Malik Hall had 19 points and seven rebounds as Michigan State pulled away from Maryland 63-54 in East Lansing, Mich. on Saturday.
Tyson Walker also scored 19 points for the Spartans (14-8 overall, 6-5 Big Ten), who defeated Maryland for the second time this season. A.J. Hoggard added six points, eight assists and three steals.
Jahmir Young led the Terrapins (13-9, 5-6) with 31 points on 9 of 22 shooting. Donta Scott had 13 points and 10 rebounds but made just 5 of 19 shots. Julian Reese, who averages a double-double, was limited to two points and two rebounds due to foul trouble. Maryland was held to 30.9 percent shooting from the field.
The Spartans led 31-27 at halftime. Walker topped Michigan State with 12 points, and Young and Scott combined for 23 of Maryland’s points.
An early 10-2 run that included eight points from Walker gave Michigan State a 14-5 lead. Maryland answered with a 10-2 run, including five points from Young, to pull within a point.
The Spartans’ lead fluctuated between one and six points the remainder of the half. Scott knocked down a 3-pointer in the final minute to pull within two points. Hoggard scored from short range with 10 seconds left.
Reese picked up his fourth foul eight seconds into the second half. Walker’s three-point play gave the Spartans a 34-29 advantage.
Jordan Geronimo’s alley-oop dunk off a feed from Young cut the Spartans’ lead to 36-33.
A few minutes later, Jaden Akins and Young traded 3-pointers. Scott scored inside and Young made a layup to give Maryland its first lead at 42-41.
Hoggard set up Mady Sissoko to put the Spartans back on top.
Hall knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:21 left to make it 48-44, beginning a 12-0 run.
Hall then converted a three-point play on Michigan State’s next possession and Hoggard followed with a steal and layup for a 53-44 lead.
Hall tacked on two free throws and Walker made a layup after another Terrapins turnover.
Maryland couldn’t get closer than the final margin after the Spartans’ outburst.
–Field Level Media