Spartans oust Panthers, 59-52

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

No big shots from Ali Farokhmanesh. No mid-major magic.

Just another trip to the regional finals for Michigan State.

Durrell Summers scored 19 points and Korie Lucious hit a whirling turnaround jumper with about 90 seconds left, helping the fifth-seeded Spartans survive a scare with a 59-52 win over pesky Northern Iowa in the Midwest Regional semifinals Friday night.

Playing without injured star Kalin Lucas, Michigan State (27-8) needed a half to get used to Northern Iowa’s grinding style and held the Panthers to 10 free throws and no field goals 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.

Adam Koch had 13 points and Kwadzo Ahelegbe 12 for the Panthers, but Farokhmanesh, the early-round hero, was just 1 for 6 from 3-point range.

Michigan State, last year’s national runner-up, turned the game on defense in the second half, escaping with a difficult win as Lucas watched from the bench in a walking boot.

Lucious, the second-round hero, hit his acrobatic shot, then the Spartans held.