Of course, it helps when the Gators are making 3-pointers and forcing turnovers.

Kenny Boynton scored 18 points, Bradley Beal added 16 and No. 12 Florida beat No. 25 Vanderbilt 73-65 Saturday for its seventh consecutive victory.

The Gators (19-4, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) won for the second time in about 36 hours, improving to 5-0 on two-day turnarounds this season. They are 6-1 in Saturday games that follow Thursday night affairs in the three years the SEC has scheduled those.

The latest one had everything to do with 3-pointers and turnovers.

More on Vanderbilt-Florida Column Jeff Goodman
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Florida made 11 of 24 shots from behind the arc and forced Vanderbilt into 17 turnovers, most of them coming in the press.

“Our press was the reason we won the game because we were able to force turnovers and get them to play fast and keep them from running their sets,” Beal said. “We were really patient and then we trapped hard and we were able to rotate and force turnovers. … Its probably our best performance.”

Vanderbilt (16-7, 5-3) had been able to overcome turnovers issues in recent weeks, winning at Marquette, at South Carolina and at Alabama with at least 17 turnovers. No such luck in Gainesville.

“We didnt do a very good job of attacking [the press],” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. “It was disruptive and we did a poor job with our spacing. We did a poor job with our ball handling. It caused problems.”

The Commodores had their hands full defending Boynton and Beal, too.

The guards came up huge in the second half. Beal scored 14 points after the break. Boynton drained a 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining after the Commodores made it a four-point game and then sank two free throws with 25.9 seconds left to seal Floridas 19th consecutive victory at home.

Erving Walked scored 11 points for Florida, and Mike Rosario had 10 off the bench.

Jeffery Taylor led the Commodores with 25 points. John Jenkins, the leagues leading scorer, added 15.

“We did a really poor job handling the pressure,” Taylor said. “We had a lot of turnovers that resulted in easy points for them.”

Vanderbilt used a 9-0 run early in the second half to take a 43-40 lead, and was up 49-46 before Florida took over.

Beal started a 10-0 run with a 3-pointer. He added a tip-in and another 3 in the spurt. Just when it looked like the Gators were going to pull away, they went four minutes without a field goal. Vandy had plenty of chances to retake the lead, but Beals driving layup with 2:04 left made it a six-point game again.

“I was really proud of Brad because he didnt shoot the ball particularly well in the first half,” Florida coach Billy Donovan said. “He didnt have a great first half; he didnt do a whole lot. But then he knocked down a big 3 that gave us the lead, had a great transition drive and he got fouled one time going to the rim. He made a lot of really, really good plays and really impacted the game the last 10 minutes and made some big plays for us.”

Boyntons shot from behind the arc was equally huge.

The Gators closed it out from the free-throw line, making 16 of 17 in the game and 14 of 14 in the second half.

“Weve got good shooters and we expect to make them,” Walker said. “When we miss them, were surprised.”

Vanderbilt lost consecutive games for the second time this season and likely will drop out of the Associated Press college basketball poll.

“We tried to come in here and get a good start, but the press hurt us a lot,” Jenkins said. “That was the main difference in the game.”

The Gators survived all sorts of early foul trouble to lead 37-34 at halftime.

Patric Young played just three minutes before picking up his second foul. Erik Murphy and Beal joined him on the bench late in the first half with two apiece.

With the three starters sidelined, the Gators turned to bench players Will Yeguete, Rosario, Scottie Wilbekin and Casey Prather. Yeguete had eight rebounds in 16 minutes, and Rosario scored 10 points in 12 minutes.

They carried Florida for that stretch.

Boynton and Beal carried the Gators down the stretch.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Washington Wizards
Saturday February 4, 2012 – 7:00 PM ET
Verizon Center, Washington, DC
NBA best sportsbook Line: Los Angeles Clippers

When the Wizards drafted Wall a couple of years ago, many would have argued that Washington would be challenging for a playoff spot before the Clippers, but that simply hasn’t happened. The Wizards won just four of their first 22 games this season, and are fighting to stay out of the basement in the West.

