• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Michigan State, Maryland faceoff after escaping upsets

Nov 27, 2008 - 9:56 AM No. 6 Michigan (2-0) vs. Maryland (3-0) 7:00 p.m. EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Sixth-ranked Michigan State and Maryland are both still undefeated ... barely.

Both teams look to bounce back from upset scares when Michigan State meets Maryland in the first round of the Old Spice Classic on Thursday.

The Spartans throttled Idaho, 100-62, during their season opener but hardly duplicated that effort during their last game.

Raymar Morgan scored 22 points as Michigan State escaped with a 70-59 victory against Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on November 19.

Kalin Lucas added 17 points for the Spartans, who were trailing, 44-42, with under 11 minutes to play. After a free throw, Lucas' jumper put Michigan State in front, igniting a 13-0 run that opened a 55-44 lead with 6:01 left. Morgan had eight points during the burst as the Mastodons turned over the ball three times.

Michigan State led by at least nine the rest of the way, making 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:23 to help seal the victory.

Maryland erased a five-point deficit with two minutes to play against Vermont on Friday. Greivis Vasquez nailed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to force overtime and the Terrapins scored the first 17 points in the extra session, outlasting the Catamounts for an 89-74 victory.

The win was coach Gary Williams' 400th at Maryland, which has won 56 of its last 60 non-conference games at home.