second-best in Michigan State history. The
Spartans won their first nine games in 1916-17 and their first 10
in 1991-92.
"We knew we were playing a younger team that wasn't as strong
as we were and we wanted to show them what it takes to be a
championship team," Bell said. "Rebounding and defense have been
a staple of this team the last three years. It took us to three Big
Ten championships and an NCAA championship so obviously that's what
wins games."
The Pirates' other loss was also to a highly ranked Big Ten team
-- an overtime loss to No. 5 Illinois in which Seton Hall led by 21
points in the first half.
The game was played at Continental Airlines Arena -- Seton Hall's
home court -- and the charity event drew a crowd of 14,667.
"I was very excited for our team to be here with the great
doubleheader and great crowd," Amaker said. "I was hoping that we
would get out of the blocks early and we didn't."
In the opening game, No. 14 Virginia beat fourth-ranked Tennessee 107-89.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Michigan State Clubhouse
Seton Hall Clubhouse
Two teams fly, two flop in V Classic
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jason Richardson slams it down on the three-on-one.
avi: 1035 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Seton Hall's Eddie Griffin denies Charlie Bell on the way to the hoop.
avi: 777 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
MSU's Andre Hutson gets the feed from Jason Richardson and slams it home.
avi: 709 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Seton Hall's Darius Lane attacks the hoop.
avi: 747 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jimmy Valvano at the 1993 ESPY Awards Show.
RealVideo: | 28.8
 Tom Izzo talks with ESPN's Michelle Tafoya after the Spartans impressive victory over Seton Hall.
wav: 470 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Listen to the audio stream of the 2000 Jimmy V Classic.
RealAudio: | 28.8
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