Michigan State Extends Home Win Streak to 46

Adam Ballinger set career highs of 13 points and nine rebounds at East Lansing, Mich., as No. 15 Michigan State defeated No. 25 Oklahoma, 67-55, on Wednesday night in the Preseason National Invitation tournament.

The victory extended the Spartans’ home winning streak to 46 games, the longest in the nation.

The Spartans (2-0) will play No. 21 Syracuse in the semifinals of the 16-team tournament on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Coach Tom Izzo was not pleased with the Spartans’ 20 turnovers.

“We’re not going to win a lot of games that way,” Izzo said. “We’re not going to win on the road unless we have some key people play better.”

Hollis Price led the Sooners (1-1) with 18 points. Ebi Ere, a junior college transfer who was recruited by Michigan State, had 16 points and six rebounds.

Oklahoma Coach Kelvin Sampson was not surprised by Ballinger’s performance.

“I hadn’t seen him play before Monday,” said Sampson, referring to Michigan State’s victory against Detroit. “But if he’s in Michigan State’s lineup, he’s a good player.”

Michigan State made 56.1% of its shots and held the Sooners to 32.3% shooting.

Michigan State and Oklahoma last met in the Sweet 16 of the 1999 NCAA tournament.

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No. 8 Missouri 86, Air Force 58--Clarence Gilbert scored 20 points and Kareem Rush had 19 at Columbia, Mo., as the Tigers (2-0) advanced to the semifinals of the Guardians Classic.

Joel Gerlach had 28 points for the Falcons (1-1).

No. 9 Iowa 90, Boston University 61--Luke Recker scored 18 points and Reggie Evans shook off a slow start to get 16 at Iowa City as the Hawkeyes (2-0) advanced to the semifinals of the Guardians Classic.

Matt Turner’s torrid outside shooting kept the Terriers (1-1) in the lead for much of the first half. Turner scored the game’s first eight points and had 19 by halftime on seven of 11 shooting, but he scored only two the rest of the game.

No. 12 Memphis 91, Old Dominion 66--Freshman Dajuan Wagner scored 32 points at Memphis, Tenn., and had six rebounds as the Tigers (2-0) advanced to the semifinals of the Guardians Classic.

Ricardo Marsh led the Monarchs (1-1) with 21 points and eight rebounds.

No. 21 Syracuse 74, DePaul 60--DeShaun Williams scored 25 points at Syracuse, N.Y., as the Orangemen advanced to the semifinals of the Preseason NIT.

Syracuse (2-0) will play Michigan State Wednesday. Imari Sawyer had 16 points to lead DePaul (1-1).

No. 24 Alabama 83, Samford 51--Erwin Dudley scored 15 points at Tuscaloosa, Ala., as the Crimson Tide (2-0) advanced to the semifinals of the Guardians Classic.

Sebastian Sachse led Samford (1-1) with 11 points.

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Point guard Cedric Bozeman did not play in UCLA’s exhibition game against Global Sports because of a bruised tailbone. Coach Steve Lavin said Bozeman will probably play Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational. ... Matt McKinney, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward from Santa Ynez High, has signed a letter of intent to play at UCLA. McKinney will also play volleyball. Fairfax High forward Evan Burns, who committed to UCLA in August, is not expected to sign until the spring.

Washington Coach Bob Bender was released from a hospital after tests showed no serious injuries from a fall in his yard. ... Wisconsin Green Bay lost its appeal to have the NCAA reduce freshman guard Calix N’diaye’s eight-game suspension. ... Rutgers forward Herve Lamizana is ineligible to play, the NCAA ruled, because of a loan he obtained from former Seton Hall center Sam Dalembert. The school plans to appeal. ... The NCAA denied Damien Wilkins’ appeal for immediate eligibility, meaning the Georgia player will have to sit out this season after transferring. Wilkins is the nephew of former NBA standout Dominique Wilkins.