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Michigan State puts unbeaten road mark on line at Michigan

Feb 10, 2009 - 3:04 PM No. 9 Michigan State (19-4) at Michigan (15-9) 7:00 p.m. EST

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Ticker) -- Michigan State is atop the Big Ten conference standings despite a pair of surprising home losses early in the conference season.

The ninth-ranked Spartans can credit their position to a perfect road record in league play, a mark they will put on the line Tuesday when they pay a visit to in-state rival Michigan.

Winners of five straight road games to start the conference season for the first time in school history, Michigan State (19-4, 9-2 Big Ten) is coming off consecutive home beat-downs.

Following a loss to Penn State on February 1, the Spartans allowed 47 points apiece in defeating then-No. 19 Minnesota and Indiana by 29 and 28, respectively.

Kalin Lucas continues to lead Michigan State with 14.8 points per game, but Durrell Summers has been the scoring star of late. Despite scoring just two points on 1-of-11 shooting against the Hoosiers, the sophomore is averaging 15.0 over his last six games.

The Wolverines (15-9, 5-6 Big Ten) stepped out of conference in their last contest, dropping a hard-fought, 69-61 decision to top-ranked Connecticut on Saturday, their sixth loss in their last eight games.

Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims are dual threats for Michigan, with Harris collecting 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and Sims totaling 14.8 and 7.5.