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Dawson, Spartans hold off Hawkeyes

Jan 11, 2013 - 5:03 AM Iowa City, IA (Sports Network) - Branden Dawson scored a career-high 17 points to help the 22nd-ranked Michigan State Spartans escape the Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a 62-59 win over Iowa.

Gary Harris had 14 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Spartans (13-3, 2-1 Big Ten), who faced a Hawkeyes team that was without leading scorer Roy Devyn Marble.

"There's a lot of things we need to get better at. But that was a big win on the road, especially the way we played," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.

Marble, a swingman that averages 15.5 points per game, sat out because of an ankle injury.

Iowa (11-5, 0-3) leaned more on Zach McCabe, who contributed 15 points and seven rebounds. Melsahn Basabe supplied 14 points in the Hawkeyes' third straight loss, all to ranked teams.

"Didn't play with any toughness," Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery said. "Offensively we played with no toughness whatsoever. Defensively, we did."

Down by as many as 12 in the first half, Michigan State grabbed its first lead at 43-42 on a Keith Appling layup with 9:07 remaining in the game. Iowa moved back in front when McCabe buried a 3-pointer to make it 51-49 with 4:23 left.

Basabe then sank two free throws and hit a layup off a feed from Mike Gesell to put the Hawkeyes up 55-51 with 2:15 to play.

Michigan State battled back, however.

With his team trailing 56-53, Harris was fouled on a 3-point try with 1:04 remaining. The freshman made all three free throws, then Dawson stole the ball and gave the Spartans a 58-56 advantage with a thunderous dunk.

Iowa's Anthony Clemmons generated contact on a drive to the basket and went to the foul line with 15.4 seconds remaining and his club down three. After making the first attempt, he managed to secure the rebound after missing the second.

Fouled by Appling, Clemmons returned to the line with a chance to tie the game. Once again, he made 1-of-2 and Appling was fouled after grabbing the rebound.

Appling calmly drained two free throws, and the Spartans prevailed when Clemmons misfired on a 3-point try.

The Hawkeyes only lost to No. 5 Indiana by four, but were on the wrong end of a lopsided score to No. 2 Michigan. On Thursday, they put up a strong fight despite Marble's absence.

Iowa opened the game on a 7-0 run and led 24-12 on a Aaron White dunk. Michigan State closed the gap to 28-24 at halftime.

Game Notes

Appling had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists ... White compiled 11 points and six boards ... Michigan State was held to 40.4 percent shooting ... Iowa had 18 assists on 23 field goals ... The Spartans scored 24 points off 18 Iowa turnovers.