Betting Clippers Wizards Line: Los Angeles Clippers

A big part of the Clippers’ early success that not a lot of people have been talking about is their home record this season, and the number of games they have played at the Staples Center compared to on the road. Los Angeles has won 10 of 12 games at home, but just three of their seven road games. The Clippers are going to have to show more of that high-flying home act on the road as they bring lob city around the country, and considering that Washington is just 3-9 at home this season, that’s a good place to start. The list of players averaging at least double digits in points for Los Angeles includes Griffin, Paul, Billups, Caron Butler, and Mo Williams, so there is no shortage of scoring capabilities on this team.

Betting Clippers Wizards Line: Washington Wizards

The same cannot be said about a Washington team that ranks 26th in the NBA in scoring, and has struggled to shoot the ball both at home and on the road. Wall isn’t even the team’s leading scorer with just over 15 points per game. That title currently belongs to Nick Young, who is averaging close to 17 points per game. Wall does have an average of 7.2 assists, but the problem is that as good as he is at creating there isn’t enough talent on this team to finish. Jordan Crawford has been a decent addition in terms of overall scoring numbers, but he can still be very inconsistent, and his play at the defensive end leaves a lot to be desired.

Betting Clippers Wizards Line: Outlook & Pick

There are several reasons why the Clippers have been an ideal best best sportsbook option this season, including the fact that few thought they would be this good so early on. However, Los Angeles has found ways to get the job done and made a statement by climbing to the top of the West standings so quickly. The one area where the Clippers have struggled has been on the road, but that shouldn’t be a problem against a Washington team that logged just four wins through 22 games.

Betting Clippers Wizards Pick: Los Angeles Clippers

First off, enter the Denver Nuggets, who are second in the Northwest Division right behind the potent Oklahoma City Thunder. They came into this year in total disarray. They had several players that had bailed because of the lockout and went overseas to play and they were not able to sign their starting center Nene until the lockout was over.

Coach George Karl has his players buying into the fact you have to move the ball and they run as evidenced by the 108 a night they put up to lead the league in points but that all may come crashing down this Saturday when they play their third game in three nights in Portland’s Rose Garden, always a tough environment to adapt to for visitors.

The sports betting misery starts Thursday when they have to go to Los Angeles to play the Lakers, the next night, they host the up and coming ally-oop show known as the Los Angeles Clippers and then on to Portland, who won 9 of their first 10 at home this year.

Unfortunately, Portland had Denver’s number the first time they played in the third game of the season for the Nuggets.

Denver had won the first two but had played Utah the night before that first loss and fatigue showed that night as Denver was only 4 for 20 from the three-point line in the 9-point beat down when failing to cover.

Overall, Nuggets have been good against the spread at 14-7 but Saturday doesn’t figure to be their day. Lay the lumber.

As the New York Giants will be getting ready Saturday night for what will be the biggest game of most of their lives in the Super Bowl, the New York Knicks will be licking their wounds and playing in their third game in 3 nights.

They have to host a tenacious Chicago Bulls team Thursday, travel to face archrival Boston and then host the lowly New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks have not been playing well straight up or against the number as they started the season 5 and 15 against the spread.

In a stretch from January 12 to January 28 New York lost 9 of 10 games with the win coming against the Charlotte Bobcats, who opened the season with the worst record in the lead at 3 and 19.

Sure, the Nets are no world beaters themselves having won only 7 of their first 22 games but they showed signs of putting it together on January 25 when they shipped into Philly and beat a good Philly team in overtime behind Deron Williams’ 34 points and 11 assists.

Both clubs like to go up and down the floor but the feeling is that if the Nets are getting 3 or more points here, they will be the play to end the week on the right note.

Good luck with your sportsbooks betting.

Mario Chalmers scored 13 points and Chris Bosh had 12 to help the Heat go on a dominant late run that put away the pesky Sixers.

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The Heat used a 15-0 spurt in the fourth quarter to turn a tight one for 36 minutes into a comfortable victory and hand the Sixers just their third home loss of the season.

Thaddeus Young scored 16 points for the Sixers, who snapped a four-game winning streak.

Wade used a pair of ferocious dunks during the game-changing run that pushed the Sixers first sellout crowd of the season toward the exits.

The Sixers opened the week with wins against Orlando and Chicago. The Heat squashed the home-week sweep.

Miamis 113-92 win on Jan. 21 was Philadelphias only double-digit loss of the season. Entering the fourth, duplicating that feat seemed out of reach.

