By MATT CHARBONEAU
The Detroit News
Feb. 16, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It was a valiant effort, but at this point in the season, Michigan State simply needs victories.
Instead of the win, the Spartans at least got a solid effort in a 71-61 loss to No. 2 Ohio State at Value City Arena on Tuesday.
It was just the latest frustration in a season full of them for the Spartans. On a night the Spartans got 10 points from Adreian Payne, eight points and four rebounds from Derrick Nix, and extended minutes from Mike Kebler, Austin Thornton and Garrick Sherman, it was again the absence of one of their top players that hurt the most.
Senior guard Durrell Summers was held scoreless for the first time in more than a year, and when he failed to chase a loose ball late in the game, he was on the bench to stay.
"We kind of ran out of bodies," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "We played a lot of minutes with guys that haven't played a lot of minutes. Thornton and Kebler, two former walk-ons, I thought did a hell of a job."
As for the play of Summers, Izzo had little to say.
"I'll just say that Keith (Appling) and Kalin (Lucas) and those guys did a hell of a job," he said. "We just need some more help."
What made the loss even more frustrating for the Spartans was that they got nothing from Summers on a night that Ohio State (25-1, 12-1 Big Ten) got only 11 points from standout freshman Jared Sullinger.
William Buford scored a game-high 23 for the Buckeyes, who bounced back from their first loss of the season last weekend at Wisconsin.
But Michigan State turned the ball over 19 times, leading to 23 points for Ohio State. There was also a huge gap in free throws, with Ohio State going 23-for-29 while Michigan State was 5-for-6.
"We did just about everything we wanted to do except turn the
