Jason Klein scores 25 in win.

Feb. 4, 1998

Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Jason Klein scored a career-high 25 points and No. 16 Michigan State moved to its best Big Ten start ever with an 84-58 victory over Ohio State on Wednesday night.

The first-place Spartans (16-4) moved to 9-1 in the Big Ten, their best record through 10 games since joining the conference in 1950-51. It was their seventh straight win and 12th in the last 13 games.

By contrast, the loss was the 11th in a row for Ohio State (7-14, 0-8), extending the longest losing streak in the school's 99 years playing the sport. It was also the Buckeyes' 14th Big Ten loss in a row, extending another school record.

The 26-point loss tied the third largest margin ever for Ohio State at home.

Klein, a junior, had never scored more than 17 points before, but surpassed that 1:05 into the second half.

He had 14 points as Michigan State built a 45-31 halftime lead, then scored the first four points of the second half on two foul shots and a 15-foot jumper after he was intentionally fouled on a fast break.

Klein, averaging 10.6 points a game, was 10-of-15 from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds and an assist. Morris Peterson chipped in with 10 points for the Spartans.

Freshman Michael Redd, leading the Big Ten in scoring, topped Ohio State with 23 points but was just 7-of-17 from the field and 9-of-16 at the foul line. Ken Johnson added a career-high 14 points.

Ohio State drew to 19-17 on Neshaun Coleman's tip-in at the 10:57 mark of the first half, but Michigan State scored eight of the next 10 points - four by Klein on short jumpers - to make it 27-19.

The Buckeyes got as close as 31-26 before Klein had a tip-in and a fastbreak basket. The lead never dropped below seven points again.

Michigan State then scored the final seven points of the half and the first four of the second half. Most of a crowd of 10,626 left before the finish.

Ohio State has also lost its last eight Big Ten games at St. John Arena.

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