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Michigan State rolls past Nebraska

Feb 26, 2012 - 6:39 AM East Lansing, MI (Sports Network) - Draymond Green poured in 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, leading sixth-ranked Michigan State to a 62-34 dismantling of Nebraska at Jack Breslin Student Events Center on Saturday.

Austin Thornton scored nine points and Brandon Wood added seven for the Spartans (24-5, 13-3 Big Ten), who have won seven straight games. Branden Dawson and Russell Byrd donated six points apiece in the victory.

"At halftime we talked about doing more with our defense, to knock some balls loose and maybe turn them into some fast break bucket," said Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. "I think it started with Dawson. He gets that big steal and kind of gets things going a little bit."

Brandon Ubel paced the Cornhuskers (12-15, 4-12) with 13 points and Brandon Richardson added six in defeat. Nebraska has lost six of its last seven games.

"Well, I thought first off, I'm not for sure that they were, obviously, playing at the very best that they could play," said Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler. "But then when they decided in the second half to really clamp down on us like they did, that's when the game got completely out of hand."

Michigan State started hot, netting the first seven points of the game before Ubel tipped one in off a Richardson miss to get the Cornhuskers on the board.

Richardson hit a jumper midway though the first half to pull Nebraska within 11-6, but Michigan State responded with a 10-3 burst to extend its lead to a comfortable 21-9 with 4:35 to go.

The Cornhuskers scored six of the final eight points of the half to pull to within 23-15 at the break.

The Spartans shot 50 percent (9-of-18) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while holding the Cornhuskers to just 26.9 percent (7-of-26) shooting.

Michigan State absolutely dominated Nebraska in the second half. The Spartans opened the latter 20 minutes with a 28-6 run, which put them up 51-21 with under 10 minutes to play.

Michigan State rolled the rest of the way to the easy victory, allowing the Cornhuskers to score only 19 points on 31.8 percent (7-of-22) shooting in the second half.

Game Notes

Michigan State owns a 10-6 series advantage over Nebraska, which includes a 68-55 triumph over the Huskers in Lincoln earlier this season...Michigan State dominated on the glass, outrebounding Nebraska, 33-20.