Michigan State pulls off upset



Ursuline High graduate Courtney Davidson had three points for MSU.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State's desperation shot came up a foot short, touching off a leaping, smiling, group-hug for the Michigan State Spartans.
They weren't savoring a championship, just denying the Buckeyes one.
Allyssa DeHaan played bigger than her 6-foot-9 frame with 25 points and the 24th-ranked Spartans beat No. 4 Ohio State 62-59 Sunday, ending the Buckeyes' 17-game winning streak and putting their own celebration on hold.
Rene Haynes, a Columbus native, had a steal and two free throws in the final seconds to help seal the victory for the Spartans (21-6, 12-2 Big Ten). Ursuline High graduate Courtney Davidson came off the bench to score three points.
"My whole team, we wanted it so bad," said Haynes, in between high-fives with family and friends. "You always have to fight to the end. We worked hard and hard work pays off."
Not the same
This win was nothing like the one two years ago when the Spartans shared the regular season Big Ten title, won the conference tournament, or fought their way all the way to the national championship game.
"Of course not," coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "We haven't even started March."
Ohio State (24-2, 13-1) was trying to clinch a share of its third Big Ten title in a row. But DeHaan negated two-time conference player of the year Jessica Davenport, who was in foul trouble throughout.
Up by a game over Michigan State and Purdue with two games left in the conference season, the Buckeyes can still clinch at a share of the title with a win at home Thursday night against Penn State.
Coach Jim Foster said he didn't like some things he saw in the huddle.
"I didn't feel comfortable when looking into the eyes of some of our players today," he said. "Hopefully, that's a temporary look."
Down the stretch
Down by as many as 11 early in the half, the Spartans drew to 55-54 on Victoria Lucas-Perry's reverse layup off an assist from DeHaan and DeHaan's bank shot over Davenport, who was carrying four fouls, with 1:33 left.
After Ohio State's Marscilla Packer missed a 3-pointer, the Spartans fed DeHaan who hit a short turnaround with 47 seconds left. At the other end, the Buckeyes went immediately inside to Davenport who was fouled on a spin move and hit both shots for a 57-56 lead.
On a drive, Aisha Jefferson missed but DeHaan grabbed the rebound and scored with just over 21 seconds on the clock.
Packer's pass for guard Ashlee Trebilcock was tipped away by Haynes, who dived on the floor to grab the loose ball before being fouled by Trebilcock. Haynes then hit both foul shots with 13.5 seconds left for a 60-57 lead.
Packer, just 1-for-10 on 3-pointers, missed another shot behind the arc but Stephanie Blanton's follow cut the lead to a point with 3.1 seconds left.
DeHaan was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass and hit both shots.
Packer's off-balance 3-pointer from 30 feet at the buzzer was off the front edge of the rim.
The loss ended two other Buckeyes' streaks: 30 consecutive wins against Big Ten teams and 27 home wins.