Cleaves helps quiet critics with season-high 25-point outing

EAST LANSING - This time, he saved his antics until the game was well in hand. Michigan State point guard Mateen Cleaves, whose first-half dagger-in-the-heart routine almost blew up in his face last season, played Saturday's game without any outburst more than an occasional, "Who, me? Naw!" after being whistled for one of the referees' many touch-foul calls.

In fact, Cleaves' season-high 25 points had been nearly silent ones until he was fouled hard by Michigan guard Louis Bullock late in the second half. Cleaves' first hint of either splash or dash was the head-swiveling, arm flailing dance he performed in front of his bench after watching his shot go in from his vantage point flat on the floor.

AP PHOTO Michigan State point guard Mateen Cleaves broke out of his recent shooting slump, pouring in 25 points to help the Spartans past rival Michigan.

For his trouble, he was assessed a technical foul, after he converted his three point play. But the other 22 points he scored to help his Spartans sink Michigan on Saturday were whispers in comparison with most of the sophomore's actions this year. Stats lines against Michigan State's big-name opponents like Duke and Connecticut seemed to shout Cleaves' incompetence from the rooftops. 3-for-14 against Duke. 2-for-15 against Connecticut.

But the statistical roar of Cleaves' 7-for-10 shooting will help drown out the discord of dismal past performances.

"I think this was one of my best all-around games since I've been here," Cleaves said to a small knot of reporters deep within the Breslin Center.

It came not too long after some of his worst, but this might be the game Cleaves needed to shed the pressurized straitjacket of hype that has surrounded him since the Spartans were ranked in the top five in both preseason polls.

For the Wolverines, the leader of their arch-rivals couldn't have broken through at a worse time. They have to face him again, Feb. 18 at Crisler.

"Mateen was really good today, he got some good looks and knocked them down," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "He was a factor."

If the 25 points Cleaves scored when all was said and done weren't enough, his eight assists might have been just as deadly. All told, Cleaves was directly responsible for at least 41 Michigan State points - more than half of the Spartans' total offensive output.

His demeanor may be toned down. His celebration tonight might not make the papers the way it did after last season's victory. But as far as his production is concerned, he's as loud as ever.

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