Unlike the Sixers, the Heat can turn to their stable of stars to crank up the pressure.

Wade started the run easily enough with free throws. Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller buried mid-range jumpers, James followed with a 3 and the game changed in a hurry.

The Sixers (12-3 at home) had grown used to the confetti gun blasting off after each victory. By the time they dusted off the seldom-used inspirational movie scene video reel, it was too late. Wade, Bosh and James were headed toward the bench, another win over the Sixers in the books.

The Heat played in Philadelphia for the first time since they blew a six-point lead with 95 seconds to play in Game 4 of their opening round playoff series. Jrue Holiday hit a late 3 that sliced the deficit to one and Lou Williams made the go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the arc over a lunging Wade with 8.1 seconds left for an 86-82 win.

“Our first-round series against them was arguably the toughest, outside the finals,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game.

Last season, opening round. This season, something deeper?

The Sixers had stamped themselves as a rising threat in the East. The Heat couldnt shake the upstart Sixers and never led by more than seven points in the first half.

The Sixers have done serious damage this season in the third quarter, putting teams away with big runs and tough defensive efforts. The Bulls scored 11 points in the third Wednesday. The Magic scored only nine points Monday.

The defense was as tight as usual, limiting the Heat to 16. The offense (6 of 18) never got going.

Boshs putback ended an 0-for-10 start to the third for the Heat for a two-point lead. While the Heat struggled, the Sixers couldnt capitalize. Elton Brand and Tony Battie, two frontcourt starters, both went scoreless.

Andre Iguodala, who has cranked up his numbers when the Sixers need him most, continued with the clutch stops. He intercepted a pass from Wade into the post and drove the length of the court for a monster one-handed jam that had fans jumping out of their seats. But he went only 4 for 10 from the floor for 10 points.

The Sixers could never take the lead in the third and that cost them in the final minutes. James scored the last eight points of the third, including a long jumper that made it 67-63. Iguodala buried a 50-footer that was waved off after review.

Philadelphias winning streak was put to rest in the fourth.

Notes

The Heat only made 11 of 20 free throws. … The Heat made up for that number with just nine turnovers. … The Sixers missed eight of their first nine shots in the third quarter. … Rick Mahorn, Jane Pauley, Garry Trudeau and Mary Carey were all at the game.

Jason Richardson also added 19 points in his first action in two games after resting a sore knee. Hedo Turkoglu added 18 points and Ryan Anderson chipped in 17.

The Magic won their seventh straight over the Cavaliers, despite playing without injured starting point guard Jameer Nelson and suspended reserve big man Glen Davis.

Orlando continues a stretch of nine games in 13 days Saturday at Indiana.

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Alonzo Gee led Cleveland with 20 points, followed by Kyrie Irving with 18.

The Cavs have now lost three of their last four. Cleveland returns home to host Dallas on Saturday and head to Miami Tuesday.

The Magic, who came in averaging 15.5 turnovers per game, had just five against the Cavs and opened up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The Cavs got it down to 95-90 wit fouling Howard intentionally and sending him to the free-throw line.

Howard missed four straight attempts from the line during one stretch before sinking a pair to give the Magic a seven-point cushion and help close it out.

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy had to make some pregame adjustments to his rotation after Davis was suspended for two games prior to tip-off Friday for conduct detrimental to the team. Hell also miss the Indiana game.

Van Gundy acknowledged before the game that he and Davis were involved in a verbal incident during the morning walkthrough, but said nothing physical took place. He didnt elaborate further, though added he said he didnt expect the suspension to go beyond two games.

Nelson continues to deal with concussion symptoms. Without a true third point guard behind Chris Duhon, the team released Larry Hughes following Wednesdays win over Washington and signed free agent Ish Smith Thursday.

Smith had two early assists, including one on a dunk by Earl Clark, but also had three fouls in just five minutes of action early. He finished with four assists in nine minutes of action.

Despite the missing bodies, the Magic managed to take a nine-point advantage into the break, building their cushion hitting six first-half 3s. Richardson also hit five of his six attempts from the field for 11 points.

Cleveland also helped out, connecting on only 29 percent of its field goals (14 for 48). Jamison kept the Cavs close with an 11-point, 10 rebound effort in the half.

