Peterson remembers grandma with win
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- Morris Peterson was sure his grandmother was sitting in the best seat in the RCA Dome. He certainly put on a good show for her.
Peterson picked up a sputtering Michigan State team, scoring 16
of his 20 points in the second half in the Spartans' 53-41 victory
over Wisconsin on Saturday night.
After just one basket, Peterson pointed to the sky, where he
told one and all on Friday that Clare Mae Spencer would be watching
his every move.
"I just wanted her to know I was thinking about her," Peterson said.
His grandmother, who had a stroke in February, died in Picayune,
Miss., last Saturday -- the day her grandson and his team advanced
to the Final Four. Peterson was told of her death moments after the
game ended. She was buried Thursday.
"She was out there with him tonight. She maybe hit some of
those shots for him," Mateen Cleaves said.
"Everybody wanted to win for him tonight," said Andre Hutson,
who had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Spartans. "He had a main
goal to go out there and win for his grandmother. He had a terrific
game. He really was full of energy and he pulled us through in the
second half."
Peterson, in turn, credited his teammates: "Everybody pulled
behind me. It was just a blessing to be part of this team, the way
they all stood with me."
Cleaves did the most to lift Peterson's spirits.
"I just told him I love him," Cleaves said. "I just wanted to
keep his spirits up. So, I stayed in his face, made him feel
upbeat."
The Spartans, who have won three straight Big Ten championships,
have been on a mission to win the national title since losing to
Duke in the national semifinals last year. This was the reason
Cleaves returned for his senior year.
Make no mistake, Cleaves is still the heart of this team. But
more and more as the tournament has rolled on, Peterson has been
the one to bail out the Spartans.
"You got to give a lot of credit to Pete today," Cleaves said.
This is becoming a habit for Peterson.
Peterson scored 13 points in a comeback win over Utah, 21 in a
win over Syracuse and 18 in a comeback victory over Iowa State in
the Midwest Regional final.
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