Michigan State took the lead with nine minutes left in the first half and the Spartans never looked back, beating Temple 72-61 in the opening first-round game of the South Regional today at the Pepsi Center.
Junior forward Raymar Morgan led the Spartans with 15 points on the offensive end, and his defensive play at the other end was a key factor in Temple’s shooting performance of 37.5 percent (21-56).
With a 35-26 lead at halftime, the fifth-seeded Spartans (26-8) had control and they built on it in the first eight minutes of the second half. With Morgan adding seven points, the Spartans took a 48-30 lead into the last 12 minutes.
Temple couldn’t keep pace, converting only twice in its first 10 possessions of the half. The Owls’ second field goal was a lay up by Dionte Christmas with 13:27 left, his first points of the game. Christmas was leading the Owls in scoring this season, averaging 20.2 points; he finish with three against MSU.
“That is the toughest defensive team I’ve played … in my career,” Christmas said.
Forward Mark Tyndale urged the Owls to rally and his field goal cut the margin to 10 at 64-54 going into the final 3:30, but that was close as they could get.
“We knew one way they can beat you for sure is with the 3,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “We had to do a better job up top.”
Temple (21-13) finished 6-of-23 from long range.
The Spartans broke away from a tie at 15 with 9:24 left in the half and built a 28-17 on a Kalin Lucas field goal. A pair of free throws by Lavoy Allen with 2:14 left had the margin up to 12.
But the story of the first half was the defensive play of Morgan and Travis Walton, who divided time on Christmas. The first half ended with Christmas 0-for-4 from the field. Forward Mark Tyndale, the other half of Temple’s big two, was 1-for-4.
“We were able to get things done,” Morgan said. “You have to hand it to the defense.”
Michigan State senior Drew Neitzel also struggled offensive, finishing with five points, going 1-for-8 from 3-point range.
“As a shooter, you just got to keep shooting, keep your confidence,” Neitzel said. “I’m glad we won so I get another chance to redeem myself on Saturday.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
