Summers leads Michigan State over Northern Iowa
3/27/2010ST. LOUIS — Durrell Summers scored 19 points and Korie Lucious hit a whirling turnaround jumper with 95 seconds left, helping fifth-seeded Michigan State survive a mid-major scare with a 59-52 win over pesky Northern Iowa in the Midwest Regional semifinals Friday night.
Michigan State (27-8) needed a half to get used to Northern Iowa's grinding style and held the Panthers to 10 free throws over the final 10:22 to send the heroes of the Heartland home empty-handed.
Northern Iowa (30-5) knocked off one March monster but couldn't make it two straight, unable to contain the athletic Spartans for an entire game after stunning top-seeded Kansas in the second round.
Lucious hit his acrobatic shot, then Michigan State held, and Chris Allen scored on a putback with 31 seconds left to put the Spartans up 57-51 and into Sunday's regional final against Tennessee.