Spartans soar in home state, upset Connecticut

Apr. 4, 2009
Raymar Morgan grinned and lifted his right arm high in the air, saluting a stadium filled with Michigan State fans with a little wave. The Spartans promised their downtrodden state something good, and boy, did they deliver.
Related Stories from UPI.com

COL BKB: Michigan State 82, Connecticut 73

DETROIT, April 4 (UPI) -- Michigan State beat Connecticut 82-73 Saturday in the opening semifinal of the NCAA Final Four in its bid for a third national college basketball title.

COL BKB: Michigan State 64, Indiana 59

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., March 3 (UPI) -- Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan combined for 29 points Tuesday, helping eighth-ranked Michigan State beat Indiana 64-59.

COL BKB: Michigan St. 118, Alcorn St. 60

EAST LANSING, Mich., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Chris Allen had 20 points and Kalin Lucas 16 points and eight assists Saturday to lead No. 20 Michigan State to a 118-60 win over Alcorn State.

COL BKB: Michigan St. 94, Oklahoma St. 79

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Raymar Morgan led Michigan State to a hot shooting performance Friday and the No. 6 Spartans subdued Oklahoma State 94-79.

COL BKB: Michigan St. 66, Iowa 52

EAST LANSING, Mich., Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Raymar Morgan scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half Saturday to lead No. 17 Michigan State past Iowa 66-52 for Coach Tom Izzo's 300th career victory.

COL BKB: Michigan St. 86, Penn St. 49

EAST LANSING, Mich., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Raymar Morgan led Michigan State's hot shooting performance Wednesday and the 17th-ranked Spartans downed Penn State 86-49.

COL BKB: Iowa 43, Michigan State 36

IOWA CITY, Iowa, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Tony Freeman had 22 points Saturday to lead the Iowa Hawkeyes to a 43-36 upset over the sixth-ranked Michigan State Spartans.

COL BKB: Michigan St. 85, San Jose St. 45

EAST LANSING, Mich., Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Durrell Summers and Raymar Morgan touched off a big start for Michigan State Wednesday and the Spartans went on to crush San Jose State 85-45.

COL BKB: Michigan St. 81, N.C. State 58

EAST LANSING, Mich., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Drew Neitzel led a balanced attack with 17 points Wednesday, helping carry No. 13 Michigan State past North Carolina State 81-58.

COL BKB: Ohio State 66, Michigan St. 64

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Greg Oden scored 19 points Saturday night as the fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes edges the Michigan State Spartans, 66-64.