Notes

Van Gundy said Nelson, who sat out his fourth straight game with concussion symptoms, did do some limited, off-court physical activity Friday and has a chance of returning Monday against the L.A. Clippers. … The Cavs played without G Daniel Gibson (soft tissue infection in neck), G Anthony Parker (back strain) and F Tristan Thompson (ankle sprain).

Linas Kleiza added 15 points and Jose Calderon had a season-high 17 assists for the Raptors, who bounced back from consecutive blowout losses to Atlanta and Boston and improved to 2-9 without leading scorer Andrea Bargnani, who is out with a strained left calf.

James Johnson scored 13 points and DeMar DeRozan had 11 as Toronto topped 100 points for just the third time this season, exceeding the 80.2 theyd been averaging without Bargnani. The Raptors scored 104 points Dec. 26 in an opening night win at Cleveland, and had 111 in a double-overtime win at Utah on Jan. 25.

Barbosa missed Fridays shootaround with flulike symptoms but showed no ill effects against the Wizards. He scored nine points in the second quarter and had six more in the third.

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Nick Young scored 21 points and John Wall had 15 as the Wizards lost their third straight and fourth of five. Trevor Booker scored 13 points and Jordan Crawford had 11.

Washington dropped to 1-10 away from home this season and has won just four times in 52 road games since the start of last season.

The Raptors were ahead 80-69 heading into the fourth and pulled away from there, leading by as many as 22.

Toronto, which led by 10 at the break, matched a season high with 55 first-half points.

Wizards veteran Rashard Lewis scored eight points, leaving him six shy of 15,000 for his career. When he reaches the mark, Lewis will join Paul Pierce and Jason Kidd as the only players to score at least 15,000 points, grab 5,000 rebounds and make 1,500 3-pointers.

Notes

Calderons career high in assists is 19, set twice. … Kleiza returned for the Raptors after sitting out Wednesdays loss at Boston with soreness in his surgically-repaired right knee. … Wizards coach Randy Wittman was the replacement when current Raptors coach Dwane Casey was fired by Minnesota in 2007.

New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics

Friday February 3, 2012 – 8:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
NBA best sportsbook Line: Boston Celtics (line not available)

While the concern for the Celtics’ trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen has been their ability to perform despite their ages, a more concerning problem has come up with the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony looks overweight and has severely underperformed, an issue that really dragged on a New York team that won just two of eight games to close out January.

Betting On Knicks Celtics Preview: New York Knicks

Knicks’ fans could never have projected that their team would be five games below .500 at this point in the season, not after signing center Tyson Chandler in the offseason to compliment Anthony and Amare Stoudamire. The blow suffered with the loss of Chauncey Billups has been underestimated, and while young Iman Shumpert has played well, but he hasn’t brought to the floor the experience and pure talent that Billups did. Without Billups New York will need more from its stars, and the spotlight is on Anthony and Stoudamire to pick it up.

Betting On Knicks Celtics Preview: Boston Celtics

Head coach Doc Rivers didn’t mince words when he explained to reporters why Paul Pierce sat for most of the final quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. At the same time, Pierce was right there in the fourth quarter of Boston’s win at Cleveland on Tuesday, making sure they didn’t blow another big lead at the end. The Celtics were still outscored 32-17 in that final frame despite winning on Tuesday, and their ability to put teams away late has become a legitimate concern. The return of a healthy Rajon Rondo will help in that area long term, but the veterans will still need to step up in the clutch.

Betting On Knicks Celtics Preview: Outlook & Pick

For as awful as the Knicks have been as a best best sportsbook option this season, they still have the talent to keep this game close, even if they are trailing by a substantial amount heading in to the fourth quarter. The rivalry between New York and Boston is well documented, and should be enough to spark the Knicks’ stars to have one of their better road games.

Betting On Knicks Celtics Pick: New York Knicks

Duke made lots of changes coming into its game at Virginia Tech on Thursday night, and the No. 7 Blue Devils put together one of their more complete performances in a 75-60 victory.

“Once we get going and our offense gets going and our defense plays at the same level as our offense, were a good team,” said Ryan Kelly, who scored 15 points.

