Lucas scores 24, No. 10 Michigan State beats Penn State 65-54 to end 3-game losing streak

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No. 10 Michigan State ends skid, beats Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Getting Kalin Lucas back in the starting lineup was just the boost Michigan State needed to end a three-game losing streak.

The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year scored 24 points, while Durrell Summers and Delvon Roe keyed a decisive second-half run, and No. 10 Michigan State beat Penn State 65-54 on Saturday.

Darting through the lane to score and hitting off-balance jumpers, Lucas didn’t look like he was hobbled by the heavily wrapped right ankle he sprained Feb. 2. He missed one game, then came off the bench in a 76-64 loss to No. 6 Purdue on Tuesday.

Summers and Roe scored all the points for the Spartans (20-6, 10-3) in a 13-0 second-half run to put the game out of reach after the Nittany Lions went up 46-44 with 12:24 left.

David Jackson’s 3-pointer from the right corner sent Penn State fans into hysterics in hopes they would witness an unlikely upset.

But the Spartans clamped down defensively and held Penn State (8-16, 0-12) without a field goal for 6-plus minutes during the run.

Lucas’ 3 gave Michigan State a 60-48 lead with 4:59 left.

Lucas and Penn State’s Talor Battle put on an entertaining show in a matchup of two of the league’s top point guards. Battle had 30 points on 7-of-11 shooting from 3-point range, but the Nittany Lions still extended their school-worst start in league play and their longest losing streak in four seasons.

Long-range shooting kept Penn State in the game in spite of getting outrebounded 38-24 by the Big Ten’s best rebounding team.

Battle, Penn State’s do-everything star, hit some NBA-range 3s and drew an extra defender to get a teammate open. That happened when Jackson hit his 3 to give Penn State its short-lived lead.

Already facing questions at point guard because of Lucas’ status, the Spartans played Saturday without backup Korie Lucious.

Team spokesman Matt Larson said Lucious didn’t make the trip after “failing to meet” academic obligations, though it was not an issue with eligibility.

But Lucas proved his ankle was more than healthy enough to help his team get out of a three-game tailspin that loosened the Spartans’ grip on first place in the conference.

Chris Allen had 14 points for Michigan State. Jackson had 10 for the Nittany Lions.