Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Kemba Walker Leads Connecticut Past No. 2 Michigan State in Maui

Kemba Walker and the Connecticut Huskies upset the No. 2 Michigan State Spartans, 70-67, in the semifinal round at the Maui Invitational on Tuesday.

Walker, who rallied his team with 29 points in the second half of their opening game against Wichita State Monday, added 30 points, going 10-of-19 from the floor against MSU, including a clutch jumper to put the Huskies up 68-67 with 58 seconds left. The Spartans never regained the lead as seniors Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers struggled down the stretch. Walker has scored 42, 31 and 30 points, respectively, in his last three games. He was selected to the Big East's preseason first team, and is emerging as one of the nation's most dominant players.

Although the atmosphere didn't replicate the 2009 Final Four semifinal in Detroit when the Spartans stunned No. 1 seed UConn, the rematch between the two on Tuesday had a March feel to it in November. The result was different, and so was junior guard Walker's performance. He only scored five points as a freshman in the Final Four semifinal but leaves the court with a whole different feel Tuesday.

The Spartans (3-1) withstood an 11-0 Connecticut run that had the Huskies up 66-61 with five minutes left. Michigan State briefly took the lead at 67-66 but could not hit a field goal in the final 3:43 of the contest.

Aside from Walker, the Huskies (4-0) had a solid game from Alex Oriakhi, who collected 15 points and 17 rebounds. The Spartans, who have led the nation in rebounding margin the last two years, have now been outrebounded in three of their first four games in 2010.

The Spartans struggled to find any rhythm on offense and missed center Derrick Nix in the middle on defense. Nix did not make the trip to Maui due to personal reasons. Freshman Keith Appling and Adreian Payne struggled for Michigan State, shooting a combined 0-for-6. The Spartans continue to struggle on defense, missing the departed Raymar Morgan and transfer Chris Allen's tenacity.

Draymond Green did star for MSU, however, pouring in 22 points to go with 12 rebounds, five assists and three blocks -- but even he wasn't close to perfect. Despite his stellar leadership and clutch 3-point shooting late in the game, Green missed two pivotal free throws with a chance to tie the contest down 69-67 with 20 seconds left.

Connecticut, which won the Maui Invitational in 2005, advances to the final, where it will face the winner of Kentucky-Washington.

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