WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne have a combined 10 points in the first half here at Mackey Arena.
They should have 15 or 20 and Michigan State ought to be ahead more than 31-23.
Purdue has no answer inside, especially for Payne, who it has to guard with Donnie Hale or Travis Carroll.
That said, this appears to be a fairly focused MSU squad tonight. Sometimes playing with ailments (like shoulder and back pain) helps you dial in, even if it’s not a ton of fun.
The one player who needs to dial it down is Branden Dawson, who was a bit too keyed up to play against this opponent and this crowd.
This is no longer a trap game, that’s the good news for MSU. That requires a lack of focus or energy. That isn’t an issue tonight.
More after the game.
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Hightower has been Purdue’s best player, offense went stagnant without Appling
as a former benchwarmer it really grinds me that izzo never puts in the scrubs until 20 seconds left in the game and then he doesn’t let them shoot..