Austin Rivers led the Blue Devils with 18 points and added five assists and five rebounds, and the Blue Devils used a 13-2 burst late in the first half to open a double-digit lead they never relinquished.

“Everybodys so unselfish now and it makes everything fun,” Rivers said.

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Two hard practices before the trip to Cassell Coliseum helped Duke find its focus and maintain it throughout. Kelly said the move away from social media was a team decision, and coach Mike Krzyzewski said its a mature one that could pay dividends.

“They just decided that instead of a twitter family or whatever, its better to concentrate on our family,” he said. “Its for the next couple of months and then theyll have a lot to tweet about.

“Hopefully, they will.”

Krzyzewski made two changes to the starting lineup, removing Seth Curry and K a move mostly inspired by defensive play.

But Kelly still had a huge impact, and in a key spot.

He had seven points in the 13-2 spurt that helped the Blue Devils (19-3, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) pull away. Rivers hit a 3-pointer and Kelly scored the last five in a 10-0 burst in the second half when Duke extended its lead to 62-40 with 11:19 remaining.

Curry added 11 points and Mason Plumlee had 10 for Duke.

The loss was the seventh in eight games for Virginia Tech (12-10, 1-6) and left coach Seth Greenberg hoarse and disappointed, he said, with how his team handled adversity.

“We had some guys miss some shots and that affected their ability to do anything on the other end, and you cant have that and beat a good team,” he said. “We did some good things, but when they kind of bowed their neck, I thought we melted.”

Five of the previous losses were by four points or fewer, but the Blue Devils left nothing to chance in avenging a 64-60 setback at Cassell Coliseum last February.

Erick Green led Virginia Tech with 17 points and Victory Davila tied his career high with 16.

The game was tied 21-all when Duke started pounding it inside and scored 13 of the next 15 points. Rivers began the run with a putback, and Kelly scored on a dunk and then a drive. After Green hit a pair of free throws for Virginia Tech, Quinn Cook scored on a drive, Kelly swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and Andre Dawkins scored inside for the Blue Devils, making it 34-23.

After a putback by Davila, Plumlee made two free throws, and the six-foot Cook scored on a hook to make it 38-25.

Greens 3-pointer that just beat the first-half buzzer pulled the Hokies within 10, but they got no closer.

Just to be sure, the Blue Devils put it away with a run that Rivers started with a 3-pointer, his third of four in the game. Plumlee added two free throws, Kelly scored on a spin move when he banked the ball in as he appeared to be falling down, and then followed that with a 3-pointer.

The ending was a stark contrast from last season, when the Hokies home victory brought fans storming onto the court to celebrate a victory that many thought assured their first NCAA tournament berth in four years. But the Hokies lost their last two games of the regular season, won twice in the ACC tournament, then lost to the Blue Devils in the semifinals and were again relegated to the NIT.

I’ve been lacking at the SF position and have been stashing Beasley. Today, Beasley had an awesome line of 18 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 3pt, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 PF, 1 TO, and good FG% and FT%.

Gerald Henderson is a safer bet at remaining in the starting lineup and getting 33+ minutes; however, he doesn’t really produce much except for about 15 points, good FG%, and the occasional steal.

Should I add Gerald or stick with Beasley who has more rebounds but worse FT and FG% and non-guaranteed starter minutes?
Gerald might be affected once Corey Maggette returns; however Beasley might also be fighting for minutes at the SF PF position because of the log-jam in Minnesota. I think Beasley has more upside though, but I don’t know if he’ll get his minutes to produce.

Beasley http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4388…
Gerald http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4617…
edit:

Here is my whole roster. Thanks.

Yahoo 12-team league, 13-player roster, head-to-head, (FGM & %, FTM &%, 3PM & %, PTS, REB, AST, ST, BLK, TO, PF)
PG-Brandon Jennings, SG-Ray Allen, G-Eric Gordon, SF-Nick Young, PF-Blake Griffin, F-Luis Scola, C-Dwight Howard, C-Javale McGee
Bench-Marcus Thornton, Louis Williams, Michael Beasley, Luke Ridnour, Baron Davis

Beasley hands down.

I like Beasley more going forward,GH is VERY inconsistent..

I’d like to see your entire roster to give you a more in depth answer,but to answer your question NO,don’t dump Beasley for GH.

