• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Michigan State gets break in tough schedule

Dec 15, 2007 - 2:29 PM IPFW (4-4) at No. 10 Michigan State (8-1) 5:30 pm EST

EAST LANSING, Michigan (Ticker) -- No. 10 Michigan State gets a rare break in a difficult schedule on Saturday when it hosts Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Michigan State has played three opponents ranked in the top 25 this season, joining Brigham Young as the only other top 25 team to face three ranked opponents.

Despite the rigorous schedule, Michigan State is 2-1 against ranked teams and has won five straight overall since suffering its only loss of the season to then-No. 1 UCLA on November 20.

Drew Neitzel scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half as Michigan State erased a double-digit deficit in the second half en route to a 68-61 victory over then-No. 22 BYU last Saturday.

Michigan State dominated the boards during the victory, outrebounding the Cougars 34-22. The Spartans have outrebounded their opponents in each of their wins this season and rank second in the Big Ten with a plus-11 rebounding margin per game.

IPFW enters the contest - its fourth in school history against Michigan State - on a three-game winning streak, but has lost its last three away from home.

Jaraun Burrows scored 21 points to pace the Mastodons to a 79-70 victory over the University of Missouri-Kansas City last Saturday.