Payback Time for Spartans

Morris Peterson has had a lot of big games for Michigan State. Still, he will remember this one.

Peterson, a senior forward, had 26 points and 11 rebounds as No. 6-ranked Michigan State took over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten with an 83-72 payback victory over No. 7 Ohio State Tuesday at East Lansing, Mich.

“This is definitely going to stand out,” said Peterson, who scored 20 points in a 78-67 loss at Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 20. “Years from now, when I’m done playing, I’ll still enjoy this one.”

It was was the 25th consecutive victory at home for Michigan State, 19-6 overall and 9-2 in the Big Ten. The Spartans, who along with the Buckeyes reached the NCAA Final Four last year, are attempting to win a third consecutive regular-season Big Ten championship.

Scoonie Penn scored 30 points for Ohio State (17-5, 8-3). The Buckeyes fell into a tie for second in the Big Ten with Indiana and Purdue.

Ohio State Coach Jim O’Brien was ejected after getting up his second technical foul 5 1/2 minutes into the second half.

Mateen Cleaves scored 24 points for Michigan State and his one steal gave him 176 for his career--one more than the school record he had shared with Scott Skiles.

No. 11 Florida 80, Arkansas 71--Kenyan Weaks, who has missed only one free throw in 44 attempts this season, made four in a row in a 14-second span for the Gators (19-5, 8-3 in the Southeastern Conference) after the Razorbacks (13-11, 5-6) had pulled within five in the closing minutes at Fayetteville, Ark.

ELSEWHERE

Lavor Postell scored 11 consecutive points late in the game and finished with 24 in leading visiting St. John’s (17-6, 9-3 in the Big East) to a 73-69 victory over Boston College (9-16, 1-11). St. John’s Erick Barkley--playing in his second game after being suspended for two games because of what the NCAA said was an improper benefit when he swapped cars with the brother of his former summer league coach--had 12 points. The New York Daily News reported Tuesday that the NCAA is continuing to probe St. John’s in connection with alleged violations of rules regarding gifts. . . . Freshman Kareem Rush, suspended nine games in December and January by the NCAA for receiving improper benefits from an AAU coach, made 10 of 14 shots and scored 31 points to lead Missouri (15-8, 8-3 in the Big 12) to an 86-76 victory over Texas Tech (10-12, 1-10) at Lubbock, Texas. Missouri scored the game’s final 17 points. . . . Minnesota center Joel Przybilla was suspended indefinitely for failing to meet academic requirements. Przybilla, averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds in Big Ten play, had 33 points and 14 rebounds in Minnesota’s victory over Indiana last Thursday.

WOMEN’S TOP 25 GAMES

No. 1-ranked Connecticut (23-1, 12-0 in the Big East) held St. John’s (8-15, 3-10) to 25% shooting and 16 points in the second half of an 85-43 victory at New York. . . . No. 4 Louisiana Tech (20-2, 11-0 in the Sun Belt) took advantage of 32 turnovers by Arkansas State (14-7, 5-5) in a 95-59 victory at Ruston, La. . . . Shawnetta Stewart’s rebound basket and free throw with 1:18 to play capped a late comeback from a 13-point deficit byNo. 8 Rutgers (17-5, 9-3 in the Big East) in the final minutes for a 56-51 victory at Syracuse (10-12, 3-8).