"The first four minutes of the second half really changed the game," Abrams said. "We fought back after that, but we can't put ourselves in that position."

His coach, John Groce, agreed. And he warned his team what Michigan State would try to do.

"To Michigan State's credit, they amped it up," Groce said. "I knew they were gong to do that. The last thing I said before breaking our huddle to start the second half was, 'They are going to come at you hard in the second half. They're going to turn up the heat. Be ball-strong.'

"Obviously we were not able to do that."

Tupper