TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Walton Sparks Spartans

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 23, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS - An unexpected scoring binge from the Big Ten's defensive player of the year propelled Michigan State to a familiar place.
Travis Walton scored a career-high 18 points to lift the second-seeded Spartans to a 74-69 victory over 10th-seeded USC on Sunday in the Midwest Region, putting Michigan State in the round of 16 for the eighth time in 12 years.

"I was shocked that he did make some of those shots," Coach Tom Izzo said of Walton, who entered the game averaging 4.9 points and was shut out against Robert Morris in the first round.
Durell Summers added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans (28-6), who have advanced to the region semifinals more times in the last dozen years than any team besides Duke.

They'll play third-seeded Kansas on Friday in Indianapolis.
Dwight Lewis scored 19 points and DeMar DeRozan added 18 points for USC (22-13). Trojans star Taj Gibson scored only three points with no rebounds and five blocks in 23 minutes before fouling out with 5:38 left.

Raymar Morgan calls Michigan State's backcourt of Walton and Big Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas "Fire and Ice," with Lucas providing the heat on offense and Walton cooling down the opposing team's top perimeter threat on the other end of the floor.

"You look at me as a defensive stopper, but I've been practicing my shot," Walton said. "Kalin put the ball in my hands. I had high confidence when I shot them and they went in."

Walton hadn't scored in double figures since he had 11 against Kansas on Jan. 10. But with the offense sputtering and the Trojans attacking, the senior could not have picked a better time to come through.

The Associated Press

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT