Valentine has done nothing to damage his candidacy for national player of the year honors over two games in Indianapolis, averaging 18.5 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
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The game should be a battle of strength against strength, as the high-powered offense of Michigan State (fourth in the nation with an offensive efficiency of 119.6) takes on the top-notch defense of Purdue (eighth in the nation with a defensive efficiency of 95.4). Hammons, Isaac Haas and Caleb Swanigan made 10-of-25 field goals.
Eron Harris’ 3-pointer and a Wollenman putback gave Michigan State a 62-55 lead with 5:10 to play. The Spartans will face No. 15 Middle Tennessee State in the first round with the victor facing either No. 7 Dayton or No. 10 Syracuse.
Valentine had 10 points, three rebounds and four assists in the opening 20 minutes, when the Spartans shot 41.2 percent (14 of 34) and out-rebounded Purdue 24-17. Last week, Michigan State’s women’s team also was a surprise finalist in the tourney.
Valentine gave MSU a three-point lead on a double-clutch jumper with just 1:40 to play.
Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine (45) kisses the championship trophy after an NCAA college bask …
Michigan State will take on Purdue for the Big Ten Tournament title knowing they will be in the NCAA Tournament whether they secure the conference’s automatic bid or not. Denzel Valentine has had his game and leadership on display for the majority of the season, but none more than over the last 2 games.
And it’ll be extraordinary theater – so good, you couldn’t make it up – if Valentine shares the stage with Hield in the national championship game. Valentine was the only Spartan to score in double figures, but the Spartans always play team basketball. The MSU Purdue game TV details and how to watch Purdue vs MSU live streaming are below.
Sunday afternoon on one of the biggest stages of the season, he showed us all again.
“We made stops, got rebounds when we needed to and guys made free throws down the stretch”, Valentine said. However, a loss to Purdue today has the potential to drop them down to a 2 seed.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Derek Willis’s 3-pointer with 1:01 left in overtime put Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats won their second straight Southeastern Conference Tournament championship and 29th overall. Junior guard Kenny Osse had 12 points and junior swingman Jalen Jackson added 11. The victor of that game travels to the Brooklyn first/second round site where they will face face No. 6 Notre Dame with the victor going on to face No. 3 West Virginia vs. No. 14 Stephen F. Austin. With Maryland down one, freshman center Diamond Stone flipped a lefty hook shot towards the rim only to have it blocked at its apex by Michigan State freshman forward Deyonta Davis with 29 seconds remaining.
