Michigan suffers worst loss ever

By David Den Herder

Daily Sports Editor

EAST LANSING - The 2000 Big Ten Championship banner now hangs from the rafters of Michigan State's Breslin Center. It could have been lowered at halftime. Or perhaps sooner.

Michigan's 114-63 humiliation at the hands of the Spartans was its worst loss in school history.

The band belched the "M.S.U. Fight Song" over and over as the raucous faithful watched the points keep rising. But the Spartan Brass refrained from playing the most appropriate song for this afternoon: "Sweet Georgia Brown" - the famous anthem of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Led by the newly crowned Big Ten assists leader, Mateen Cleaves, the Globetrotters made a mockery of these Generals until the final buzzer - and even a bit after.

By the time Cleaves was kissing the block "S" on his way out of the game, he had 20 assists on the day (a Big Ten record) and 769 for his career (a Big Ten record).

The Globetrotters sank 16 3-pointers (a Big Ten record), including four from high-point man Charlie Bell, who finished with 31. Four of Bell's teammates finished with him in double digits, while Josh Asselin was the only General to reach the same mark, scoring 13.

"For MSU, this may be a day that never gets passed by," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after wiping his suit clean of the confetti from the postgame celebration. "It is an incredible accomplishment."

Although confetti didn't fall until after the final horn, the celebration began much sooner. Michigan State starters remained in the game - throwing alley-oops and draining 3-pointers - until late in the second half. Then, one by one, they were subbed out - taking sweet time to give and receive love from their teammates and even the hardwood.

As Cleaves rose from his knees at center court (the kiss, he later admitted, was inspired by Shawn Respert), he patted Kevin Gaines on the butt.

"We're not going out there and trying to embarrass them," Cleaves said.

While the Generals scored 63 points in the game, the Globetrotters scored 63 in the second half alone.

"There was no trying to run up anything," Izzo said.

After the game, LaVell Blanchard watched the postgame festivities - to "see what it was like," he said - to "watch the best." But the moment was not lost on him. "Look at the score and you can think what I'm feeling," Blanchard said. In the tunnel, with the net in his hand, Cleaves found him for a word of encouragement.

"Hey, don't worry about that," Cleaves said to a stoic Blanchard. "You keep your head up. Good luck the rest of the way." Whether he meant it or whether he felt the heat of camera lights on the back of his neck is uncertain.

Either way, Cleaves has left his mark on Michigan State. "NobodyÕs done more for a school Ñ at least MSU Ñ in a long time," Izzo said.

Nothing is more certain than that. Save perhaps one. That this game, like the Globetrotters and Generals, was decided before it even began.

AP PHOTO

Mateen Cleaves only shot the basketball on Saturday to set up the pass. The senior had 20 assists to become the Big Ten record-holder.