EAST LANSING - Michigan State's frontcourt production played a pivotal role during the final 12 minutes of the Spartans' 61-50 win over rival Wisconsin. During that span, senior big man Goran Suton put Michigan State on his shoulders and did a great deal to help erase a 12-point second half deficit.

But the Spartans also received a big boost from their backcourt. Senior Travis Walton provided signature hard-nosed defense, while sophomores Kalin Lucas and Chris Allen gave their team an additional spark on offense.

Allen's transition 3-pointer off of a steal by Walton was a coffin nail of sorts for Wisconsin. Allen's pivotal triple came on the heels of a step-back 15-footer by Lucas over Wisconsin's Marcus Landry.

For the sophomore from Gwinnett County in Atlanta, Georgia, it was his first outcome altering bucket as a Spartan.

"I was feeling it all game, but I didn't really get a chance to get any good shots," explained Allen, who finished third on his team in scoring with 8 points and second in assists with 4. "When I caught the ball, I was so wide open. I squared it up and shot it - all net. It felt pretty good."


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