CHICAGO (AP) — Denzel Valentine had 23 points and Branden Dawson anchored Michigan State’s stout defense, leading the Spartans to a 76-67 victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday night. Travis Trice scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half as the Spartans (22-10) advanced to the Big Ten semifinals for the fifth straight year. They are trying for their second straight tournament title and third in four seasons. Next up for third-seeded Michigan State is No. 2 seed Maryland, which advanced with a 75-69 victory over Indiana. The eighth-ranked Terrapins beat the visiting Spartans 75-59 on Jan. 17. D’Angelo Russell had 19 points for sixth-seeded Ohio State (23-10), which had won four of five. Shannon Scott had 13 points and nine assists after he scored a career-high 21 in Thursday night’s 79-73 victory over Minnesota. The Buckeyes, likely headed for their seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth, shot 39.7 percent (23 for 58) from the field. Dawson finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots. With Ohio State trying to rally in the second half, the senior rejected Scott’s layup attempt and then hustled down for a dunk on the other end that lifted the Spartans to a 47-37 lead…
Continue Reading: Michigan State Beats Ohio State, 76-67, To Advance To Big Ten Semifinals
