Kushalini blog

No. 2 Michigan State beats South Carolina 82-73

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Durrell Summers had 22 points, Draymond Green scored 18 and Delvon Roe added 15, helping No. 2 Michigan State hold off South Carolina for an 82-73 win Tuesday night.

The Spartans (2-0) led 42-25 at halftime, but had the lead cut to single digits early in the second half and couldn't pull away because they made too many turnovers and gave up a lot of 3-pointers.

Freshman Bruce Ellington made a shot from beyond the arc that pulled the Gamecocks (1-1) within six points with 2:13 left to play, but they couldn't get closer.

Ellington finished with 22 points and teammate Sam Muldrow was held to five points and was stunted defensively because of foul trouble.

Michigan State made 19 turnovers and gave up 11 3-pointers.

The 10 p.m. EST tipoff allowed Roe, a theatre major, to have a unique night.

He played Charles the wrestler in Shakespeare's "As You Like It" on campus in a performance that started about 2 1/2 hours before the game did.

Then, he put on a show in the opening minutes.

Roe had a block, an offensive rebound and a backdoor pass early in the game. He had 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and a block by halftime, playing one of his best halves in three seasons with the Spartans. He finished well, too, coming up one point short of his career high and setting a personal best with six assists.

Michigan State had a scare midway through the second half when star guard Kalin Lucas, coming off surgery on his left Achilles' tendon, gingerly walked off the court after flexing his left foot and ankle.

Lucas didn't stay on the bench long, drawing cheers when he checked back in the game. He had five points — 13 fewer than he scored in the opener — and had seven assists without a turnover.

South Carolina didn't have a double-digit scorer for almost 30 minutes, but finished with three. Brian Richardson scored 11 points and Stephen Spinella finished with 10.