SB Nation Detroit - Big Ten Tournament 2011: Michigan State Sent Packing By Penn State In Semifinalshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2011-03-12T18:08:52-05:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18108202011-03-12T18:08:52-05:002011-03-12T18:08:52-05:00Big Ten Tournament Bracket 2011: Michigan State Downed By Penn State, 61-48
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Both Michigan teams entered Saturday still alive in the 2011 Big Ten tournament. Neither is moving on to Sunday, though. After Michigan was eliminated by Ohio State in the first semifinal, Penn State eliminated Michigan State in the second semifinal with a 61-48 victory.</p>
<p>The Spartans and Nittany Lions were tied at 26 at halftime. Michigan State got up by nine points midway through the first half, but Penn State went on a 16-4 run and took a 26-23 lead. A late MSU three tied things up before the first 20 minutes came to an end.</p>
<p>In the second half, Penn State took control of the game. Actually, I should say Talor Battle took control of the game. Over a six-minute span he scored 14 straight points for the Nittany Lions. He finished with 25 total points and helped Penn State widen the gap once they took the lead in the final 20 minutes. MSU couldn't get back into the game and ultimately lost by 13 as a result.</p>
<p>Battle went off in the second half, but Tim Frazier deserves some props as well. He scored 22 points for Penn State. He and Battle combined for 47 points, and the rest of the team only had 14 points.</p>
<p>For Michigan State, Kalin Lucas once again led the way in scoring with 16 points. Durrell Summers scored 11 and Draymond Green had 10. The other four players that scored had four points or less.</p>
<p>With Penn State winning, the 2011 Big Ten tournament championship game will be between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions. Here is a look at the updated bracket:</p>
<p>No. 1 Ohio State (beat No. 4 Michigan, <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-wolverines/2011/3/12/2046713/big-ten-tournament-bracket-2011-ohio-state-michigan-basketball">68-61</a>, in semifinals) vs. No. 6 Penn State (beat No. 7 Michigan State, <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-st-spartans/2011/3/12/2046952/big-ten-tournament-bracket-2011-michigan-state-penn-state-basketball">61-48</a>, in semifinals)<a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-wolverines/2011/3/12/2046713/big-ten-tournament-bracket-2011-ohio-state-michigan-basketball"><br></a></p>
<p><i><b>For more on the 2011 Big Ten tournament, check out </b><b><a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/3/6/2033483/big-ten-tournament-2011-bracket">SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream</a></b></i><i><b>.</b></i></p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-st-spartans/2011/3/12/2046952/big-ten-tournament-bracket-2011-michigan-state-penn-state-basketballSean Yuille2011-03-12T16:08:11-05:002011-03-12T16:08:11-05:00Big Ten Tournament Bracket 2011: Michigan State Basketball Meets Penn State
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Ohio State has already advanced to the 2011 Big Ten tournament championship game. The Buckeyes' opponent will be determined this afternoon when Michigan State and Penn State meet in a semifinal nobody expected.</p>
<p>Michigan State, the No. 7 seed, barely got past Iowa on Thursday. On Friday, however, the Spartans looked like the team everybody thought they would be coming into the season by blowing out Purdue. Michigan State's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26634/kalin-lucas">Kalin Lucas</a> dropped 30 points on the Boilermakers, and in general the Spartans were dominant.</p>
<p>I don't know if I would call Penn State's performance against Wisconsin on Friday night dominant, but it was something. The Nittany Lions held Wisconsin to only 33 points in a 36-33 victory. Neither offense could get going in this slow-paced affair, and Penn State won, or perhaps I should say survived the ugly game. (On Thursday, Penn State beat Indiana, the No. 11 seed.)</p>
<p>Michigan State and Penn State split the regular season series. The first game was a 66-62 victory at home for Penn State back on Jan. 8. The second meeting came in East Lansing on Feb. 10 and was a 75-57 win for the Nittany Lions. This third matchup will decide which team plays in the Big Ten tournament championship game, and for the Nittany Lions it very well could decide whether or not they are going to the NCAA tournament.</p>
<p>Here is a look at the updated 2011 Big Ten tournament bracket with one semifinal left to play:</p>
<p>No. 1 Ohio State beat No. 4 Michigan, <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-wolverines/2011/3/12/2046713/big-ten-tournament-bracket-2011-ohio-state-michigan-basketball">68-61</a></p>
<p>------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>No. 7 Michigan State (<a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-st-spartans/2011/3/11/2045557/big-ten-tournament-bracket-2011-michigan-state-basketball-purdue">beat Purdue</a>, 74-56, in quarterfinals) vs. No. 6 Penn State (<a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/3/11/2045633/big-ten-tournament-bracket-2011-penn-state-wisconsin-basketball">beat Wisconsin</a>, 36-33, in quarterfinals)</p>
<p><i><b>For more on the 2011 Big Ten tournament, check out </b><b><a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/3/6/2033483/big-ten-tournament-2011-bracket">SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream</a></b></i><i><b>.</b></i></p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/3/12/2331379/big-ten-tournament-bracket-2011-michigan-state-basketball-meets-pennSean Yuille