SPORTS

Valentine's 32 points lead MSU past Boise State, 77-67

Senior guard's seven three-pointers lifted No. 3 Spartans to another victory in the Wooden Legacy Classic

Shawn Windsor
Detroit Free Press
Nov 27, 2015; Fullerton , CA, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) reacts against the Boise State Broncos during the first half at Titan Gym.

FULLERTON, Calif. – There will be days when Michigan State doesn't make so many three-pointers, days when its ball-screen defense costs it, when dribble penetration and all those easy lay-ups are too much to overcome.

Denzel Valentine made sure Friday wasn't one of those days. In a breathtaking second-half stretch against Boise State in the second round of the Wooden Legacy Classic tournament, the senior guard hit five consecutive threes to lead MSU to a 77-67 victory.

He made seven for the game and finished with 32 points – a career high. He also collected nine rebounds and six assists. The Spartans now advance to the championship game Sunday against the winner of Arizona and Providence.

"I just want to win a championship," he said. "Tum (Lourawls 'Tum Tum' Nairn Jr.) played a great game today. He carried us in the first half. Credit to him."

Valentine has been dominant in both games in the tournament and, for a while, it looked like his unconscious shooting would break Boise State's spirit.

It didn't, mostly because the Spartans struggled to keep the Broncos from the lane. The uncertainty in defending ball screens also led to early foul trouble for MSU. Eron Harris, Deyonta Davis and Bryn Forbes each picked up two fouls in the first half.

The foul trouble forced coach Tom Izzo to go deep into his bench, giving Kenny Goins, Kyle Ahrens and Alvin Ellis III a few minutes to help fill in. Goins did a solid job in relief of Davis and Matt Costello, scoring four points and grabbing four rebounds.

Davis scored 12 points, but was the only other Spartan in double figures.

Windsor: MSU's Tum Tum Nairn may be a mini-Tom Izzo

"I never know who I'm bringing off the bench right now," said Izzo. "I feel fortunate we got a win. I think we have to play better if we're gonna be a championship team."

As electric as Valentine was, when he stopped making shots, his teammates were still standing and watching -- the ball didn't move but in spurts in either half. And when Boise State trapped Valentine on ball screens, MSU struggled to get good shots.

Boise State took a seven-point lead midway through the first half until MSU responded with a 17-3 run. The Spartans eventually pushed the lead to 11.

Harris hit a corner three. Nairn Jr. scored in transition. Boise State called a timeout and quickly reset.

Davis got lost on defense twice that led to a three-point play and a three-point basket. The Broncos scored again to cut the lead to three.

Valentine hit a three to push it back to six but Boise State answered. And then cut the lead to one.

MSU got the lead has high as 12 in the second half but, every time, they looked ready to open the game Boise State got to the rim.

"We're struggling right now with our bigs a little bit," Izzo said. "And we are struggling with our off-guards to guard somebody."

He was talking about Forbes and Harris, specifically. The team gets today to practice, watch film and try to regroup defensively. Izzo joked that he might send Harris and Forbes to nearby Disneyland to "see if they can find somebody to guard."

Note: MSU will play in the eight-team Battle 4 Atlantis in 2016 in the Bahamas, officials announced Friday. Louisville, Wichita State, VCU, Baylor, LSU, St. John's and Old Dominion are the other participants. The tournament will take place over three days during Thanksgiving week at the Atlantis Resort.

Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @shawnwindsor.