Michigan State hits 17 3-pointers, tops Purdue
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}West Lafayette, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - Gary Harris and Adreian Payne fueled Michigan State's outside shooting prowess as the 13th-ranked Spartans set a single-game school record by making 17 3-pointers in a 94-79 win at Purdue.
Harris drained six 3-pointers and finished with 25 points, two off his career high, and Payne knocked down four shots from beyond the arc en route to 23 points for the Spartans (22-5, 11-3 Big Ten), who rebounded from Sunday's home loss to Nebraska. They have yet to lose back-to-back games this season.
Denzel Valentine had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists for Michigan State, which moved a half-game ahead of Michigan for first place in the conference standings. The rivals clash in Ann Arbor on Sunday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kendall Stephens scored 15 of his career-best 19 points in the first half for the Boilermakers (15-11, 5-8), who have lost six straight to Michigan State. Ronnie Johnson supplied 17 points in defeat.
Michigan State attempted a whopping 32 3-pointers, while only 20 shots came from inside the arc during the near wire-to-wire win.
The Spartans relied almost exclusively on the 3-ball in the opening frame, as 19 of their 22 shots were from long range. They made 13 compared to just one 2-point field goal and led 49-38.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Purdue trailed by double figures throughout the majority of the second half.
Travis Trice knocked down the Spartans' final trey with 4:29 to go.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Trice had 14 points and Keith Appling dished out nine assists for Michigan State ... The Spartans have won each of the last six meetings by double digits since a 67-47 loss on Feb. 27, 2011 ... Purdue fell to 0-5 against ranked teams this season ... The Boilermakers shot 49.0 percent from the field, but made only 60 percent of their free throws (24-of-40).