Nov. 1, 2006

Final Stats |  Quotes

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Drew Neitzel scored 27 points to lead Michigan State to a 61-57 comeback win over Grand Valley State on Wednesday night in the exhibition opener for both teams.

Goran Suton added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans, who overcame deficits of as many as 16 points in the first half and 13 points in the second half to hold back the Lakers at Van Andel Arena.

Jason Jamerson scored 23 points and had six rebounds for Grand Valley State, and David Thompson added 11 points.

Travis Walton's baseline jumper with less than 4 minutes to play gave Michigan State its first lead of the game, 51-50, and the Spartans led the rest of the way.

Jamerson made a 3-pointer to give Grand Valley State a 37-27 lead early in the second half, and a 3-pointer by David Thompson extended the Lakers' lead to 42-29.

Thompson's 3-pointer early in the first half started a 10-point Grand Valley State surge that ended with a reverse layup by Jamerson and resulted in a 26-10 lead. The Spartans came back with an 11-point run featuring seven consecutive points by Neitzel and a slam dunk to end the half by Drew Naymick, cutting Grand Valley's lead to 26-21.

The Spartans were 19-of-43 (44 percent) from the floor, while the Lakers were 19-of-41 (46 percent). Michigan State outrebounded Grand Valley 25-23.

The two teams last met in an exhibition at Michigan State two years ago, when the Spartans won 77-62.

The last time the Spartans played at Van Andel Arena, they defeated Arkansas-Little Rock 72-67 on Dec. 3, 2005.

Michigan State plays Northern Michigan on Sunday in East Lansing in the Spartans' second straight exhibition game against a Great Lakes Conference school. Grand Valley plays an exhibition game Tuesday at Detroit.