Spartans surging into battle with Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY — Michigan State may have stumbled two weeks ago at Iowa, but the Spartans certainly didn't fall. In fact, they may be better now than at any other point this season.

The No. 4 Spartans (15-1, 3-1 Big Ten) crushed Penn State 82-65 on Sunday, the team's largest Big Ten road win in nine years. Michigan State has won consecutive league games by at least 25 points for the first time in seven years. Perhaps most frightening, the Spartans' best player, do-everything guard Denzel Valentine, is back and effective.

'We had three of the greatest, tough, physical practices prior to this game,' Penn State Coach Pat Chambers said in his postgame news conference. 'But they were still no match for a great veteran team like Michigan State.'

Michigan State, which plays host to No. 19 Iowa (12-3, 3-0) at 6 p.m. Thursday, was ruthlessly efficient on offense. The Spartans connected on 35 of a season-high 70 shots, including 10 of 20 from 3-point range. They also committed just six turnovers.

Valentine had arthroscopic knee surgery on Dec. 21, which shifted transfer Eron Harris into the starting lineup. Before sitting out last season, Harris ranked fourth in Big 12 scoring at 17.2 points a game in 2013-14. In Big Ten play, Harris averages 14.3 points and has put up at least 21 points three times in the last five games.

Michigan State also has fed the post more in the last three games — all wins — which was a byproduct of Valentine's absence. Post Matt Costello has combined for 30 shots, by far his three-game high this season. Forward Gavin Schilling, who was injured for the first month, has taken 16 of his 22 shots in the same time frame.

'I have to say we definitely went inside more when we lost (Valentine),' Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo told reporters afterward. 'Eron (Harris) was able to serve a different role. Denzel got a couple of weeks' rest which will hopefully give him more energy.

Against Penn State, Valentine re-entered the game with 16 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first half. He had 10 points, four assists and four rebounds. Valentine currently ranks third in Big Ten scoring (17.8 ppg), third in assists per game (6.8), fourth in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and fourth in free-throw percentage (85.4).

Valentine had a chance to play last week against Illinois, but Izzo withheld him. Against Penn State, Valentine missed all five first-half shots before hitting four of six for all 10 points in 10 second-half minutes.

'I thought for the last game he was ready and medically cleared to play but I didn't let him play,' Izzo told reporters afterward. 'The first half of this game he didn't look the same. I didn't see the same emotion, vigor and fight for part of the first half. During halftime we challenged him. He agreed and said it was his fault and that he would change.'

The Spartans play three of their next four at home, including games with the Hawkeyes and No. 3 Maryland (15-1, 4-0). Michigan State has beaten Iowa 18 consecutive times at Breslin Center, including the last 15 by an average score of 81-63. But the Hawkeyes' 83-70 win in Iowa City is bound to stir up the Spartans.

'It was one of the rare times in my career I thought we got, for (lack) of a better choice of words, punked,' Izzo said after the Iowa loss. 'We got out-hustled.'

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