Michigan State Stays Unbeaten In Conference Play Thanks to Kalin Lucas

Michigan State's 65-64 win over Minnesota is its second ugly Big Ten win in a row. A win's a win, and the Spartans will take it.

The real story isn't how Michigan State struggled at the free throw line (again) by shooting only 68% from the stripe.

The real story isn't how a Minnesota Gopher team dominated the Spartans in the paint for 40 minutes.

Kalin Lucas is the real story.

Lucas continues to grow and mature as a player — putting his team on his back Saturday afternoon and leading it to victory — that's the real story.

The Spartans were down by as many as 13 points, but cut the lead in half with just over three minutes to play. Minnesota's size advantage, along with superb play from its star sophomore guard Devoe Joseph weren't enough to topple the seventh-ranked team in the country.

Joseph shot 6-for-10, scored 16 points, and looked like an acrobat with his athletic drives to the rack.

Enter reigning Big Ten Player of the Year: Kalin Lucas.

Lucas' 3-ball with just over a minute to play gave the Spartans their first lead of the second half, 65-62.

"Too Easy?"

How about Kalin "Klutch" Lucas?

Michigan State's junior point-guard carried the weight of Spartan Nation on his back and gave Izzo what he needed — a dig-from-within performance from his star pupil.

Lucas shot the lights out from downtown, going 4-for-6, scored 22 points, and let's not forget the all important "there-when-Izzo-needs-him" factor, the real difference in this contest.

As a team, the Spartans shot 46% from beyond the arc, and even Chris Allen heated up, shooting 4-for-7 from 3-point range (12 points).

Allen's shooting slump is suddenly coming around, Raymar Morgan avoided fouling out to contribute to the win, and all is good in East Lansing.

Michigan State is now 7-0 in the Big Ten, 17-3 overall.

Two "statement" wins in its last two conference battles has everyone looking at the team in a new light.

Sure, the victories weren't pretty, but being able to close a game when it counts is a symbol of a good, scratch that, great team.

After dropping games to a slumping North Carolina squad, a tough Texas Longhorn unit, and the SEC's Florida Gators in December — questions arose about the team's gumption.

A Golden Gopher team that leads the conference in blocked shots per game (6.4) couldn't use its big-men to its liking, and that may have cost them the game.

Last second wins, come-from-behind wins — wake up calls for Izzo's Spartans.

Gutsy.

The conference's best offensive player from a year ago threw his name back in the hat Saturday. Kalin Lucas' display proved what Spartan fans knew all along — it's his team.