Tampa subregional

Spartans push Gators around

Spartans are too physical for UF and even beat Gators outside.

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 24, 2003

TAMPA -- Michigan State didn't just beat Florida.

The Spartans beat up the Gators.

Michigan State ripped Florida 68-46 in Sunday night's second-round NCAA Tournament mismatch, and by game's end the Gators had been completely exposed on offense, defense and the boards by a team that went from the bubble to the Sweet 16.

Crunch time? Try crunched time.

Florida lives off its outside shooting, which it uses to compensate for the lack of a physical, in-the-paint presence on offense and defense. Beating teams up inside just happens to be Michigan State's biggest asset.

The Gators fell apart as the Spartans concentrated on three things: rebounding, interior defense and ball protection.

"That's how you win games in this tournament," coach Tom Izzo said. "It's hard to win games when you're just shooting the ball."

The Gators' last glimpse of hope was when the score was tied at 13 on a Matt Bonner 3-pointer with 10:42 left in the first half. From there the Spartans took off on an 8-2 run and led by as much as 11 in the half.

Unable to score inside, and unable to defend State's inside scoring, the perimeter also failed Florida, which shot a paltry 37.2 percent. State won the rebound war 30-22 and the turnover battle, too, surrendering 10 to Florida's 14.

Player-for-player, Florida lost too many battles. Inside, forward Erazem Lorbek had 12 points and seven rebounds for the Spartans while Gator forwards Matt Walsh and Bonner combined for 11 points and eight rebounds.

Outside, State guard Chris Hill was 5-of-8 from the field, 2-of-5 from 3-point range. Florida's Anthony Roberson was 0-for-6 from the field, all from 3-point range.

The bench disparity was even more glaring. Maurice Ager came on to score 16 and Paul Davis had eight for the Spartans. The Gators bench managed seven points.

Michigan State even had more 3-pointers, hitting 6 of 16. Florida? Just 5-of-21.

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