GL

Beasley

Gerald Henderson is losing a lot of value very quickly, with the emergence of Kemba Walker and Byron Mullens, when DJ Augustin comes back it is going to be very hard for Henderson to find his 10+ shot attempts every night.

Beasley has shot the ball once every 2 minutes since his return, he is going to be a fantasy beast.

Check out Daily Reports on all your fantasy basketball players, and ask experts Q&A

http://www.maddenarena.com/fantasy-player-update-prt-1-week-6

beasley thinks hes Kobe and keeps shooting a crazy amount of dumb shots. But he will score a lot of points that way I guess.

Brandon Paul made two foul shots that gave Illinois the lead with 45 seconds to play, then missed the front end of two 1-and-1s in the Illinis 42-41 win over No. 9 Michi 32.6 percent was so bad that players suggested the ball may have had too much air in it.

“Someone brought it up to the refs, I think one of the coaches,” Paul said. “Im not trying to make excuses. I missed those free throws, I shouldnt be missing those shots.”

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The win ended a three-game losing streak for the Illini (16-6, 5-4 Big Ten), a run that left coach Bruce Weber resorting to prayer.

“When the shots go up, I just say, Please, God, let it go in,” Weber said. “Some of the shots just sat in there and then popped out.”

The loss cost the Spartans (17-5, 6-3) a chance to move into first place in the Big Ten with No. 3 Ohio State.

Spartans forward Draymond Green spent much of the game on the bench with foul trouble, then was helped from the court with what appeared to be an injury to his left knee with just under four minutes to play. He didnt return.

Spartans coach Tom Izzo wasnt sure how serious the injury was but wasnt happy how Green or the rest of his team played under pressure Tuesday.

“I didnt think we handled adversity very well at all,” Izzo said. “My two best players had their worst games.”

Green finished with five points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes. Keith Appling, the other half of the two Izzo singled out, had four points and four rebounds to go with five turnovers.

Paul led Illinois with 18 points.

He scored 13 of Illinois 20 second-half points, but was 6 of 17 from the field. He was 5 of 9 from the free-throw line and the Illini finished 9 of 17.

After burying those two late free throws, his misse w a chance to steal the game with 11 seconds to play.

But down 42-40, Michigan States Derrick Nix missed the first of his two free throws. Appling then missed a driving shot with two seconds left, the final chance for the Spartans.

“He had a rough night,” Izzo said of Appling. “When Draymond went out, he tried to take the game over. Its a shame because we had our chance and we didnt get it done.”

Green hit a key layup in a 9-0 run that gave the Spartans a shot. They were up 36-35 with 5:01 to play. But just over a minute later he was being helped form the court.

With 2:09 left and Michigan State up 40-37, Illinois freshman Tracy Abrams hit a 3-pointer to tie the game.

After losing three games straight by a combined 11 points, Illinois badly needed to hold on against Michigan State, Abrams said.

“It shows toughness. Coach always says, When things arent going right, how do you respond as a team?” Abrams said. “We stuck together.”

Branden Dawson had 12 points for the Spartans.

While their shooting was awful, the Spartans pulled down 49 rebounds, 23 on the offensive end.

In the first half, the Spartans had more rebounds (22) than points, and trailed 22-20 at halftime.

Green spent the last 10:56 of the first half on the bench with three fouls, the last a technical when he complained about a foul call.

The technical cost Green a sharp chewing-out by Izzo as he took his place on the bench.

The game was physical, with Izzo complaining to the referees at one point, “Theyre killing us down here.”

“This was WWE wrestling,” Weber said.

Paul often matched up against Green, and relished seeing the big forward pile up fouls.

“Hes obviously a great player and he does everything for them,” Paul said. “I got a couple fouls on him early, and with him we probably should have capitalized on it more.”

Given Michigan States rough first half, it was hard to figure why Illinois headed to the locker room with a narrow two-point lead.

The Illini were 9 of 25 from the field after 20 minutes and 3 of 7 from the free throw line.

The biggest shots for Illinois in the first half were arguably two putbacks by freshman Myke Henry.

The first, off a miss by D.J. Richardson, put Illinois up 18-16 with 5:43 left. The second came with 34 seconds left, off another miss by Richardson, and gave the Illini their halftime lead.