Payne leads MSU past Delaware in Tourney opener
Adreian Payne scored a career-high 41 points as Michigan State cruised to an impressive 93-78 win over Delaware in an NCAA Tournament opener. Travis Trice added 19 points off the bench for the Spartans, who will advance to play Harvard in the third round of the East Regional on Saturday.
Payne, a 6-foot-10 senior, scored 12 straight points in the first half to help the fourth-seeded Spartans (27-8) to an 18-point lead.
He set an NCAA tournament record by making all 17 of his free throws and broke the program’s tournament scoring record, set previously by Greg Kelser in 1979.
Devon Saddler had 21 points and Davon Usher added 20 for the 13th-seeded Blue Hens (25-10).
MICHIGAN STATE 93, DELAWARE 78: RECAP | BOX | PLAY-BY-PLAY
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens guard Jarvis Threatt (4) dribbles against Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens forward Carl Baptiste (33) shoots against Michigan State Spartans forward Adreian Payne (5) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Adreian Payne (5) and Delaware Fightin Blue Hens forward Carl Baptiste (33) jump for the opening tipoff before a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens guard Jarvis Threatt (4) shoots against Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens forward Carl Baptiste (33) shoots against Michigan State Spartans forward Matt Costello (10) and guard/forward Branden Dawson (22) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens guard Devon Saddler (10) shoots against Michigan State Spartans guard Gary Harris (14) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo (second from right) instructs in a huddle against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Gary Harris (14) drives to the basket past Delaware Fightin Blue Hens guard Devon Saddler (10) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Michigan State Spartans mascot plays with the band in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Adreian Payne (5) dribbles against Delaware Fightin Blue Hens forward Carl Baptiste (33) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens guard Devon Saddler (10, left top) shoots against Michigan State Spartans forward Adreian Payne (5, left bottom) and guard Alvin Ellis III (3) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo instructs against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens forward Marvin King-Davis (21) dunks against the Michigan State Spartans in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens guard Devon Saddler (10, left top) shoots against Michigan State Spartans forward Adreian Payne (5, left bottom) and guard Alvin Ellis III (3) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
- Mar 20, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Adreian Payne (5) shoots the ball against Delaware Fightin Blue Hens forward Maurice Jeffers (15) in the first half of a men’s college basketball game during the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports