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Michigan State 67, Texas 56, Final

In the end, the combination of Nix and Payne was too much for the young Longhorns to handle. 

The loss is just another bump into the road during a disappointing season for Texas.

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Michigan State 65, Texas 56; 0:23 Left in Second Half

The Longhorns have been unable to make a shot in the final minutes of the game.

Nix and Payne have shut down the play in the paint and the Longhorns have not used McClellan to the best of his abilities. 

Michigan State 63, Texas 56; 1:07 Left in Second Half

Adreian Payne has been a dominant force in the paint for the Spartans. 

This game has been dominated by Payne and Derrick Nix in the paint. 

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Michigan State 61, Texas 56; 1:41 Left in Second Half

Johnathan Holmes keeps the Longhorns in the game with a basket.

Timeout called immediately by Rick Barnes. 

Michigan State 60, Texas 54; 2:30 Left in Second Half

Sheldon McClellan is on the bench during the stretch run for Texas.

This is an interesting decision by Rick Barnes. 

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Michigan State 58, Texas 54; 3:20 Left in Second Half

The Spartans are forced to used a timeout after they get caught in a trap on the in-bounds play. 

Michigan State 58, Texas 54; 3:22 Left in Second Half

Lammert once again takes a shot, but this one is a complete airball.

As for his basket that beat the shot clock, it should not have counted.

The replays show that the freshman still had the ball in his hands when the buzzer sounded. 

Michigan State 56, Texas 54; 4:33 Left in Second Half

As the shot clock expires, Connor Lammert hits a shot from the foul line and the Spartans' lead is cut to two points. 

Horns have converted two consecutive and-1 plays (Lewis, Papapetrou). MSU 56, UT 52 - 6:37 2nd

— Texas Basketball (@TexasMBB) December 22, 2012

Michigan State 56, Texas 52; 6:09 Left in Second Half

The Longhorns get a chance to cut the lead to just one possession, but they turn the ball over after Connor Lammert picks up his dribble.

For the Spartans, Denzel Valentine has already fouled out. 

Michigan State 54, Texas 49; 6:53 Left in Second Half

Texas have not given up just yet, the Longhorns have cut the lead to five after Julien Lewis' three-point play.

Michigan State 54, Texas 44; 8:33 Left in Second Half

The Longhorns play is going downhill quickly, yet another turnover by the youngest team in college basketball.

Michigan State C Derrick Nix: 23 points (7-10 FGs, 9-11 FTs), Nix this season: 7.5 ppg

— Big Ten Network (@BTN_Michigan_St) December 22, 2012

Michigan State 53, Texas 44; 9:18 Left in Second Half

The Derrick Nix Show continues with a three-point play for the senior. 

23-7 scoring run in last 9:11 for Michigan State

— Big Ten Network (@BTN_Michigan_St) December 22, 2012

Michigan State 49, Texas 40; 11:15 Left in Second Half

Keith Appling's three-pointer extends the Spartans' run to 8-0.

Rick Barnes is forced to call a timeout and if Texas does not get on track soon, this game could get ugly for the Longhorns. 

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Michigan State 46, Texas 40; 12:10 Left in Second Half

Travis Trice makes an excellent play out of nothing for Michigan State.

He finds Nix in the paint with a no-look pass. 

Nix adds to his point total of 19 with two free throws. 

Michigan State 44, Texas 40; 13:11 Left in Second Half

Two excellent free throw shooters, McClellan and Keith Appling from Michigan State miss a combined four out of five free throws. 

Michigan State 41, Texas 40; 13:51 Left in Second Half

Nix is whistled for a technical foul after disputing a call with the referees.

The senior center was upset about not getting a foul call.

On the replay, it looks as though Nix has a case as Prince Ibeh was all over him. 

McClellan missed both free throws that the Longhorns earned from the technical. 

Michigan State 41, Texas 38; 14:42 Left in Second Half

Adreian Payne finds a lane to drive through and slams it home for the Spartans.

If the Breslin Center was not loud before, it is now. 

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Texas 38, Michigan State 38; 15:48 Left in Second Half

Michigan State opened the second half with a 10-2 run.

That run came to an end right before the under-16 minute TV timeout.

Julien Lewis knocks down a three-pointer, but before the Longhorns gain any momentum, the TV timeout hits. 

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Michigan State 34, Texas 33; 17:30 Left in Second Half

And there it is....the shot to make the Izzone erupt.

Gary Harris makes the first three-pointer for the Spartans and puts his team in the lead for the first time since 8:55 left in the first half. 

Texas 33, Michigan State 30; 18:20 Left in Second Half

The Izzone is waiting to erupt after Derrick Nix makes the first Spartans basket to start the half.

One more big shot for the Spartans and the Breslin Center will get loud.

Texas' Cameron Ridley just picked up his third foul. 

Texas 33, Michigan State 28; 19:34 Left in Second Half

Both teams with a sloppy start to the second half with one turnover each. 

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Keys to the Second Half: 

Texas: Take the pressure off McClellan.

McClellan scored 11 points in the first half, five more than any of his teammates.

For the Longhorns to win, they will have to find a second player to step up and score.

Michigan State: Find a rhythm from three-point range. 

The Spartans have relied too much on Derrick Nix, who has 14 points and nine rebounds, and too less on their guard play.

The Spartans failed to make a single three-point shot in the first half.