Michigan State's Lucas Continues His Dominance but Team Falls To Purdue, 67-47

The bubble that surrounds the hopes of the Michigan State Spartan basketball team gets closer to popping with only two regular seasons games remaining.

Despite another outstanding performance by Kalin Lucas, the Spartans displayed the same perplexing play that has plagued them much of the season.

Lucas accounted for 49 percent of the Spartan's scoring, totaling 23 points on eight-of-24 shooting, but was the only player to reach double figures for Michigan State (16-12, 8-8 Big Ten).

In a statistically even game, the Spartans lacked in one important area, shooting. Purdue out shot the Spartans 42 percent to 29 percent for the game and added six more three-point baskets.

That shooting helped the Boilermakers en route to a 16-5 run in the first half to take a nine-point lead into the locker room.

That's as close as it would get the rest of the way.

Purdue came out as if it did not want to let the Spartan's usually raucous crowd build any momentum and put Michigan State away with a 19-4 run early in the second half. 

The Boilermaker's JaJuan Johnson continued his bid for Big Ten Player of the Year pouring in 20 points and setting career highs in rebounds (20) and blocks (seven).

Purdue (24-5, 13-3 Big Ten) remains only one game behind league leading Ohio State with two games remaining.

On the other side, Tom Izzo continues to be at a loss for words for his team's confounding play this year stating, "I must say, I'm disappointed, but that's a recurring statement this year."

Michigan State faces one of the most pressure packed weeks in recent memory with games against Iowa on Wednesday and in-state rival Michigan on Saturday.

During his postgame interview Tom Izzo could sense the pressure of the week before him. "It's a big game for us on Wednesday," Izzo said.

The last place Hawkeyes downed the Spartans by 20 in their meeting in Iowa City early this year and the Wolverines defeated the Spartans 61-57, marking the first time Michigan won in East Lansing in over a decade.

If the Spartans lose either game, the bubble holding the hope of their 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament will most likely burst.